Editorial misses point of speech
Premier MacLauchlan outlined challenges such as need for workers and housing
Having attended the annual Rotary Premier’s Dinner, also known as the State-of-theProvince address, I was left scratching my head after reading this week’s Guardian’s editorial concerning the event.
First, let me recognize the important and tremendous work of our six Island Rotary Clubs. As a proud long-time Rotarian, I believe that Rotary’s service to our communities leaves lasting, positive legacies throughout our province and as such, they should be commended.
In addition to Rotary’s community work, each year a number of the clubs work together to host the annual State-of-the-Province address that is presented by the premier of the day. It provides Rotary’s cross-section of business leaders an opportunity to hear from the premier and reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing our province.
Unfortunately, the Guardian’s editorial left me thinking that the writer must have attended an entirely different event. The author of your article seems to have missed or ignored the portion of the speech in which the premier spoke of the future opportunities that a strong economy affords our province and, where he encouraged each of us to continue to work together.
Perhaps it was bias that prevented the Guardian from recognizing the portion of the premier’s speech that directly linked economic success to social programs – and our province’s future success.
Governments (of any political strip), are to be commended for providing a steady hand on the province’s finances and fostering economic growth. As the Premier outlined in his speech, Prince Edward Islanders have many reasons to be proud. Their hard work, innovation and ingenuity have shown that we are on a much more solid footing than many other provinces. Government too has an important role to play in these advancements and I am encouraged that the current administration has set economic success as its priority. It is apparent that the hard work of Islanders and government is paying off.
As outlined in the premier’s address, economic success must be shared with Islanders. The premier clearly stated that as a result of this economic growth, government is able to invest in education, healthcare and additional social programs – funding that would not normally be available without a strong and vibrant economy. He also outlined some challenges such as the need for workers and housing and encouraged each of us to work together in order to help address these needs.
As someone who has been involved in Prince Edward Island’s business community for many years, this is precisely the type of message I believe Islanders need and want to hear. It’s unfortunate however that your newspaper seemed to miss the entire point of the premier’s address.