Education shakeup in spotlight as P.E.I. Legislature returns to work

The fall sitting of the P.E.I. Legislature begins Tuesday, with some MLAs taking on new responsibilities.

Premier Dennis King shuffled his cabinet on Oct. 9 after Natalie Jameson resigned as minister of education and early years in order to seek the nomination as the federal Conservative candidate in Charlottetown.

Rob Lantz, the former minister of housing, land and communities, takes over the education portfolio.

The rules allow Jameson to keep her seat as MLA for Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park until the official deadline for candidates to register in a federal election, which is three weeks before an election.

A federal election has not been called, but it must take place on or before Oct. 20, 2025. 

Jameson must first win the federal Conservative nomination in Charlottetown. Two other individuals — Doug Currie and Catherine Parkman — are also in the running.

No date has been set to select a candidate for the seat, which is currently held by Liberal Sean Casey.

A provincial byelection Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park would not be called until Jameson gives up her seat in the P.E.I. Legislature. 

Similar situation with Fox

The provincial Conservatives were in a similar position last November when Jamie Fox resigned as MLA for Borden-Kinkora to become the federal Conservative candidate in Malpeque.

The PCs ended up losing that seat to Matt MacFarlane of the Green Party, which gave the Greens three seats in the legislature, the same number as the Official Opposition Liberals.

This will make a byelection for Jameson's seat even more intriguing. The Legislative Assembly Act defines the Official Opposition as the largest caucus in the House that is not the ruling party.

Lantz is not the only MLA taking a different seat in the Cole Building on Tuesday. Here are some of the other changes:

• Zack Bell, who has represented Charlottetown-Winsloe since 2020, was given his first cabinet position. He is now minister of fisheries, tourism, sport and culture.
• Cory Deagle moves to economic development, innovation and trade. 
• Gilles Arsenault moves to environment, energy and climate action.
• Steven Myers moves to housing, land and communities.
• Jenn Redmond will continue as minister of workforce, advanced learning and population, while also picking up status of women responsibilities from Jameson.

The other cabinet ministers remain unchanged.

Capital budget to be tabled

The sitting will be a continuation of the spring session, so there will not be a throne speech.

Finance Minister Jill Burridge will deliver the fall capital budget at some point. The PCs have not been shy to open the purse strings — their first capital budget in 2019 had $137 million in spending. Last year it was $369 million, and the number is expected to grow with several bricks-and-mortar projects anticipated. 

For example, the Public Schools Branch has asked for three new schools in the Charlottetown area. 

"I think we're going to turn our eye to some of the big challenges in education and really make it a priority and invest," Lantz said. "We know that our schools are busting at the seams, we know that we need to make investments."  

There is also a plan to expand public long-term care, similar to the expansion underway in the private sector.

The Liberals, meanwhile, have said they plan to focus on what they believe is the most important issue facing Islanders — the high cost of living. Last week, they issued a media release calling on the PCs to drop the provincial portion of the 15 per cent HST by two points. 

That move would cost the provincial treasury about $100 million a year but interim Liberal Leader Hal Perry said it would be worth it, given the record-high revenues the government has been receiving through various taxes.

"Islanders deserve a break, and it's time for this government to give Islanders a break and perhaps do a little bit better with their budgeting. I believe that we can balance the budget at the same time putting money back in the pockets of Islanders."

Interim Green Leader Karla Bernard said the party will focus on accountability and transparency in government.

"We're seeing all kinds of examples right now where that's really having an impact, a negative impact, on Islanders as it pertains to health care, housing, cost of living and land."

For example, the Greens have a bill that they hope would provide a way for Islanders to see how the Lands Protection Act is being enforced.