Family friendly sitting hours

From my home in Miminegash in rural P.E.I., I have been reading letters to the editor about changing the legislature’s sitting hours with interest.

I agree with Paula Biggar, the minister responsible for the Status of Women, that it is past time for family friendly sitting hours in the legislature.

Adjusting which hours the legislature sits will be good for people with young families, and especially for women. It will also good for rural Islanders.

During evening sittings, we aren’t making the most of our smallness — you can drive to the legislature and get home the same day.

When the legislature sits, MLAs from my region have to decide between driving home late in the dark or staying in Charlottetown.

If the sitting hours changed, they would work just as many hours but during the daytime, so they wouldn’t have to make this decision.

I want rural Islanders, especially women with young families, to look at an MLA’s 24-7 schedule and know they can both serve the public and take care of a home and family.

Even when the legislature is open, I want my MLA to be able to tuck their children or grandchildren in at night and to see them onto the school bus in the morning.

I want my MLA to be able to attend an evening meeting or community fundraiser, or to go to an evening wake for a neighbour.

Evening sittings keep MLAs away from their families and their constituents more nights than is necessary.

Yvonne Deagle, Chairperson,

P.E.I. Advisory Council on the Status of Women