Cheers & Jeers
JEERS to successive provincial governments that have failed to bring in class-action lawsuit legislation. P.E.I. is the only province in Canada without such legislation, which makes the process of launching a classaction suit more complicated. In a recent P.E.I. Court of Appeal decision, Chief Justice David Jenkins wrote that the lack of legislation is a significant gap in the province’s civil justice system and introducing it would be an easy fix. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the department was reviewing the judges’ comments in the decision as it considers the next appropriate steps. We hope the current government doesn’t continue the tradition of failing to take action on this issue.
JEERS to Charlottetown city council for waffling over a decision it already made. Last week council voted to reconsider a lot consolidation that would see three apartment buildings constructed at 18 Trainor St. Area residents have been very vocal in their opposition to this project through everything from letters to the editor, petitioning council and a recent rally at City Hall. But councillors who voted in favour of reconsideration didn’t list sound planning reasons. Even the city’s planning manager said some members of council were getting mired in technicalities. Regardless of council’s ultimate decision on this, the matter is going to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC). It’s just a question of whether the residents will fight the project at IRAC or the developer will fight council’s decision. At the end of the day, if council votes against the lot consolidation and IRAC upholds that decision, the developer still has the right to go ahead with a 32-unit apartment building on one of the two lots in question and can sell the other lot. And, there are dozens of conforming uses for the second lot, including things like a cannabis store and a motorcycle club.
CHEERS to Sumner Matheson of Bonshaw for the "pretty large" beet he harvested from his garden on the Appin Road last week. He estimates that he'll be able to get about 10 meals out of the four-pound brute, according to CBC's story. You can't beat that!
CHEERS to the P.E.I. leagues that held their fall championships this past weekend during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, Football P.E.I. awarded three titles in Cornwall – the Potato Bowl at the varsity level, the Ed Hilton Bowl bantam event and an under-12 championship. Also, this weekend, medals were awarded in an intra-provincial fall varsity soccer league created when the AUS and ACAA fall seasons were postponed. Willingness to adapt to change, commitment to good practices and love of their respective sports have allowed this to happen, and the athletes and coaches on all the teams should be congratulated.