The Liberal Opposition is demanding immediate action from the King government as it says Islanders face widespread power outages, warnings of rolling blackouts, and skyrocketing electricity bills.  Opposition Leader Hal Perry says the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action must appear before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources immediately to explain what is going on with PEI’s electricity system.  The Opposition is calling on the Minister to provide clear answers on what government is doing to guarantee reliable power for Islanders; why Maritime Electric is increasing rates while failing to keep the lights on; what oversight measures are in place to hold the company accountable; and what a government takeover would actually mean for taxpayers.

There’s a Special Weather Statement in effect for significant winter weather across the Island on Thursday.  It will begin about mid-day on Thursday and continue into Thursday night.  15 to 20 cm of snow is possible over western sections of PEI, while central and eastern PEI will see a mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing  rain.

The City of Charlottetown is pausing its plans to change over transit buses used in the capital region from diesel to electric.

Darcy’s A.I. Creation of the day:

PEI WEATHER

Special Weather Statement

Time span: beginning Thursday midday and continuing into Thursday night.

Total snowfall possible: 15 to 20 cm over western sections.

Maximum wind gusts forecast: northwesterly 70 km/h.

Remarks: The heaviest snow is forecast over western portions of the province. Ice pellets and freezing rain may mix in over eastern and central areas Thursday evening and overnight. Motorists should be prepared for winter driving conditions. Warnings may be required as this event draws nearer.

TODAY:  Sunny. High -8

TONIGHT:  Clear. Low -16

TOMORROW: Snow and blowing snow. Wind Southeast gusting to 60. High -3

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

Prince Edward Island's premier says Canada's ongoing trade dispute with the United States will ultimately lead to a higher cost of living for people on both sides of the border.

The City of Summerside is advising residents that, due to the ongoing damage to the Maritime Electric Sherbrooke Substation, it will be turning off circuits across the city on a rotational basis to help manage power loads.  That process will begin at approximately 5:00 PM Tuesday, meaning that if your power goes out, it will remain off for approximately two hours before being restored, following the scheduled rotation. This will continue until approximately 10:00 PM Monday.  Rotational power outages will resume on Wednesday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM as efforts continue to stabilize the system.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith met with provincial government reps to talk about building new homes and bolstering the Island's infrastructure to make that possible. CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin spoke with the federal housing minister to find out how the Canada-U.S. trade war might cut into those plans.

A former school guidance counsellor who has been charged with sex crimes against a minor has pleaded not guilty in P.E.I. Supreme Court.

Queens District RCMP, and the New Glasgow and North River Fire Departments responded to a barn fire in Oyster Bed Bridge at about 10:00pm on Monday.  When RCMP officers arrived on-scene, the barn was severely damaged by the fire.  The RCMP says that some animals did perish including a horse, chickens, and pigs.  The PEI Fire Marshall’s Office was notified, and the fire is believed to be accidental and the result of an electrical issue.

Islanders in western Prince Edward Island should prepare for significant winter weather on Thursday, according to a special weather statement from Environment Canada.

The City of Summerside is once again asking residents to conserve energy during peak times after more than 19,000 people in western P.E.I. were without power following a widespread outage Monday morning.

Queens District RCMP are seeking the public’s help in their investigation of a home break-in last month.  

On January 1st, the RCMP was called to a break and enter at a home on Harbour View Drive in North Rustico. It is believed the break-in occurred between December 25th and December 31st, with the culprits stealing a safe.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Queens District RCMP or PEI Crime Stoppers.

U-S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order slapping 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, including Canadian products. The levies go into effect in March — near the deadline given to Canada to convince Trump to halt his plan for across-the-board duties.  After signing the order, Trump said the action was based on a potential national security risk.  The written orders say the changes will take effect on March 12th. 

Many Canadian politicians and business groups didn’t react well to the news of Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.  British Columbia Premier David Eby says Trump’s tariffs mean Americans will be “taxing themselves.”  Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland says the decision is “illegal and unjustifiable.”  Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe suggested a response of targeted counter-tariffs from Canada can be effective but that broad-based retaliatory measures would be harmful.

Early last Thursday morning, Kensington Police conducted a traffic stop in Kensington. During the stop, officers identified a passenger as an individual who was wanted and arrested him. A search led to the seizure of 91 Benzodiazepine pills.  Police say the suspect is facing multiple charges and is facing a date in Summerside Provincial Court.

PEI’s Jack Frost Winterfest is set for this weekend, running from Friday through Monday — Islander Day. It gets underway Friday night with a show by Swift Kick, Atlantic Canada’s ultimate Taylor Swift tribute band. Swift Kick concert tickets are required. There’s also the Warm and Glow Zone at Founders’ Food Hall and Market, featuring

DJ Hype from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The weekend will also feature the production of Once Upon A Winter at Frosty Funland in the Delta Prince Edward; Snowtopia at Mark Arendz

Provincial Ski Park; fireworks Saturday night at 7pm in downtown Charlottetown.

There will be lots of family activities at the various sites through Islander Day Monday. Tickets are on sale online at www.jackfrostfestival.com. 

Health PEI has contacted patients impacted by a privacy breach.  It says the breach occurred at Prince County Hospital, and involved patient medical records in the provincial electronic hospital record system.  Health PEI says it discovered this fall that an employee of the hospital had viewed patient records without permission.  Through an  investigation, it was discovered the employee accessed 105 personal patient records from July 1 to October 15 of 2024.  The employee has been terminated from their position with Health PEI.  The breach has been reported to the PEI Information and Privacy Commissioner, who will review Health PEI’s response to the incident.

Maritime Electric is advising that it will continue to be experiencing a high demand for electricity on its system Tuesday morning. It says that reducing energy consumption where possible during times of high demand, especially during the hours of 4 to 8 p.m. and 6 to 10 a.m., can help reduce the load on the system. Maritime Electric says its Contact Centre can be contacted by calling 1-800-670-1012. 

Nearly 30 per cent of the calls received by the 211 service on Prince Edward Island in 2024 were related to the cost of living, the organization says.

Ring-necked pheasants are thriving in northeastern P.E.I., thanks in part to a feeding program supported by a local wildlife group. This has been a tougher winter for the birds, with early snowfall and cold temperatures. But residents say they are seeing more birds than ever, including some that are coming a little too close to a local roadway. Nancy Russell headed to the Souris area to find out more.

Darcy’s A.I. Creation of the day:

PEI WEATHER

TODAY: Sunny. High -10° windchill at -15°

TONIGHT: Chance of flurries then clearing overnight. Low -14°

TOMORROW: Sunny. High -10°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

Uncertainty around U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports has some Prince Edward Island businesses saying trade barriers between provinces should be eased, but cautiously. 

Late Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from Canada and other countries. CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin sat down before the announcement with Sam Sanderson, executive director of the Construction Association of P.E.I., to find out how exposed this province could be.

Maritime Electric is advising that it will be experiencing a high demand for electricity on its system Monday night and Tuesday morning. It says that reducing energy consumption where possible during times of high demand, especially during the hours of 4 to 8 p.m. and 6 to 10 a.m., can help reduce the load on the system. Maritime Electric says its Contact Centre will remain open Monday night, and it can be contacted by calling 1-800-670-1012.
As efforts continue to manage the power interruption, the City of Summerside says its utility may need to begin a Circuit Rotation Process to shed power loads throughout the evening on Monday, and until reliable power is secured from the Maritime Electric substation. It says the process will take place on a rotational basis to distribute available power as efficiently as possible.  The City says that if your power goes out, you should expect it to remain off for approximately three hours before being restored.

To draw people to downtown Summerside, P.E.I., artists like Chester Hewlett were challenged to come up with winter-themed murals that involved an augmented reality layer. That means viewers use their phones to reveal aspects of the art that are invisible to the non-digital eye.

An employee of Summerside's Prince County Hospital accessed over 100 patients' personal files without permission, Health P.E.I. says.

As the Trump administration moves to dramatically cut the United States' international aid budget, some volunteers from Prince Edward Island are beginning to see the impact firsthand, particularly on efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS.

The Chilean man who acted as a money collector on behalf of a criminal enterprise he claims to know nothing about has been sentenced to 270 days in jail for his part in scams orchestrated across New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Maritime Electric crews have been working on a power outage affecting more than 19-thousand customers in Kensington, St. Eleanors, Wellington, O’Leary, Alberton and surrounding areas Monday morning.  Also, the City of Summerside and Summerside Electric says a power outage is affecting the entire City and crews have been dispatched to investigate.  They have started their backup power generators. Some residents will begin to see power. Based on load demands, they will commence rotating power to various circuits.  Currently, there is still no estimated time of repair. 

For the second Monday in a row, thousands of people in western Prince Edward Island are without power.

Darcy’s A.I. Creation of the day:

PEI WEATHER

TODAY: Sun and cloud. Chance of flurries. High -8

TONIGHT: Chance of flurries then clearing overnight. Low -15

TOMORROW: Sun and cloud. High -10

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

The union representing school bus drivers on PEI is welcoming new federal regulations requiring new buses to be equipped with cameras.

The cameras that have been newly mandated by Transport Canada for new buses are used to improve drivers’ visibility of their surroundings.

The systems use multiple cameras mounted on the exterior of the bus that allow drivers to see if anyone is around the vehicle before it drives off.

Premier Dennis King and his fellow Premiers from Atlantic Canada will head to Washington, D-C this week to talk about the important trade relationship the region has with the U-S. All 13 provincial and territorial leaders will be in the U-S capital to speak directly to American leaders about the benefits of a stable economic partnership in North America.  The Atlantic premiers will stress the region’s deep historical ties with New England and other northeastern U-S states, as well as the significant integration of their economies.

U-S President Donald Trump says he’ll announce Monday that his administration will impose 25-per-cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports coming into the U-S, including from Canada and Mexico.

Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday as he was flying from Florida to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl. 

He said he would also announce other import duties later this week.

Trump also repeated his claims that he doesn’t think Canada is a viable country and he wants it to become an American state. 

Those who took part in a panel discussion on Charlottetown last week say that protective mechanisms for foreign workers that would make them less vulnerable to abuse need to be implemented by the federal and provincial governments. 

Summerside is hoping to attract more people to its downtown during the winter months with a series of art displays that come to life — well, almost. 

Susan Doucette was recently awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal for her leadership in advancing palliative care in the province. 

The North Wiltshire native was recognized by Standardbred Canada with the Cam Fella award during a ceremony Saturday night in Mississauga, Ont.

One of the recipients of a 2024-2025 LIVE WELL PEI Wellness Grant is the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.  It’s receiving a grant to educate UPEI students about reducing harms related to alcohol through awareness campaigns and education modules.

The provincial government announced last week that it is providing $136,000 in grants to support 30 projects that promote healthier communities and help prevent chronic diseases through community and school-based initiatives.

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre is partnering with fourth-year UPEI nursing students to educate other students on reducing harms related to alcohol.

The recipients for the latest round of anti-racism grants and microgrants have been announced.  A total of $375,000 in provincial funding will go to fifteen community organizations for projects that promote cultural diversity, inclusion and efforts that help address racism.  Since launching in 2022, the grants have supported 78 projects, with a total investment of more than $713,500 to promote equity across the province.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says small businesses across Canada are still being taxed on their carbon tax rebates despite being told they were tax free.  The CFIB says it has been informed by the Canada Revenue Agency that the rebate is considered government assistance to taxpayers and it is subject to income tax.   CFIB president and CEO Dan Kelly says the prorogation of Parliament is not making the situation easier and is calling for Parliament to reconvene to pass legislation to make the rebate tax free.   It also wants the government to freeze a 19% increase in the carbon tax planned for April 1st.

The union representing school bus drivers on P.E.I. is welcoming new federal regulations requiring new buses to be equipped with cameras that improve drivers' visibility of their surroundings.

The Prince Edward Island Regulatory and
Appeals Commission approved the following petroleum prices effective 12:01 a.m., Friday, February 7,
2025:
• The price of regular gasoline will decrease by 0.5 cents per litre (cpl);
• The price of premium gasoline will decrease by 0.5 cpl;
• The price of furnace oil will decrease by 1.0 cpl;
• The price of diesel will not change; and
• Propane prices will increase
Including taxes, pump prices for regular unleaded gasoline at self-serve outlets will range from 172.7 to
173.9 cpl, prices for premium unleaded gasoline at self-serve outlets will range from 182.4 to 183.5 cpl and
prices for diesel will range from 200.8 to 201.9 cpl.
The maximum price for furnace oil is 144.1 cpl.
Propane prices will range from 97.0 to 97.4 cpl.

Porter Airlines is adding a new direct route between Charlottetown and Toronto this summer.  Beginning on June 13 the airline will offer four weekly round trips between the Charlottetown airport and Toronto Pearson airport. The seasonal service will offer flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday until September 14th.

A new study has found the wait-list for licensed childcare in P-E-I almost tripled between 2021 and 2023.

The report from Ontario-based Christian think-tank Cardus says there were an estimated two-thousand children on the wait-list in P-E-I in 2023.

It says the province created just 459 new licensed childcare spaces in fiscal years beginning in April 2021 and ending in March 2023.

Cardus says P-E-I did not meet its goal of offering childcare for an average price of 15-dollars a day by the end of 2022.

Two people are facing charges after a police investigation into fentanyl sale in the illegal drug trade. Charlottetown police executed a search warrant Thursday on an Orlebar Street residence and seized a variety of drugs; including fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone tablets and methamphetamine,  and weapons including several firearms, a crossbow, bear spray and knives.
Taylor Michael Ellsworth and Kennedy Brianna Hill , both of Charlottetown are in custody and will appear in court Monday. Police say the investigation is ongoing and they expect more charges could be laid.

Canada added 76-thousand jobs in January as the unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent. However, Newfoundland and Labrador’s unemployment rate went up slightly from 10.5 in December to 10.6 per cent in January. Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.5 to 7.2 per cent and New Brunswick’s dropped from 7.7 per cent to 6.4 per cent. Nova Scotia also followed the national trend and saw unemployment go down from 6.3 per cent in December to 5.9 per cent in January.

Premiers from Atlantic Canada will head to Washington, D-C next week to talk about the important trade relationship the region has with the U-S. All 13 provincial and territorial leaders will be in the U-S capital to speak directly to American leaders about the benefits of a stable economic partnership in North America.Atlantic premiers will stress the region’s deep historical ties with New England and other northeastern U-S states, as well as the significant integration of their economies.

Islanders are getting a better handle on their debt than other Canadians, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

The Canadian Cancer Society says Prince Edward Island is falling behind its Atlantic neighbours when it comes to detecting the disease. 

The tiebreaking game to end the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series takes the ice in Summerside, P.E.I. on Feb. 8. CBC's Cody MacKay lets us know what to expect.