MacDougall re-offers for Summerside council
A new coin will be unveiled this month to commemorate the passing of legislation that includes workplace stressors and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder under P.E.I.’s Workers Compensation Act.
The Paramedic Association of Prince Edward Island (PAPEI) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3324 will unveil the Commemorative Challenge Coin in celebration of Bill 102, which was proclaimed on May 31.
“This is very exciting and will be a token of appreciation for our members and all the time that both PAPEI and CUPE Local 3324 spent working on this legislation,” said Ryan O’Meara, president of PAPEI.
The official release of the coin will be held Sept. 8 at PAPEI’s Breaking Barriers: First Responder Mental Health Symposium in Charlottetown.
“Although the new legislation is not perfect and does have some ‘fail safes’ in it — i.e. only recognizes PTSD diagnostics from psychiatrists and psychologists — we are very relieved that we have some law to compensate all workers on Prince Edward Island for work-related stressors and PTSD,” said CUPE Local 3324 president Jason Woodbury.
“I believe this commemorative coin will remind our members and all workers on P.E.I. that we need to continue lobbying efforts to seek improvements, like to recognize physicians’ capacity to make PTSD diagnoses and other mental health supports for workers across P.E.I.”
The coins will be revealed with PC MLA Jamie Fox, a former police officer, who brought forward the private member’s bill.
Everyone registered for the event will receive one of the limited edition coins.
Registration is open to all first responders, family of first responders, allied health professionals and the general public.
Registration can be completed through the PAPEI website Paramedicassociationpei.com.
Another sitting Summerside City Council member has announced he will seek another term.
Bruce MacDougall, councillor for Ward 1, said this week he intends to re-offer in this fall’s municipal election.
MacDougall has been a longtime councillor, taking his seat at council in 1995 during the amalgamation process.
“I believe this city is on the right track and is poised for some tremendous growth over the next few years,” he said.
Currently MacDougall is chairman of the technical services committee and co-chair of economic development. He is also president of the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities, a post he has held since 2006. As president, he sits on the national board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
During his tenancy as president, MacDougall says he was instrumental in securing a new revenue-sharing formula for Island municipalities, as well as new equalization and HST deals.
He is also a member and past chairman of the Atlantic Mayors Congress.
“I am very pleased and excited with the tremendous amount of interest and economic growth that is taking place in our great little city,” he said. “We have completed a lot of major projects over the past number of years which make our city a better place to live, work and play. It is very gratifying for me as a councillor or a citizen when I meet people and they rave about our little city and the amenities that we possess for our size.”