Monday 27 March 2023

How to watch the 2023 CBC P.E.I. leaders' debate

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-leaders-debate-1.6792422

 

P.E.I. party leaders debate health care, housing ahead of provincial election

Land ownership, climate change segment sparks feisty debate between the leaders

CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin moderated the debate between Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker, Liberal Leader Sharon Cameron, NDP Leader Michelle Neill and Progressive Conservative Leader Dennis King.

It was a far cry from the collegial, polite debate of the 2019 election — which saw the leaders of the day pretty well in lockstep on the big issues. 

To get to the heart of the issues facing voters this election, CBC News drew directly from questions submitted by the audience. The leaders weren't given the questions before the debate.

CBC P.E.I. leaders' debate

Duration 1:30:05
The leaders of Prince Edward Island's four main political parties faced off in a televised debate ahead of the April 3 provincial election.

Addressing the health care crisis

The debate kicked off with questions about the health-care system. Health care has been one of the biggest issues on the campaign trail, along with housing and the cost of living.

As debate opened, Bevan-Baker slammed the Liberals and PCs, saying previous governments have been "hellbent" on maintaining control and status quo within the system instead of fixing it. He added that the Greens have held "government's feet to the fire" as the Official Opposition for the last four years.

"Let's remember that the health-care system that we are labouring under and that health-care workers are struggling with was created by the Liberal and Tory governments," he said.

A man in a suit stands at a podium Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker took at shot at PC Leader Dennis King at Monday's debate, saying Islanders have 'lost trust' in his party's leadership. (Brian McInnis/CP Photo)

"What we need to do is take the political meddling out of the system, allow Health P.E.I. to have the autonomy and authority it needs to do its proper job. Get the politics out of the health-care system."

Cameron turned her attention to King, too, after taking a jab at the Greens. She said she's taken leadership of the Liberal Party because the Greens have been flailing as the Opposition.

She then questioned how King can say P.E.I. has the greatest health-care system in the country when tens of thousands are on the patient registry awaiting a primary care physician. 

"What do you say to the 30,000 people and seniors who haven't had a doctor for six to eight years? What do you say to them and how do you convince them that this is the best health-care system we've ever had?"

King defended his government, saying the "finger-pointing" by opposition parties "doesn't get anything done," while his party has acted to help Islanders with initiatives like Pharmacy Plus and the Maple app.

"There are no simple solutions here, we have to roll up our sleeves and find Island solutions to serve our Island population," he said.

Neill said the health-care system is failing partially because of the amount of paperwork doctors are forced to take on when they could be seeing patients.

"That's something that we need to change. We shouldn't be paying a doctor their salary to be doing paperwork that can be done by an administrative assistant," she said. "That's one of the reasons why they're leaving. We have to listen to our health-care workers."

'They don't feel that anyone's listening'

While the leaders debated health care inside, about 150 nurses were protesting outside.

The P.E.I. Nurses Union has been without a contract for two years, and union president Barbara Brookins said the election has delayed negotiations with the government further.

A crowd of nurses hold up protest signs. Nurses took the opportunity of the debate to vent some frustration. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)

The lack of a contract is hindering operations and recruitment, said Brookins. There are 1,100 nurses in the province, she said, and 300 vacant positions.

"It's having a huge impact on patient care, but also on the health of our members," she said.

"Our nurses are getting tired, they're getting burned out. They're just disheartened because they don't feel that anyone's listening. And if they are listening, they're not acting fast enough."

Mental health and addictions

Inside, the focus turned to what's been called the province's "mental health crisis."

King touted the long-awaited mental health and addictions campus — a $200-million project he called the "biggest capital project" in the history of the province since the Confederation Bridge — which he said is about 40 per cent complete. 

Bevan-Baker and Cameron both jumped in, with Bevan-Baker saying the project is closer to four per cent complete and "Islanders have lost trust in this premier and they're not sure what to believe."

"Islanders are very familiar with a premier who will tell us one thing and we have to double check that indeed is what's going on here," he said. "We're not sure what sort of Dennis King we have in front of us. I'm not even sure that the premier knows what he believes anymore."

A man and woman in suits stand indoors talking to each other P.E.I. Liberal Party Leader Sharon Cameron, seen here chatting with Progressive Conservative Leader Dennis King before the start of the debate, grilled the PC leader on delays facing the planned UPEI medical school. (Brian McInnis/CP Photo)

Cameron said not only is the mental health campus delayed but so too is the planned UPEI medical school.

"I'd agree with Peter as to, you know, why the delays and why say you're ready?" Cameron said. "How much longer will it take?"

Neill said Islanders can't continue to wait for access to mental health and addictions services.

Housing and land ownership

All four parties agreed more can be done to lead students into post-secondary education and encourage jobs in the trades in the hopes of addressing the labour shortage contributing to the province's housing crisis.

Bevan-Baker took aim at the PCs and Liberals, placing the blame for the crisis squarely on previous governments for growing the Island's population without having a housing plan in place.

"We have significant investment in publicly built housing, almost $500 million over five years. This is something that previous governments have chosen not to invest in," he said. "They have allowed the private sector not just primarily but exclusively to try and meet our housing needs and clearly it's not working."

A house under construction The Island has faced a housing crisis in recent years as development has struggled to keep up with a booming population. (Jane Robertson/CBC)

When the subject turned to land ownership, which is tightly controlled on the Island, Bevan-Baker said the PCs and Liberals have "utterly failed" to implement a land-use plan.

"Let's not forget who's been in government for the last 20, 30, 40, 50, 180 years here, and it's the red team and the blue team," he said. "Without a land use plan, the ability to control land use and land development is absolutely gone."

Cameron fought back, pointing to a controversial construction project in Point Deroche as an example of the Greens' failure in Opposition. She said the party "didn't kick up a stink" about the rock wall erected along the shoreline until it was in the news. 

"I want to make sure, through a commission, that we have First Nations represented, we have everybody who's not been in that conversation before," Cameron said. "And we raise it to a place where we say, 'How do we protect our environment and balance that against our economic success?'"

Bevan-Baker defended his party's criticism of Point Deroche, calling the controversial development "a monstrosity."

"A Green government would never allow that to happen," he said. "This is an absolute failure of the current administration, but I have to tell you the Liberals were no better when they were in power four years before that."

King didn't engage as Cameron and Bevan-Baker exchanged barbs.

"I don't want to step in the middle of this altercation over here to my right, but I think we need to get back to the question that is how complex land use here is on Prince Edward Island," he said. "There's a whole lot of components to this that are going to require all of us working together, and if we're just going to sit here and fight with each other I don't think we're going to make any progress."

He said P.E.I. needs to consider building up versus building out while protecting the Island's precious farmland.

Neill jumped in to say Point Deroche is an example of development that can't be grandfathered in.

"We don't want to block our beautiful Island beaches from everybody trying to walk on them," she said. "We don't want to set that kind of precedent. It's not right."

Environment and climate change

Shoring up critical infrastructure and launching a public inquiry into what went wrong during and after post-tropical storm Fiona was central to debate around climate change. The storm walloped the Island last fall, downing trees across the Island and leaving some Islanders without power for weeks.

Neill said P.E.I. should bury its power lines to prevent widespread power outages in the event of future catastrophic weather events.

"We certainly saw during Fiona that a lot of the trees were leaning on or bringing down completely our lines," she said. "By burying them we'd have a much more resilient system to be able to deal with any kind of climate issues that will come in the future."

A woman stands indoors at a podium New Democratic Party Leader Michelle Neill said shoreline developments can no longer be grandfathered in, and it's time to act to protect Island beaches. (Brian McInnis/CP Photo)

King agreed, saying his government is already working on plans for the future.

"We need to come up with some plans and [Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Steven Myers] and some others in his department have been working on some long-term contingency planning around improving our electrical grid resilience but also some on-Island, green clean energy capacity as well," he said.

Bevan-Baker, however, berated the PCs for failing to launch a public inquiry after Fiona. Seniors in public housing were left without power, he said, and thousands of Islanders were forced to drive to Charlottetown only to wait for hours in line to access provincial disaster relief funds distributed by the Red Cross. 

"This government did a dreadful job of looking after Islanders and unless we do a full review we will never know," he said. "When we have seniors in the dark and the cold that [government] are the ones who can call the shots and say 'This is a priority,' … you know what, I'm not going to be able to know that. None of us are going to be able to know that unless we have a public inquiry."

King defended his party's record of transparency after Fiona, saying a standing committee explored the role of third parties like Maritime Electric and the Red Cross in the aftermath of the storm.

"We need to learn from all of this so we have committed to doing a review, we will do that. We will learn from that and it's the reality of life we're in here right now," he said. "This will be the new reality, it seems, in terms of catastrophic events. We have to learn from the last one. We learned from Dorian, we'll learn from Fiona and try to make our province more resilient."

Neill said the Red Cross should never have been responsible for delivering the disaster relief funds government was best equip to provide.

Islanders head to the polls on April 3. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Cody MacKay

Multi-platform Journalist

Cody MacKay is a writer, editor and social media producer for CBC News on Prince Edward Island. From Summerside, he's a UPEI history and Carleton masters of journalism grad who joined CBC P.E.I. in 2017. You can reach him at cody.mackay@cbc.ca or on social media as @CodyBMac

 

 

101 Comments
 
 
 
David Amos
Welcome back to the circus after a very boring debate.
 
It appeared to me that 3 stooges were seeking employment in the next King government. The hugs and kisses at the end sealed the deal on my reasoning. 
 
 
 
 
 
dan robertson
Calling this a debate is a bit of a misnomer. More of a cordial discussion than anything else.   
 
 
David Amos
Reply to dan robertson 
I agree 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
John Goode 
Peter showing a more forceful side. I like it. 
 
 
John Goode  
Reply to John Goode 
Make that assertive rather than forceful.
 
 
Tommy Sutton 
Reply to John Goode 
Peter is a wimp
 
 
Gorden Feist
Reply to Tommy Sutton 
You like the strong Trump style scorched earth variety where everyone suffers until the exalted one gets his own way? 
 
 
Tommy Sutton
Reply to Gorden Feist
Obviously you are a Trump supporter.
 
 
Gorden Feist
Reply to Tommy Sutton
I see reading comprehension is not 
 
 
David Amos

Reply to Gorden Feist 
LMAO
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Gorden Feist 
Oh So True 
 
 
John Goode  
Reply to Tommy Sutton  
So is Tommy. Nah nah. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alex McKee  
Not at all impressed with Ms. Cameron.

Read a lot of her content, then misrepresenting the truth regarding the leader of the Green Party. Who out classed her due to his superior intellect and honesty.

I think the political interference in the design and assess to health care must stop.

They can meet with health professionals, however they do not have the specific knowledge and skill set to drive the system. Unless it is into the ground.

The NDP leader does not understand MDs have a professional responsibility to document the plan of client care, the outcome of the care, the follow-up to clinically support the client and communicate promptly to the extended health team.

The medical record is our responsibility to maintain as well.

The record can be dictated, and then retained in the client chart.

There must be a complete review of the process to ensure it is accurate, and efficient.

If PEI has not done this, to ensure the balance of the time MD's provide care and document that care was given, start this review!

 
Jim Dub 
Reply to Alex McKee  
Baker wasn't well spoken he was bubbling with rage. Intellect lacking
 
 
Graham Schofield 
Reply to Jim Dub  
At least he didn't start off with every intention to deliberately be obnoxious. 
 
 
Jim Dub
Reply to Graham Schofield
I had to turn it off. Bevan Faker is the most obnoxious politician behind Hannah Bell and she is gone now. He is the prince of fake outrage.  
 
 
True Taylor  
Reply to Jim Dub 
I can't take any of your comments seriously when you can't even get the man's name right.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to True Taylor  
He is the prince of fake outrage 
 
 
David Amos

Reply to David Amos
Deja Vu Anyone?

P.E.I. Green leader apologizes to Speaker, but stands by use of the word 'farce'

Speaker of the P.E.I. Legislature Buck Watts says he stands by his decision to remove Bevan-Baker

Kerry Campbell · CBC News · Posted: Dec 21, 2017 8:00 PM AST 

 
David Amos
Reply to David Amos 
More?

Green leader 'shocked' after Liberals shut down debate on changes to Elections Act

'To have it shut down like that was a little shocking'

Nicole Williams · CBC News · Posted: Dec 05, 2018 4:01 PM AST

 
 
 
 
Neil Gregory 
PEI, like the rest of Atlantic Canada has a long history of flip-flopping between the right-wing Conservatives and the right-wing Liberals, and wondering why so little ever changes.. 
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Neil Gregory   
The King government is about as far from the right as you can get in Canada. If you view the policies in place since 2018 you will see things like free heat pumps for those who can't afford them, heating fuel funds paid for by the government administered through the Salvation Army up to 1200 dollars for those who can't afford it. Toonie bus passes that allows Island wide transit for 2 dollars each way. Seniors can get a pass for unlimited travel for 20 dollars per month 5 days per week anywhere buses run. Low income people can get their homes insulated and sealed for up to 16000 dollars to help people get off oil. It is paid with the carbon tax. Active transport routes for walkers, cyclists are being installed in various places across the Island. School breakfast programs for Island schools.

Tell me, how right wing does all of that sound to you?

 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Neil Gregory  
Higgs is a different story altogether.
 
 
Alex McKee 
Reply to Anne Bochan
Well said! 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Anne Bochan
Methinks Higgy's ears are burning about now N'esy Pas?
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to David Amos
If his ears are burning he had better not try to seek medical attention in NB because the nurses there might just accidentally remove them because he didn't want to use his ears to listen to them from the very beginning. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Erik Bosma 
When are PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick going to amalgamate? What were they thinking back in 1867 anyways? 
 
 
Neil Gregory  
Reply to Erik Bosma 
That was the original idea. The British colonies in the Atlantic region called a conference to discuss union. However, John MacDonald showed up with a boatload of booze and got everybody worried about the possibility oft an American invasion after the civil war. 
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Erik Bosma
Never.. PEI joined in 1873. Upper and Lower Canada wanted PEI to join to prevent it from becoming an American state. The US was courting PEI due to the traditional trading of goods between New England and PEI. Many on PEI travelled and worked in the US freely. 
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Neil Gregory   
Not exactly.  
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Neil Gregory   
There was a circus in Charlottetown, and most of the people were more interested in that than a bunch of politicians talking about something they thought would never happen. Most didn't see it as the threat to their livelihood. PEI didn't join until 1873.... and reluctantly at that. PEI or NS didn't see the National Policy coming down the pike. It would turn out to be devastating to the wealth of the Maritime region due to the tariffs on US goods.  
 
 
Thomas King 
Reply to Anne Bochan  
You don't think there is a circus every time the governments are sitting. I think the only people that don't want an amalgamation are all the useless politicians whose jobs and job handouts to their constituents will be gone.  
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to Thomas King 
Wrong again. The people don't want it...you know...the ones that this democracy is all about. PEI's economy is booming. Every sector is looking for workers... you are living in somewhere in the distant past. Come join the real world.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Thomas King 
Methinks many would agree that its a circus every time every government is sitting N'esy Pas?
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Anne Bochan 
I have been in the real world for quite some time and know a few things about our purportedly profound democracy. How many times did you run for public office and debate your political foes on TV etc?  
 
 
Anne Bochan
Reply to David Amos 
Are you also Thomas King , David?  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Anne Bochan 
You know who I am 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Neil Gregory 
Deja Vu Anyone?

The Fenian raids were a series of incursions carried out by the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish republican organization based in the United States, on military fortifications, customs posts and other targets in Canada (then part of British North America) in 1866, and again from 1870 to 1871. A number of separate incursions by the Fenian Brotherhood into Canada were undertaken to bring pressure on the British government to withdraw from Ireland, although none of these raids achieved their aims.

In Canada, the incursions divided its burgeoning Irish-Canadian population, many of whom were torn between loyalty to their new home and sympathy for the aims of the Fenians. Protestant Irish immigrants were generally loyal to the British and fought with the pro-Union Orange Order against the Fenians.

While authorities in the United States arrested the men and confiscated the arms of the Fenian Brotherhood, there was speculation that some in the U.S. government had ignored the preparations undertaken by the Fenians because of anger over British actions that were construed by some as assistance to the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. The Fenian raids were one of the factors that led to Canadian Confederation, as the provinces united to face the threat of the Fenian invasions. 

 
Anne Bochan
Reply to David Amos 
Hmm, odd that I sent that message to Thomas King and you made a snarky reply...I think I do know who you are.  
 
 
Thomas King 
Reply to Anne Bochan
PEI's economy is booming? Right. Correct statement would be: Inflation has made PEI's books look better than they should be. The real world is that government is not providing the services to keep up with this growth. The real world is that many of these government jobs can be already eliminated with technology. What's going to happen to all the call center people in CRA Summerside when Chat GPT or something similar takes over. Where are all the truck drivers going to go when there's self driving trucks. PEI has to invest in technology to be relevant in the next decades. PEI has always been a little behind the times, but the next decade is going to go through immense technological changes. Let's focus a bit on the future. 
 
  
Anne Bochan
Reply to Thomas King 
PEI was ahead of the times in most important ways most often. Call centres are passe... have been for years... nobody wants to work there... PEI has been pumping new innovations into the economy for years now. BioVectra and Aspin Kemp industries are great examples of innovations. You have to look around...it is happening. PEI was a leader in land management, waste management and water management in Canada...no other province or territory has uttered a word about it. Is it perfect? Certainly not.. but at least the framework for discussion is there. 
 

 
 
 
 
Carl Jorge

The circus of lyers.
 
 
Randy Bobandi 
Reply to Carl Jorge
Did you run in your district so you can effect change? You seem to have a lot of negative to say about a job you don’t do. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Randy Bobandi
Methinks its hard times for an anarchist N'esy Pas? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Danny Tanker 
"P.E.I. party leaders to square off in debate ahead of provincial election"

Please, exercise your rights and go vote!!!

Carl Jorge

Reply to Danny Tanker
Why would you vote for proven lyers?
Joe Godin 
Reply to Carl Jorge 
Because then you WOULD have the right to complain!

Those who don't vote have not earned ANY right to complain about the gov't.

John Brown 
Reply to Carl Jorge
So, you're never voting again?  
 
 
David Michaels 
Reply to Danny Tanker
Hopefully this one will be free of foreign interference.  
 
 
Jean Paul Poirier 
Reply to Danny Tanker  
PEI Acadians had to go to the supreme court to have their right to be educated in Francais. OK you graduate but does the Public Service Commission commit to. equity. Not one upper civil servant is a French Speaking Acadien. this is 2023. i myself needed to go abroad to exercise my CA in Accountability for 35 years.

Assimilation has devastated nearly 85% of Acadiens. Even MLA s. whose heritage is Acadien khow nothing of their roots. So no pride in Ancestors.

Government speaks of equitable treatment of BIPOC people. It has not even begun for French Speaking Acadiens.

 
Jean Paul Poirier 
Reply to Danny Tanker 
As for government efficiency, leaders spoke about reform. The whole government needs to be reformed from the ground up. As a organizational budget specialist, I say we need about 10 years , at a Ministry or two a year. The Time is Now. lots of wasteful spending when our people can t getthe services needed. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Joe Godin 
Not True 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Jean Paul Poirier 
Cry me a river 
 
 
Joe Godin 
Reply to David Amos   
It IS true!

Those who choose to be lazy and not vote forego the privilege of complaining about an election result they chose not to be involved in.

Period.

 
David Amos
Reply to Joe Godin 
What do you dare to say to a Canadian who ran for public office while not being permitted to vote at the same time? 
 
 
Joe Godin 
Reply to David Amos   
Please explain how a non-resident could possibly run for public office. 
 
  
 
 

Over 21% of registered voters already cast ballots as advance polls close for 2nd day

Final advance polling day on P.E.I. is Friday

Of registered voters in the province, 8.89 per cent — or 9,373 Islanders — headed to the polls Monday, Elections P.E.I. said in a press release issued shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. 

Together with Saturday's advance polling turnout, that means over 21 per cent of registered voters on the Island have already cast their ballot in this election. 

Elections P.E.I. said there was a power interruption in Kings County that affected polling locations in District 3 Montague-Kilmuir and District 4 Belfast-Murray River at 10:30 a.m.

The polling stations were switched to a battery backup for about an hour, and Elections P.E.I. said there were "little to no disruptions."

Here's the district-by-district breakdown for turnout Monday:

  • 1: Souris-Elmira: 377 / 10.28%.
  • 2: Georgetown-Pownal: 286 / 7.80%.
  • 3: Montague-Kilmuir: 375 / 9.86%.
  • 4: Belfast-Murray River: 200 / 5.32%.
  • 5: Mermaid-Stratford: 361 / 9.43%.
  • 6: Stratford-Keppoch: 435 / 11.57%.
  • 7: Morell-Donagh: 288 / 7.57%.
  • 8: Stanhope-Marshfield: 310 / 7.52%.
  • 9: Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park: 315 / 7.66%.
  • 10: Charlottetown-Winsloe: 466 / 11.00%.
  • 11: Charlottetown-Belvedere: 402 / 9.94%.
  • 12: Charlottetown-Victoria Park: 321 / 8.03%.
  • 13: Charlottetown-Brighton: 368 / 9.44%.
  • 14: Charlottetown-West Royalty: 405 / 9.89%.
  • 15: Brackley-Hunter River: 251 / 6.58%.
  • 16: Cornwall-Meadowbank: 520 / 11.51%.
  • 17: New Haven Rocky Point: 440 / 10.37%.
  • 18: Rustico-Emerald: 365 / 8.62%.
  • 19: Borden-Kinkora: 197 / 4.91%.
  • 20: Kensington-Malpeque: 514 / 12.56%.
  • 21: Summerside-Wilmot: 422 / 9.88%.
  • 22: Summerside-South Drive: 350 / 7.95%.
  • 23: Tyne Valley-Sherbrooke: 265 / 6.80%.
  • 24: Evangeline-Miscouche 196 / 6.32%.
  • 25: O'Leary-Inverness: 263 / 8.07%.
  • 26: Alberton-Bloomfield: 353 / 10.08%.
  • 27: Tignish-Palmer Road: 328 / 9.82%.

Islanders will have a final opportunity to vote early when advance polls open Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They can check their voting location on their voter information card or by going to the Elections P.E.I. website.

Election day is next Monday, April 3.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

3 Comments
 
 
David Amos
Methinks I must agree with the snobby dudes who watch the polls particularly after watching the purported debate. It appears to me that King is gonna sweep the floor. In fact he may be rid of most of his opposition if not all N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kip Smith  
It is Elections PEI that crows about 21% of the votes being cast already. Perhaps those voters will regret casting them before all the debates and answers from the Parties and their candidates are heard. Good thing most of these are available on-line so the majority of voters may see the excellent debates which could better inform their voting decisions. 79% of voters have yet to mark their Xs and participation from all of us is important. The PCs governed as a majority with 36% of the vote after they tired of co-operating with Greens. I hope that voters get out and choose the best candidates in their Districts. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Kip Smith 
Good luck with that dream coming true 
 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-leaders-debate-promo-1.6785571 

 

How to watch the 2023 CBC P.E.I. leaders' debate

The debate moderated by CBC's Louise Martin airs tonight from 6:30 to 8 p.m. AT

CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin will moderate the debate, featuring Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker, Liberal Party Leader Sharon Cameron, NDP Leader Michelle Neill and PC Party Leader Dennis King.

The leaders will be asked to define their vision for the province on a variety of topics, and respond to questions submitted by voters.

The debate will be broadcast live from 6:30 to 8 p.m. AT on CBC TV and CBC Radio One.

You can catch a livestream of the debate on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, or the CBC P.E.I. Facebook page.

It will also be streamed live on the CBC P.E.I. website, where we'll have up-to-date coverage of the debate and a recap of the significant moments from the event.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

23 Comments
 
 
David Amos
Welcome to the circus
 
 
David Amos
 
Methinks the "Not So Happy" Dentist will be the hot seat tonight N'esy Pas?   
 
 
David Amos
Methinks they overlooked one Party Leader N'esy Pas?

Island Party leader says accountability front and centre for new political party

‘That made us realize that we need to become involved’

Wayne Thibodeau · CBC News · Posted: Mar 27, 2023 6:00 AM ADT

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
dan robertson  
Louise Martin as host, 1st pertinent question, "What was your favorite toy at Christmas" 

 
David Amos
  
Reply to dan robertson 
Methinks the "Not So Happy" Dentist may
 be wishing for two front teeth next Christmas after going toe to toe with this crowd tonight N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
Scott A. 
Scott A.
Reply to Scott A. 
I thought I heard of a few more parties ... do they have no representation or are they not notable enough for CBC ?

seems to be Bias ?

 
William Reid 
Reply to Scott A.
It is not bias. It is common sense. The other parties have no track records on PEI and adding them to the debate would only make the whole affair even more tedious. Four speakers is already too much. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Scott A.
Who cares?
 
 
Scott A.
Reply to William Reid  
it's not common sense at all ... how does one establish a track record if they can't even get in on action ?

kind of reminds of, employment where one can't get hired without experience ...

 
Scott A.
Reply to David Amos
people that want a change, I imagine they care 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Scott A.
Why would you care in light of the fact that you brag that you won't even vote Then change your ID and claim that you do? Hence you get the governments you deserve 


Scott A.
Reply to David Amos
I vote, I didn't ever say I didn't, I think you're losing it old boy ...    
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Scott A.  
Did you forget I am the old guy who had his name on 7 ballots and you are the kid without a name Hence you cannot vote even if you wanted to until you grow up and get a real name as per the rules of this forum 
 
 
 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-island-party-politics-election-2023-1.6790538 

 

Island Party leader says accountability front and centre for new political party

‘That made us realize that we need to become involved’

Accountability is front and centre for the new leader of the Island Party. 

Ahava Kálnássy de Kálnás has only been at the reins of the upstart political party for just over two weeks.

Now, they are in the middle of a provincial election campaign. 

Born in the former Czechoslovakia, Kálnássy de Kálnás moved to Canada when they were five years old. They moved to Prince Edward Island in 2019.   

Kálnássy de Kálnás says a battle over plans to evict them from their Souris apartment got them involved in politics. 

'Everything that I believe in'

"That made us realize that we need to become involved, we need to be able to direct our own futures, we need to be able to respect ourselves and say 'no' to people in positions of power that are trying to create a society in which there isn't justice for everyone," said Kálnássy de Kálnás. 

A political sign sits in the snow The Island Party is running 11 candidates across P.E.I. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)

Ahava Kálnássy de Kálnás is their ancestral Jewish name. Their common legal name is Cecile Sly.

D.P. Murphy, which operates Tim Hortons, purchased the building they live in, and issued eviction notices to the tenants on Jan. 5.

According to documents filed by the company with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, the company wanted to use the building to house temporary foreign workers.

Those evictions were overturned late last month. 

Kálnássy de Kálnás said when they were asked to lead the Island Party it was "like coming home."

"Because the platform and the policies and the vision of the Island Party are everything that I believe in."

'They're looking for change'

That includes recall legislation, town halls and referendums on major issues, which the party says puts the power back in the hands of the people.

A woman and a man read a pamphlet Island Party candidates Lucy Robbins, left, and her husband, Gary Robbins, go over the party's pamphlets they are handing out at the doors. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)

Husband and wife couple, Gary and Lucy Robbins, are running for the Island Party in eastern P.E.I.

The couple have been married for more than 30 years and are now campaigning together. 

"People are just wonderful when you go to the door and talk to them about the party," said Lucy Robbins, who is a candidate in District 2, Georgetown-Pownal.

"They're looking for change." 

Gary Robbins, a candidate in District 3, Montague-Kilmuir, said concerns about "forced amalgamation" and land use are what prompted the couple to run for public office.

"When the idea for the Island Party came up we pounced on that," he said.

'Trying to promote the party'

The Island Party is running 11 candidates across P.E.I.

Snow falls on a street filled with cars in Souris, P.E.I. Kálnássy de Kálnás is running in District 1, Souris-Elmira. (Aaron Adetuyi/CBC)

Kálnássy de Kálnás uses a wheelchair to get around after a slip-and-fall accident.

That, they said, is limiting their ability to campaign.

"I've been basically working through the internet, through the phone and trying to promote the party," they said.

"All members of the party and all candidates in the party have the same vision, we share the same values so it was just a group of people that had the same beliefs and were committed to the same things all just saying, 'We're going to do this,' and so we're doing it."     

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Wayne Thibodeau

Prince Edward Island

Wayne Thibodeau is a reporter/editor with CBC Prince Edward Island. He has worked in TV, digital and print for more than two decades. In addition to his role as a multi-platform journalist for CBC News, Wayne can be heard reading the news coast-to-coast-to-coast on The World This Hour, co-hosting Island Morning and reporting daily for CBC News: Compass, the top rated supper hour show on the Island. You can reach Wayne at Wayne.Thibodeau@cbc.ca

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