FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2024
Fall Sitting Ends with the King Government Staking Its Claim as the Most Secretive Government in PEI History
Charlottetown, PE – The fall sitting ended with the PC government continuing to avoid accountability and transparency, while failing to improve healthcare, housing and land issues for Islanders. The King government spent the sitting dodging questions from the opposition, refusing to share details on secretive contracts, and spending Islanders’ money with little to no oversight.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the fall sitting:
- Green MLA Matt MacFarlane tabled a bill that would increase transparency when it comes to land transactions on PEI. Minister Myers, who is responsible for land in the province, and the rest of the PC caucus voted in a block against increasing land transparency.
- Government’s unredacted NHL contract was finally shared with Islanders thanks to pressure from the opposition. Islanders now know that the deal will cost between $7.5 million and $8.4 million – yet many details remain unanswered by the Premier and his Cabinet about how much this will cost Islanders in total.
- A Green motion calling on government to eliminate bridge and ferry tolls for Islanders travelling off-Island for medical treatment passed unanimously.
- A Green motion calling on the Legislative Assembly to establish a special committee on land to investigate large land holdings and the effectiveness of the Lands Protection Act was voted down by the PCs.
- Green MLAs held government accountable for its reckless and secretive spending in healthcare that does nothing to help the frontline – including inflated executive leadership salaries at Health PEI and a $2 million sole-source contract with private firm KPMG.
“This sitting clearly showed Islanders that Premier King and his Cabinet are not interested in being transparent about how it operates our province and spends public money,” said Leader of the Third Party Karla Bernard.
“Islanders have the right to know what government is doing to improve housing, healthcare and land in our province. Yet the Premier would prefer to hide behind Cabinet confidentiality and NDAs, running a government that operates in a shroud of secrecy without Islanders’ knowledge.”
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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