FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2022
Fall priorities for the Official Opposition Green Caucus include seeking relief for crises in healthcare, housing, and cost of living
Charlottetown, PE – Is life better under Premier King? Islanders are facing extraordinary challenges – from the rising cost of living to lack of affordable housing and shelter to healthcare access and unprecedented devastation by post-tropical storm Fiona.
“The quality of life on PEI has suffered under the leadership of Premier King,” said Peter Bevan-Baker, Leader of the Official Opposition Green Caucus. “Time and time again this government has failed to provide the support Islanders expect in their times of need.”
This abandonment by the King Government cannot continue. This fall sitting of the Legislature, the Official Opposition Green Caucus will be working to secure relief for Islanders in healthcare, housing, and the soaring cost of living.
“These are tough times for everyone,” said Bevan-Baker. “People are facing difficulties in every area of life – from access to healthcare, to stable housing, to putting food on the table. Islanders need bold leadership to weather this perfect storm – and we are prepared to do just that.”
In healthcare, the Official Opposition will stand up for frontline workers who have been ignored by the King Government and call on government to provide the retention incentive to ALL frontline healthcare workers. We will also stand up for the thousands of Islanders who are without a family doctor. The Green caucus will call on Premier King to stop with the band-aid solutions and address the systemic issues in healthcare such as excessive workloads, workplace violence, and the effectiveness of the healthcare system for both patients and workers.
In housing, we will introduce legislation to set aside IRAC’s high rent increases, and we have prepared amendments to the proposed Residential Tenancy Act if government finally tables it. We will also hold government to account for their failures to ensure a housing market that works for all, which includes a failure to expand public housing and a failure to protect vulnerable Island tenants from commercial investors.
In providing financial stability, we will introduce legislation to provide Island workers with 10 days of paid sick leave. Studies show inadequate paid sick leave disproportionately impacts the most economically and medically vulnerable. Lower-income workers are the least likely to have paid sick leave, while also being the least likely to be able to work from home. Without improved health provisions for Island workers, we continue to jeopardize our economy.
We will also continue to press government to return a full carbon rebate to Islanders. While Premier King has expressed distrust in giving Islanders money, we believe Islanders know exactly what they need and should be allowed to do what is necessary for them and their families.
Better might not seem possible under this Conservative government, but it doesn’t have to be this way. You can count on the Green caucus to represent you and do the things you need. From introducing groundbreaking legislation designed to eliminate poverty or protecting victims from being silenced by NDAs or to making sure Islanders aren’t being renovicted or holding government accountable for its missteps and offering solutions that meet you where you are, we are committed to you.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (902) 213-0718
Email: jdhamel@assembly.pe.ca