Motion to cover medical-related travel costs passes in P.E.I. Legislature

Prince Edward Island MLAs unanimously passed a motion Wednesday urging the government to cut or cover bridge and ferry tolls for people travelling off the Island for medical treatment. 

The King government has no legal requirement to act on the non-binding motion. But if it does, it would mean a world of difference for people like Caitlin Carr. 

Her four-year-old son Emmett was recently diagnosed with arthritis in both knees and now requires routine treatment at the IWK in Halifax. 

She estimates the last trip cost her between $350 and $400, and said that's a cost "it's obviously very hard to budget," as a single-parent living in low-income housing. 

"I even keep my grocery budget, [for] me and my son, to $150 some months." 

Her son has another appointment next week. This time, Emmett will go under anesthetic and receive steroid injections. She said he'll require that treatment several times each year from now on. 

"Arthritis is not curable. I have to continue the treatment or my son's condition gets worse. He loses mobility." 

The P.E.I. health-care system tells me I have to go to IWK for treatment. But the P.E.I. health-care system does nothing to help you get to that appointment.— Caitlin Carr

Matt MacFarlane, the Green Party MLA who put forward the motion that was voted upon Wednesday, said politicians across the Island are hearing from people in a similar position as Carr. 

"This is a big cost for Islanders," he said in an interview, adding that covering the cost of tolls "would go a long way to helping Islanders who need services that aren't available here." 

'Could strain our provincial health budget'

The motion passed with unanimous support in the house, including a vote from Health Minister Mark McLane.

During debate, McLane said that while he "supports the spirit of the motion... for this to become a reality, we do need support and financial backing of the federal government."

The province currently partners with the charity Hope Air to help Islanders cover some of their travel costs, if they are judged to be in need of assistance. 

Health P.E.I. has a three-year deal with Hope Air, pegged at more than $1.4 million including a $500,000 grant from the health authority. 

But on Wednesday, McLane cautioned that paying for all the necessary travel costs could add up. 

"As elected officials, we need to be good stewards of the public purse," he said. "Covering all travel expenses fully for every patient, regardless of income level... could strain our provincial health budget, diverting funds away from other critical services."

Problems with application process

In a statement to CBC News, the province said the Hope Air program covered the cost of more than 1,300 bridge passes and fuel cards in 2023 alone, as well as more than 900 hotel stays.  

But Carr said the process of applying for the money has been frustrating — and for her, unsuccessful so far. 

"It's basically just a lot of jumping through hoops," she said. "The P.E.I. health-care system tells me I have to go to IWK for treatment. But the P.E.I. health-care system does nothing to help you get to that appointment." 

If the legislature's unanimous motion were turned into government action, "it probably would have saved me hours of work in turmoil in the last few weeks to — it feels like — beg people for a bridge pass," she said. 

'It certainly weighed on him'

Ronnie McPhee also understands the impact medical-related travel expenses can have. 

His brother, Blake Loo, who died of an aneurysm last spring, had to make regular trips to the mainland for medical appointments during his final years. 

Sometimes he would have to give up an appointment, because it didn't fall on a pay week.— Ronnie McPhee, about his brother Blake Loo

McPhee said his brother would talk about how much the bridge, gas and hotel costs for him and his wife added up. 

"Sometimes he would have to give up an appointment, because it didn't fall on a pay week, or something along those lines," he said. "We talked a lot the past couple years with Blake, and it certainly weighed on him." 

As a way to pay it forward, McPhee and the rest of Loo's family have set up a fund to help other families cover those expenses.

That fund got a boost Wednesday, when the Charlottetown restaurant Ada, owned by another one of Loo's brothers, Adam, donated 100 per cent of its sales to the cause.

"This is an opportunity to continue his legacy, to take care of people just like he took care of us," said McPhee.

In the meantime, McFarlane said the Green Party is hoping the intent of Wednesday's vote will be translated into action in the 2025-2026 budget.