Green Party of Prince Edward Island

Happy Mother's Day to all the caring, giving and downright awesome PEI Moms we know and love!

Thanks so much to everyone out picking up litter as part of the PEI Women's Institute Cleanup this weekend!

The 2021 cleanup is today, Saturday, May 8. It really is mind-boggling in this day and age that people are so disrespectful of Mother Earth. Huge Kudos to the PEI Women's Institute for persevering in this awesome campaign. Get out there today and do your part to keep PEI beautiful! "It's disgusting," said Helen Nicholson, the W.I. board member responsible for the cleanup. "It annoys me ... that somebody just doesn't care. "We are hoping to meet with the province and other stakeholders over the next year to address a stop-littering campaign," Nicholson said.

It is the breakdown of permits for single-family dwellings versus multiple unit dwellings that has Beven-Baker concerned. Despite the overall increase, the value of permits for multiple unit dwellings fell 37 per cent. Single-family dwelling permits are up 210 per cent. "The trend is good in terms of construction starts. I'm not sure that it's in the area that we need to be focused on," said Bevan-Baker.... "We particularly need housing capacity that's affordable. So when you look at where these new permits are being issued, the real growth is in single-family units and family dwellings and the numbers that are going down are in multiple-unit dwellings. And that's where you tend to see the affordable housing built." P.E.I. has a tradition of urban sprawl, said Bevan-Baker, and the tripling of value of single-family unit permits suggests this tradition is continuing. In addition to not correcting a shortage in affordable housing, he said, urban sprawl creates problems for providing services such as sewer, water, transit, and other services as the footprint of urban areas expand. "That's been the pattern of development here. We haven't really thought about the consequences," said Bevan-Baker. "We're still absent a province-wide, cohesive, congruent planning policy when it comes to buildings. And we need to fix that." https://www.cbc.ca//pei-building-permits-bevan-baker-1.601

The once-a-decade State of the Forests survey is happening right now, and the preliminary data is not looking good, according to the Environment Minister, with PEI having lost about 20% of its forest since 1990. If Myers' figure proves correct it would signal a significant increase in the rate of deforestation, with more occurring in the past decade than over the previous 20 years. "That truly is drastic and a shocking statistic," said Opposition leader Peter Bevan-Baker in r...esponse. Minutes later, after another question-and-answer, he said he was "kind of still reeling from the first statistic the minister gave us." https://www.cbc.ca//damage-from-a-decade-of-deforestation-

This is great news! Hannah Bell's bill, the Poverty Elimination Strategy Act, has passed 2nd reading in the Legislature with support across party lines. This bill will require government to create a plan, with the help of a new Poverty Elimination Council, to ultimately eliminate poverty on PEI. To start with, the bill sets the following targets to be reached by 2025:... -the PEI poverty rate will be reduced 25% under 2018 levels overall, and by 50% among persons under 18 years of age; -food insecurity will be reduced by 50% overall and completely eliminated among children; -chronic homelessness among all persons will be eliminated. Further improvements are targeted in the years following that, until reaching the goal of completely eliminating poverty on PEI by 2035. "By putting a framework in place that has clear targets, measures, definitions and accountability for the minister responsible then what that does is requires government to actually take and report on actions specifically against those targets, that's a really important thing," says Bell. https://www.cbc.ca//pei-poverty-elimination-bill-second-re

"What worries us is when there are demands for water, is the government going to bend and break their own rules?" said coalition chair Catherine O'Brien. Lynne Lund posed this same concern and question to Steven Myers in the legislature yesterday. His response was dramatic and had absolutely nothing to do with water.

"The slight improvement in vacancy rates recently is most likely due, largely, to short-term vacation rental units being switched to long-term units," said Bevan-Baker said. That echoes an assessment from CMHC, one that was referenced in government's recent throne speech in February. "Once the pandemic is behind us, the chances are that these units will revert to being STRs and the intensity of the rental situation here on P.E.I. will ratchet back up again," Bevan-Baker said.... He framed the lack of progress in the regulation of the short-term rental industry as part of a larger failure of the current government to address the housing crisis in the nearly two years since the last election. He cited, among other things, illegal rent increases and a delay in introducing new legislation to govern residential rentals.

In her op-ed to the Journal Pioneer, Lynne Lund writes that the government's new Water Act regulations are pitting farmers against each other and will result in unfair and unequal access to water, and damage to sensitive watersheds. "I am happy the Water Act is finally being proclaimed, but with the recent regulation changes around holding ponds, the King government is demonstrating once again that their approach to environmental protections will be one of hindsight, not over...sight. It also means that government is going to have to pick winners and losers." Take action! Click here to see how you can help: https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/wateract Read Lynne's op-ed: https://www.journalpioneer.com//lynne-lund-water-act-regu/ (or on our website if you don't have a subscription: https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/water_act_regulations_favour_s)

Happy Easter everyone! We hope you're getting some time to relax a bit this weekend, and if so, we can propose the latest edition of the Green Party of PEI newsletter to catch up on highlights from the past few weeks of Green activity in the Legislature. Enjoy! https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/greennews0421

Did you know that the PEI Greens are - and always have been - 100% fuelled by you? We're a grassroots party built on the contributions of time, money and ideas of those who long to see the better PEI - and world - their hearts and heads tell them is possible. Last year, to the astonishment of a nation, PEI Greens upset a centuries-old political landscape to form the Official Opposition of PEI. Now, eight Green MLAs are in the Legislature working and making a difference on the... issues that matter to you: climate change, affordable housing, protecting our land and water, ending poverty, mental health, the wellbeing of children, supporting small local business, stopping sexual violence, and government accountability, to name just a few. Please help the PEI Greens continue to make change that matters. One way to be the change is by making a small contribution today. Did you know that the first $100 you donate to the PEI Greens every year earns a 75% tax credit? That's right - donate $100 by December 31st and get $75 knocked off your taxes in just a couple of months! Donate today at www.greenparty.pe.ca/donate!

This is the first of a four part series. Climate change is real and we will need to continue to adapt.

"There was a golden platter handed to him, where he had an opportunity to put that priority into action and he did not, Bernard said.

Karla Bernard, MLA is reintroducing a bill to the PEI Legislature to lower the voting age for provincial and municipal elections from 18 to 16. Peter Bevan-Baker, MLA had introduced a similar bill a couple of years ago, but it got resistance from the Liberal government at the time and was defeated. Will PEI make the change this time? Karla Bernard, who is also a school counsellor, says 16- and 17-year-olds are ready for the responsibilities that come with voting. She says if ...they can join the Canadian Armed Forces, drive a car, make their own health decisions and pay taxes, then they should be able to vote. "And many of the arguments that people will give you against why 16-year-olds should vote are along the same lines as the arguments that people gave against the women's suffrage movement in terms of 'They are just going to vote the way their parents did, their parents are putting the vote in for them.'" What do you think? https://www.cbc.ca//pei-voting-age-elections-politics-gree

A very special (and dare we say "catchy") holiday greetings from our Green Official Opposition Caucus!

Our November PEI Green News - Back to the Leg Edition - is out for your reading pleasure! Read about what Greens have been up to and what to watch for as our Caucus return to the Legislature: https://www.greenparty.pe.ca/nov2020greennews #peipoli

Watching the Buy Local movement grow and flourish this holiday season here on PEI has been heartwarming. As always, Islanders support each other, but more now than ever. What a great place to live and work!

If you think that it's high time that the government made mental health a priority like it said it would during the election, please join the #MentalHealthMatters protest being organized outside the Coles Building this Tuesday at 6:30pm (timed to catch the MLAs as they return for the evening sitting). The same day, MLA Trish Altass will be calling debate on her motion to make mental health supports a government priority: https://docs.assembly.pe.ca/download/dms

Green Opposition Leader Peter Bevan-Baker began question period by referring to a platform promise to immediately replace the Hillsborough Hospital. King responded by saying his government has been moving forward with plans to replace the aging psychiatric hospital at breakneck speed.

A little mid-week inspiration!

Get to know Chris van Ouwerkerk for Charlottetown-Winsloe and why is running as the Green Party candidate in the District by-election, which takes place on November 2nd. Chris talks about how a recent conversation with Peter Bevan-Baker about some issues affecting his business inspired him to want to be a lot like Peter - someone who actively listens to people in order to bring their voices in to the House and seek solutions that benefit all Islanders. With his backgrounds and education in small business, the arts, and the the law, Chris will enrich the Legislature with his diversity of perspectives, his passion for justice and his dedication to community. He will make an amazing MLA for the people of District 10, and for all Islanders!

Got a burning question for Chris van Ouwerkerk? Here's how to do it!

We are so grateful for all the support over the years! Wishing you and yours all the blessings of the day!

Green Party MLA Hannah Bell is wondering why it is taking so long to get promised government funding to 29 groups she says provide essential services for Prince Edward Islanders. The Green Party negotiated with the government to have the $1 million social sector community partner fund included in the budget, said Bell. The budget was approved in July. Bell said she has been communicating with the 29 groups named in the fund which includes Canadian Mental Health Association..., P.E.I. Family Violence Prevention Services, P.E.I. Rape and Sexual Assault Centre, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, PEERS Alliance and none of them have received any of the funding. Some had had no contact with government about the funding, she said. "We're halfway through the fiscal year," said Bell. "There's been no sense of urgency. I don't know, honestly, why."

Looking for a way to get some fresh air tomorrow morning while making an impact? Join Chris van Ouwerkerk for Charlottetown-Winsloe and the Green Team for a volunteer blitz in District 10!

Yes, it is a tall order, but it needs to happen...soon! "Overall, Ledwell says, Canadians have to rise to the challenge of making real change in our society and to take on the biggest challenges we face: eliminate poverty, economic inequality, sexism, racism, discrimination, and exclusion, address climate change adaptation, eradicate gender-based violence and other forms of violence that emerge from inequalities. It’s a tall order, she admits, but a strong social policy foundation needs to be in place before the next crisis."

For those who will be voting in the District 10 by-election on November 2nd, we would love to hear what your priorities are!

Inspired/outraged by decades of inaction by successive Liberal and PC governments on PEI to close the loopholes that allow the continued exploitation of PEI's scarce land and water resources for the profit of the few to the detriment of the many, PEI singer-songwriter Teresa Doyle wrote "Loophole Lament" just a couple of weeks ago. It was first performed as part of the the PEI Green Party Dream-a-thon online fundraising event on September 27, 2020, and she has encouraged us t...o "share the hell" out of this beautiful and very topical song. We're happy to oblige - thank you Teresa! Protection of PEI land and water for current and future generations is one of the top concerns of Islanders and the PEI Green Party. Our Green Official Opposition Caucus has been working hard to hold the government to its promises to close the loopholes and enforce the provisions of the Lands Protection Act and to proclaim the Water Act, which has been languishing in government never-never land since 2017, into law. Time to make some noise! Please share this video and be sure to contact your MLA to let them know that enough is enough - Islanders will not tolerate further delays in the protection of our scarce and precious natural resources and the ability of future generations to call this place "home".

Congratulations to Chris van Ouwerkerk on being nominated as the PEI Green Candidate for the District 10 by-election, which was officially called yesterday as well! We look forward to hitting the campaign trail with you! Here's a bit more about Chris: Chris van Ouwerkerk has never followed a set path. He’s also never stopped working since he started in a grocery store meat department at 14. His journey started in Charlottetown at the QEH as the son of long haul truck driver a...nd a Registered Nurse, and that journey has included touring parts of Canada and the United States in a band, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in History from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Law degree from the University of New Brunswick, starting a beef jerky brand and opening a butcher shop all while driving back and forth between PEI and New Brunswick for the first 2 years, while also falling in love and having a daughter with his wife Jenn. He has been lucky enough to live in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Saint John, New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Ottawa, Ontario and Vancouver British Columbia while never staying away from PEI for too long. As the founder and owner of Jercules: Fine Beef Jerky since June 2015 and Butcher & Butcher: Fine Island Meat since January 2016, he has used his position to raise funds for and support many community organizations including the Canadian Mental Health Association, Pride PEI, the Boys and Girls Club, Maritime Greyhound Adoption Program, the REACH Foundation, Inner City Youth Skills Camps, Big Brothers Big Sisters, among many others. Chris became a father for the first time in August, 2020. He was also admitted to the Bar in 2020. He lives in Charlottetown with his wife Jenn and his daughter Elsie. Chris says of his motivation to run in this election: "My motivation is pure and simple: make Prince Edward Island better in any way I possibly can and to work as hard as I possibly can to do so. I am seeking this nomination because I know it is time to get to work to do what I can to achieve that. I would make a good MLA because I am not beholden to anything or anyone and I believe in the core values of the Green Party. As an MLA I would be a tireless worker. I would listen and respect my constituents while also standing up for what I believe in. More than anything, I would do everything I can do to make myself, my friends and my family proud. "

The Green Party is nominating our candidate for the D10 by-election right now!

So well deserved! Big congratulations going out to Jeanne Maki.