PCs defeat bill eliminating annual fees
All Progressive Conservative members of the legislature voted down a Liberal bill on April 3 that would have eliminated yearly registration fees for private vehicles.
The private member’s bill, introduced by Opposition Leader Hal Perry, would have amended the Highway Traffic Act to require registration fees be paid only once, when the vehicle is purchased by its owner. The fee would remain paid for the entire life of the vehicle or until sold to a new owner.
Currently, most private passenger vehicles must be registered annually with the province at a cost of $100. There are no fees for electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles pay half the price of regular registrations.
Speaking before the legislature on April 3, Perry said removing the yearly vehicle registration fees was a measure intended to make life more affordable for Islanders.
“By implementing a onetime registration fee, Islanders will have more of their own money in their pockets giving them the ability to allocate more resources towards essential needs and discretionary spending,” Perry told MLAs.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Ernie Hudson asked Perry if he had consulted with the province’s Highway Safety division or with the Department of Justice.
Perry said he was given advice that these consultations were not necessary.
Perry said he had consulted with “thousands of Islanders,” during his time as an MLA, many of whom ask why it is necessary for the province to collect yearly fees from drivers.
Hudson asked if Perry had consulted with law enforcement about the bill’s impacts. Perry said he had not.
Hudson said registration of vehicles requires owners to show proof of insurance and proof of yearly inspections of vehicles to ensure they can be driven safely. He also said he was informed the province collected $28 million in revenues from registration fees over the last three years.
Perry said there would be nothing stopping RCMP from asking for proof of insurance if they pulled over vehicles suspected of being unsafe.
“I’m sure it’s going to help, definitely, with the thousands of Islanders who annually pay for a private passenger vehicle registration. It is certainly going to help in their households especially during this time when the cost of living is so high," Perry said.
The vote for the bill was divided along party lines with the three Liberal and three Green members voting in favour. All 17 Progressive Conservative members voted against the bill. Premier Dennis King and cabinet minister Cory Deagle were absent. PC MLA Sidney MacEwen did not vote as he was presiding over debate as deputy speaker due to the absence of Speaker Darlene Compton.
The bill was defeated 17 to six.
On his Facebook page, Perry said the votes of PC members against the bill meant that “not one P.E.I. Conservative MLA supported leaving money in Islanders’ pockets.”
“Nothing in this bill changes any safety requirements!” Perry wrote on the page.
“It's all about this government's need for revenue so that they can spend recklessly and without concern of leaving money in the pockets of Islanders!”