Hermanville Wind Farm has been running at reduced capacity since the end of December after a storm took down a large part of a blade on one of its turbines.

Environment Canada has issued special weather statements across Prince Edward Island, warning of significant amounts of freezing rain on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking his first foreign trip as leader of the country, visiting Europe before returning to Canada for a stop in Nunavut.  Carney will work to strengthen ties with France and the U-K while reaffirming Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.  Discussions in Paris and London are expected to cover security, economic and trade ties.  Canada’s ambassador to the U-S says Prime Minister Mark Carney is interested in starting a conversation with President Donald Trump.  Ambassador Kirsten Hillman says the Canadian side has reached out to the U-S since Carney was sworn in on Friday.  She says Carney is seeking to “forge a good and solid relationship” with the president, and that he “respects” what Trump is trying to do for the U-S economy. 

ST PATRICK’S DAY HAS ARRIVED! SLAINTE!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY: Chance of showers. Wind SW gusting to 50. High 16.

TONIGHT: Chance of showers this evening with rain overnight. Low 10

TOMORROW: Rain changing to freezing rain then snow or ice pellets. 10mms followed by 2cms. Falling to 1 in the morning.

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

Unlike most high school valedictorians, Brandon MacKinnon gave his graduation speech 11 times. Each time, there was a different group of Charlottetown Rural High School students and parents in the audience. 

The University of Ottawa defeated the UPEI Panthers in the bronze-medal game of the U Sports men's basketball championship tournament on Sunday in Vancouver.

Spirits were high at Gillis Lodge in Belfast, P.E.I., on Saturday as dozens celebrated the 101st birthdays of two women. 

Early on Tuesday morning, shortly after 5:30am, Summerside Police received a report about a vehicle being stolen from the Palmer Street area.  Early Tuesday afternoon, police got a call about a suspicious vehicle in the East Drive area that matched the description of the stolen vehicle.  Officers located the stolen vehicle in a parking lot, and two people, a 25-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested nearby. Both are facing charges of possession of stolen property and a further charge of theft of gas for an incident that occurred earlier in the day.

With a goal of building upon PEI’s already exceptional reputation for hospitality, the Tourism Industry Association of PEI has partnered with the Cronk Group consulting firm to develop a customer service excellence program.   The initiative will see the creation of an online video version of the Association’s current in-person training program.   They will also be establishing a certification process for businesses completing the training.  It’s expected to launch at the Tourism Industry Association of PEI’s Annual General Meeting in early November.

Premier Lantz says he is deeply concerned about the lack of representation for Prince Edward Island in the new federal cabinet. Lantz says that as the province is facing serious challenges due to the ongoing trade dispute that threatens 25% of our GDP, Islanders deserve a strong voice at the decision-making table.

The Premier stresses that without that representation, key issues for the province risk being overlooked. Premier Lantz adds that ending the tolls on the Confederation Bridge and Wood Islands ferry remains a priority for his government, but without a dedicated advocate at the federal table, advancing the issue becomes even more difficult.

Some low-income Islanders will be sleeping easier thanks to the provincial government giving Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island $50,000 to upgrade their equipment and expand a refurbishment program. 

PEI R-C-M-P have conducted mandatory alcohol screening on commercial vehicle drivers crossing the Confederation Bridge.  More than 100 drivers were screened for alcohol Thursday and police say there were no warnings or failed tests. The mandatory screening authorizes police to demand a breath sample from any driver, whether, or not they suspect alcohol impairment as a tool to deter impaired driving.  RCMP Corporal Gavin Moore says impaired driving in PEI is one of the top three leading causes of fatal crashes, pointing to why the screenings were conducted. 

UPEI will battle the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees for bronze at the U Sports men's basketball championship on Sunday in Vancouver. 

P.E.I.'s Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act, which was passed nearly three years ago, will take effect this year. But advocates say the legislation does not go far enough to address the systemic injustices faced by this vulnerable population.

More than 100 commercial vehicle drivers were checked for signs of impairment this week in surprise mandatory testing at the Confederation Bridge that links Prince Edward Island and the mainland. 

The University of Prince Edward Island men’s basketball team is moving forward to the semifinals in the U Sports men’s basketball championships in Vancouver after defeating the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. 

Changes to the P.E.I. Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Device Sales and Access Act came into effect on Feb. 1 after amendments passed during the fall sitting of the legislature.

Mark Carney has been officially sworn-in as the 24^th Prime Minister of Canada.

Carney was sworn-in during a ceremony this morning at Rideau Hall in Ottawa with Governor General Mary Simon.

Carney’s new, leaner Cabinet includes a number of returning ministers, and three new members.

None of the four PEI MPs have been named to this new cabinet, but there is an Islander who remains in Cabinet.  Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon, who was born and raised in Charlottetown, is the Minister of Jobs and Families.

The new Cabinet includes:

Dominic LeBlanc – International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs

Francois-Philippe Champagne – Finance

Melanie Joly – Foreign Affairs and International Development

Anita Anand – Innovation, Science and Industry

Bill Blair – Defence

Patty Hajdu – Indigenous Services

Jonathan Wilkinson – Energy and Natural Resources

Ginette Petitpas Taylor – President of the Treasury Board

Stephen Guilbeault – Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada

Chrystia Freeland – Transport and Internal Trade

Kamal Khera – Health

Gary Anandasangaree – Justice, Cown-Indigenous Relations, Northern Affairs

Rechie Valdez – Chief Government Whip

Steven MacKinnon – Jobs and Families

David McGuinty – Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Terry Duguid – Environment and Climate Change

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Rachel Bendayan – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Elisabeth Briere – Veterans Affairs, responsible for Canada Revenue Agency

Joanne Thompson – Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Arielle Kayabaga – Democratic Institutions and Government House Leader

Kody Blois – Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development

Ali Ehsassi – Government Transformation, Public Services and Procurement.

For the first time in many decades, Prince Edward Island does not have an MP serving in a federal cabinet. 

The Prince Edward Island government's decision to pause new applications for its solar rebate program is raising concerns among some businesses that install solar panels.

PEI RCMP say they have made 4 arrests for impaired driving over the past week.  They include two drivers who were arrested in Roseneath who were arrested for impaired driving by cannabis. A 53-year old man was arrested for impaired driving by alcohol after being discovered asleep behind the wheel in the middle of the road in Blooming Point.  The fourth was a driver stopped in a traffic stop in Montague.

The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, together with Innovation PEI and Stingray Radio, is presenting the first-ever PEI Business Summit April 9th at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown.  The PEI Business Summit will bring business leaders, innovators, and decision-makers together to shape the future of business in PEI.  Guest speakers will include national pollster and public opinion expert Nik Nanos; technology expert Amber Mac; and leadership consultant Steve Jones, President of Stingray Radio, the largest operator of radio stations in Canada, including Ocean 100 and HOT 105.5.  

The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has decided on no changes this week in gasoline prices, regular or premium.  IRAC did approve decreases overnight in furnace oil and diesel prices.  The price of furnace oil decreased by 7.5 cents per litre and the price of diesel went down by 1.5 cents per litre.  Prices for diesel now range from $1.89 to $1.90 per litre. The maximum price for furnace oil is $1.23 per litre. 

Ontario’s leader expressed some optimism coming out of a meeting with one of U-S President Donald Trump’s cabinet members directing Washington’s trade policy.

Premier Doug Ford said conversations with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were “extremely positive” and that the “temperature has come down” amid recent retaliation in the current trade war.

Ford backed down from a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity to three U-S states after Lutnick called him and offered a meeting Thursday. 

The politicians are expected to have another meeting next week.

As Mark Carney prepares to be officially sworn in as prime minister today, the questions about who will be included in his cabinet are still swirling.

Sources say some portfolios could be combined to reflect their departments.

Former privy council clerk Michael Wernick said in a recent interview he expects several ministers will be “double-hatting” or carrying more than one portfolio for the time being.

In any case, it seems certain that the new cabinet will be smaller than Justin Trudeau’s last cabinet — which featured 37 members, including himself.   Carney is to be sworn-in during a ceremony at Rideau Hall today at 11am eastern time.

Diabetes Canada is excited about Prince Edward Island's new pharmacare deal with the federal government, but hopes the province will reevaluate copays on diabetes supplies, says a senior manager with the organization. 

MADE IN PEI WEEK CONTINUES TODAY!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:  Sunny. High 5°

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low -3°

TOMORROW:  Sunny. High 7°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

People from P.E.I.'s seafood industry will be at the Seafood Expo North America in Boston from March 16 to 18, hoping to land some new markets for their products. Buyers from around the world will be there and Island companies are hoping to replace the American business that they may lose because of tariffs. Nancy Russell spoke to James Power of Raspberry Point Oysters and Bethany McCarthy and Charlotte Campbell from Lobster P.E.I.

CBC:Compass host Louise Martin speaks with P.E.I.'s Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action Gilles Arsenault about capacity issues with the Island’s power grid.

The City of Charlottetown is warning Islanders to stay off ice floes after receiving a call about people who ventured out onto the ice in the Charlottetown Harbour area. 

Prince Edward Island’s Affordable Housing Development Program fell short of its intended purpose, the province's Auditor General says.

Prince Edward Islanders are in for a celestial treat tonight as a total lunar eclipse will be visible across P.E.I. and throughout Canada. Unlike last year's solar eclipse, it is safe to view with the naked eye.

With the warming temperatures this week, the Charlottetown Fire Department is warning of unstable ice conditions, and stresses that no ice is currently safe to be on.  It says fluctuating temperatures can make ice on local waterways unstable. Slippery banks and fast-moving cold water can also be hazardous. Residents are asked to take safety precautions for themselves, their families, and pets by avoiding any recreational activities on ice surfaces including harbours, rivers, streams, creeks and ponds. 

Late Tuesday morning, Charlottetown Police responded to a two vehicle collision on Allen Street and arrived to find that a pick-up truck had rear-ended a small sedan.  There were no injuries, but Police say the pick-up truck had a young child in the rear seat and the driver was showing signs of being impaired by alcohol.  A 60-year old Charlottetown woman was arrested and has been charged with impaired after providing breath samples that were over three times the legal limit.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says she will be raising the issue of tariffs in every single meeting of the G-7 as ministers gather in Quebec.

Her counterparts from some of the world’s most powerful countries including U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in attendance.

While Joly is looking to raise the issue of tariffs to co-ordinate a response with Europeans and to put pressure on the Americans, Rubio has said the meeting will focus on Ukraine and North American security. 

The two met early Thursday morning. 

U-S President Donald Trump is now threatening a 200 per cent tariff on European wine, champagne and spirits.

Trump took to social media saying the new tariffs will be imposed if the European Union goes forward with a planned 50 per cent tariff on American whiskey– expected to go into effect on April 1st.

The European tariff was unveiled in response to 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States announced yesterday.

In the post Trump called the E-U–quote– “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World… formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.” 

After more than two years of developing an official plan, the City of Charlottetown is getting close to voting on adopting it. Some residents have concerns with higher density housing the plan could make way for, but others are welcoming it.

At a public meeting Wednesday night, the City of Charlottetown unveiled the latest draft of its Official Plan — a blueprint for the city’s growth, development and infrastructure over the next 15 years.  

The Plan includes policies designed to diversify the city’s housing supply, making it easier for people to find affordable and suitable places to live.

The City says key policies include: 

• Encouraging secondary and garden suites for more affordable housing options within established neighbourhoods.
• Promoting mixed-use developments that combine housing with community spaces and commercial areas
• Promoting the construction of mid-rise apartment buildings along major corridors such as University Avenue and St. Peter’s Road
• Ensuring that new developments address the growing need for diverse housing types including affordable units.

 You can see the latest draft of the Plan and provide feedback online at charlottetownhall.ca.

Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Friday after the formal resignation of Justin Trudeau.

Governor General Mary Simon will preside over the swearing-in ceremony for Carney and his new cabinet.

It will take place at 11a-m Eastern time in the Rideau Hall ballroom.

Carney was selected as Liberal leader Sunday in a landslide vote, capturing nearly 86 per cent of the Liberal vote. 

Retaliatory tariffs on 29.8-billion dollars of U-S goods are now in effect after U-S President Donald Trump slapped 25-per-cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada.   Trump openly challenged U-S allies with the levies, vowing to take back wealth he says was “stolen” by other countries.

Canada’s Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says there was no choice but to respond and says it’s hurtful for the competitiveness of North America.

The dollar-for-dollar tariffs went into effect early this morning.  Meanwhile, federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to have a face-to-face meeting later today with one of America’s top economic officials at the White House, U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

CBC Prince Edward Island is looking back at five years ago this month — how COVID changed Islanders' lives, what the response looked like, and what's been learned. People in long-term care and their families were among the most affected by COVID restrictions.

MADE IN PEI WEEK CONTINUES TODAY!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY:  Chance of flurries this morning then clearing this afternoon. High -2°

TONIGHT: Clear. Low -8°

TOMORROW:  Sunny. High 5°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday as it warns trade uncertainty is already hurting the Canadian economy.  The move marks the central bank’s seventh consecutive interest rate cut and brings its key rate down to 2.75 per cent.  While inflation has been well-behaved and the economy was picking up speed heading into 2025, the Bank of Canada warns the tariff battle with the United States could change that in a hurry.  Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says that trade uncertainty was already causing “harm” to the economy before tariffs were imposed last week.

Unity was a common theme among those who attended a Commonwealth Day event on P.E.I. earlier this week as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose devastating tariffs on Canada and annex the country as a 51st state.

The City of Charlottetown is hosting a public meeting Wednesday night on the latest draft of Charlottetown’s Official Plan.  The meeting is at 7:00pm at Charlottetown City Hall.   

More information on the draft Official Plan can be found by visiting charlottetownhall.ca/official-plan

Health PEI is developing its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, outlining key priorities and initiatives to strengthen the province’s healthcare system over the next three years. It says the plan will focus on Communicating Health PEI’s mission, vision, and values; identifying priority areas for improvement and defining specific goals, and establishing a framework for performance monitoring and public reporting.  You can provide input through March 31st by way of an on-line survey through the government website; E-mailing submissions to [email protected]; or by mail.

Charlottetown's city council is hoping to speed things up when it comes to cleaning up unsightly properties.

MADE IN PEI WEEK CONTINUES TODAY!

PEI WEATHER

TODAY: Sun and cloud. Chance of flurries. Wind Northwest gusting 50. Falling to -4°

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low -10°

TOMORROW: Sunny. High -4°

TEXT YOUR ANSWER TO 902-368-1720

As China announces tariffs on some Canadian products — like seafood, pork and canola oil — industries on the Island worry about what kind of effect the threat will have on their goods. CBC's Taylor O'Brien reports.

U-S President Donald Trump has slapped all countries, including Canada, with 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States.

The president’s executive order went into effect at 12:01 a-m, Eastern.

It essentially removes exceptions from Trump’s 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminum, which eventually excluded Canada and other countries from the duties. 

The levies come into force hours after the White House confirmed Trump would not follow through on threats to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum after Ontario agreed to pause a surcharge on electricity exports to the U-S. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he’ll be going down to Washington to meet with U-S Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick this week to talk trade.

Ford made the comments today after a call with Lutnick in the wake of threats by U-S President Donald Trump to slap a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum.

The premier had implemented a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity heading to three states. 

Spring weight restrictions took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

The weight restrictions are meant to help minimize damage and reduce repair costs to Island roads as the roadbeds soften during the spring thaw.

As the weather warms, be aware of driving hazards like frost heaves and potholes.