Cheers &Jeers

CHEERS to the Cooper Institute in Charlottetown for its tireless work advocating for vulnerable P.E.I. residents, including temporary foreign workers like Lude Meng. In a series about Meng’s efforts to obtain an open work permit after she was abruptly laid off following her complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace, the Chinese newcomer who wants to build a life in P.E.I. credited the Cooper Institute for helping her through a complicated and time-consuming process to untie her work permit from her previous employer. We are grateful to Meng and the Cooper Institute for sharing their story in hopes of making things smoother for future foreign workers in P.E.I.

CHEERS

to the City of Charlottetown and Downtown Charlottetown Inc. for being open to feedback from downtown farmers’ market vendors and finding a new, but possibly temporary, location for the event that runs Sundays in the summer months. After originally informing vendors the market would be moving to a grassy square at Prince and Water streets, city staff said the event will move to Confederation Landing Park, which will be more spacious and its concrete and brick paths more friendly for those with mobility issues.

JEERS

to members of Parliament for their conduct in the House of Commons. On April 30, Speaker Greg Fergus had to ask both the prime minister and the Opposition leader to withdraw comments he deemed unparliamentary. First, Justin Trudeau was censured for saying Pierre Poilievre shows “shameful, spineless leadership.” After direction from Fergus, Trudeau withdrew those comments. Poilievre later used the phrase “wacko prime minister.” When asked to withdraw, Poilievre tried twice to substitute another adjective for wacko then refused to defer to the Speaker and was kicked out. A large portion of the Conservative caucus walked out. How does any of this posturing help Canadians who are in a cost-of-living and housing crisis in a climate emergency? What example does this set for society that seems to become more violent and divisive rather than seeking to understand and work together?

JEERS

to the P.E.I. government for failing to adequately address capacity issues in some Island schools. The Public Schools Branch has launched a review as many of its schools near capacity. During a recent PSB board meeting, the trustees heard about schools where students use every available space in the building. That includes using dividers in classrooms and principals struggling to find private spaces for educational assistants who need it for student support. On top of that, the school bus drivers’ union has raised the alarm about overcrowding on buses. The P.E.I. Teachers Federation is also raising concerns about staffing shortages. Keeping up with P.E.I.’S population growth has proven to be a challenge for the provincial government, but the system’s current woes have been years in the making. Although some efforts, like a new school in Stratford, will help alleviate some issues, it will only address a localized problem. Until widespread changes are made, many schools around the province will to continue to struggle.