Trying to change the culture
Bill to divert LCC profits to curb drinking defeated; minister commits to other mandates
A bill aimed at earmarking three per cent of profits of the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission (PEILCC) for campaigns against unsafe drinking has been defeated in the legislature.
The private member’s bill, introduced by Liberal MLA Gord Mcneilly, drew votes along party lines with both Liberal and Green members supporting it and all Progressive Conservative members voting against it. However, government is committed to accomplishing this without legislation.
'DISCOURAGING'
Mcneilly called the April 3 vote “one of the most disappointing, discouraging moments” he has seen as an MLA.
“We don't have a wellness strategy. We don't have an alcohol strategy. We have no direction about where we're going, even with health promotion,” Mcneilly said.
Kristen Cameron, a Charlottetown resident who was partially paralyzed after being hit by a drunk driver in 2010, spoke in favour of the bill during a debate in the P.E.I. legislature on April 2.
Cameron was coaching rugby in the United States at the time of the crash. It left her paralyzed from the collarbone down.
Cameron pointed to the cultural changes that need to take place in P.E.I. to curb impaired driving.
Sitting next to Mcneilly, she said people in P.E.I. who have been affected by impaired driving are “an understated community.”
“This matters. This is representation of a whole community of people, people who have been affected by drinking and driving,” Cameron said of the bill.
“It’s not just me because I’m in a wheelchair because I got hit by a drunk driver. It’s everyone who loves me that has to go through it and see me suffer on a daily basis still.”
Police statistics suggest the province had the highest rate of impaired driving incidents in the country in 2022.
While law enforcement has increased the resources devoted to impaired driving in P.E.I. in recent years, Cameron said the culture of drinking is at the root of the issue.
“Culture change starts at the top,” Cameron told MLAS.
OPPOSITION FROM GOVERNMENT
Government members were visibly moved by Cameron’s story. Justice Minister Bloyce Thompson said a personal friend had been killed by an impaired driver.
But Finance Minister Jill Burridge said she did not
believe Mcneilly’s bill was the best tool for addressing impaired driving in P.E.I.
She said she believed addressing impaired driving should involve all of government, including departments like Justice and Public Safety and the province’s Chief Public Health Office.
Burridge also said she did not think it was appropriate to tie budgetary spending to the province’s laws.
“We can’t start legislating budget allocations,” Burridge said.
Burridge suggested Mcneilly send his bill to the standing committee on public accounts to alter it in a way that would work with government.
In response, Mcneilly said other legislation passed had mandated budgetary spending for other uses. As one example, the province’s Water Act requires the province to provide free testing of well water to detect bacteria.
“We are legislators. We are here to legislate. Bureaucrats implement the legislation. We set the policy and tone for that,” Mcneilly said.
NEW OFFER
On April 3, Burridge made another offer to Mcneilly. She proposed the PEILCC and the Cannabis Management Corporation (PEICMC) both be mandated through a ministerial directive – not legislation – to allocate three per cent of their net profits to social responsibility campaigns or efforts.
In addition, Burridge said both the PEILCC and the PEICMC allocated a combined $535,000 this year for socially responsible campaigns, including campaigns against impaired driving.
Burridge also committed to adding a $150,000 allocation onto that as a grant program for community groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada and an additional $50,000 for evaluation and research. These three commitments amounted to $735,000, which Burridge said would be more than three per cent of the PEILCC'S anticipated profits this year.
“I think it’s my fourth attempt to try to work with you. And it’s a proposal that I’m going to give you to think about. I think it does hit all the marks for right now. It will be done within 45 days,” Burridge said.
Mcneilly once again said he believed the spending requirement needed to be set out in legislation.
“This needs to be legislated because we have a problem in Prince Edward Island,” Mcneilly said.
The bill was defeated on April 3 by a vote of 17-6. Premier Dennis King and Tourism Minister Cory Deagle were absent from the vote.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, Burridge reiterated her commitments, including mandating both the PEILCC and the PEICMC commit three per cent of net profits to socially responsible consumption efforts.
"I'll recommit to that tomorrow. I'll make it happen," Burridge said.
On April 4 in the legislature, Burridge did commit to these initiatives in writing. She tabled a document outlining the commitments, which included a written mandate letter to the PEILCC and the PEICMC that earmarked "3 per cent spending by the two corporations on social responsibility."
In addition, Burridge recommitted to funding the $150,000 grant for groups that promote public health and social responsibility education that aims to reduce impaired driving.
Burridge also said the liquor control commission and the cannabis management corporation would be mandated to work with the chief public health office to provide recommendations on improving their existing social responsibility spending.