FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2026
PCs vote down Green Party bill to remove sick notes for Islanders
Charlottetown, PE – Today in the Legislature, the Rob Lantz PC government voted down Green Leader Matt MacFarlane’s bill to remove the requirement for sick notes for employees who are already guaranteed sick days under the Employment Standards Act.
The bill, which is an amendment to the Employment Standards Act, would have relieved pressure on our struggling and overwhelmed healthcare system.
“Today the PC government led by Premier Rob Lantz chose petty politics over Islanders – all in the midst of a healthcare crisis,” said MacFarlane. “Since I first brought this bill forward two years ago and government voted it down, our healthcare system has gotten more strained and we’ve lost more family doctors. As politicians we should do everything we can to improve Islanders’ access to healthcare.”
“It’s crystal clear that the PC government has no interest in making positive changes for Islanders. It’s time for a new government, one that isn’t afraid to do the work and improve our healthcare system.”
MacFarlane was joined in the Legislature by Dr. Kay Dingwell, an emergency room physician, who spoke about the importance of lessening unnecessary administrative burdens on frontline healthcare workers and freeing up space in doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and ERs for Islanders who need medical treatment.
“As an ER doctor, I should be seeing patients who need medical treatment, not people who are there only because they need a sick note for work,” said Dr. Dingwell. “Writing someone a sick note does nothing to help them get better and only adds to our already strained healthcare system. This common sense legislation would have made a real difference and I’m disappointed government did not support it.”
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Katie Rankin
Chief of Staff
Office of the Third Party
Tel: (902) 213-6378
Email: kerankin@assembly.pe.ca