Category Archives: Prince Edward Island

PEI’s hysterical pain-killer epidemic

The past two weeks has seen the PEI Health Minister clutching at the pain-killer abuse story with the local media parroting his words

Substance Abuse PEI 2011 650x379 PEIs hysterical pain killer epidemic photo

Substance abuse on PEI – alcohol tops the list with marijuana 2nd and all other illicit drugs a distant 3rd

According to PEI’s Minister of Health and the local media, Prince Edward Island has a “painkiller epidemic“ but it just ain’t so.

We do know is that if the Province makes it harder to get prescription pain killers PEI’s 25,000 persons living with disabilities will suffer. Pain is the one of the most significant problems for the disabled.  Continue reading →

Health Minister and Deputy disagree on PEI’s new war on pain killers

Health PEI is starting a smoke screen war on narcotics to divert public attention from closing rural hospitals – the Minister and his Deputy tell two different stories

Currie Mayne1 Health Minister and Deputy disagree on PEIs new war on pain killers photo

Health Minister Doug Currie and Deputy Dr. Michael Mayne – two versions of “War on Pain Killers” – a smokescreen?

The announced get-tough stance on prescription of pain killers appears to be a smoke screen to divert attention from hospital closings. It is a phony shadow war at best.

Health Canada reports pain-killer use is dropping across Canada. PEI is on par with the national average.

Where is this “dramatic increase” reported by the Minister, CBC and the Charlottetown Guardian?  Continue reading →

How the mentally disabled are lost in the legal system

Without legal aid, people with cognitive and learning disabilities cannot cope with the demands of the law

Maria by Eric Parker 234x300 How the mentally disabled are lost in the legal system photo

Maria was busking to earn bus fare back to Vancouver. She told a long and convoluted tale, a tortured story of mental illness, homelessness and rejection. (Photo Eric Parker Flickr Creative Commons)

Canadians with cognitive and learning disabilities are falling through the cracks of Canada’s legal system.

They often lack the skills to deal with details like court dates, the demands for clear thinking and the pace of the courts.

Unless they get legal aid, those living with mental disabilities are not being treated fairly by the Courts or the Human Rights system that are supposed to protect them.

“Individuals who live with cognitive and perceptual impairments need more time to understand what they are facing, what their options are and how to respond,” said Toronto lawyer Sarah Shartal. (Toronto Star)

“Informed consent or informed participation takes talk…it takes time to explain things to people who have difficulty thinking clearly.”

Continue reading →

PEI Bus Crash Survivor Tells Her Story

Natalie MacDonald survived PEI’s holiday bus crash and tells her story on video

Natalie MacDonald 300x203 PEI Bus Crash Survivor Tells Her Story photo

Natalie MacDonald survived the bus crash on PEI (photo from CBC video)

Natalie MacDonald was one of two people injured in the crash of a Maritimes Bus coach during the storm on December 30, 2012.

She was with her boyfriend on the way to visit his parents in Halifax, Nova Scotia when the bus driver lost control in the snow storm.

She tells CBC News her story in this video.

Continue reading →

PEI Bus Crash Injures Passengers

“We waited in the dark…blood streaming down my face”

Natalie on back board 300x209 PEI Bus Crash Injures Passengers photo

Natalie MacDonald, passenger on the Maritime Bus that crashed on PEI

A Maritime Bus coach with 30 passengers crashed in Traveller’s Rest Prince Edward Island, sending two people to the hospital.

The Halifax-bound bus was turned back at the Confederation Bridge due to high winds.

Confederation Bridge issued a high winds advisory at 3:04 PM on Sunday, before the bus left Summerside to make the trip, restricting buses and trucks from crossing.  Continue reading →

Lennie Gallant performs at Halifax Tall Ships

Performing dockside at the Larinda mooring, PEI’s favourite son kept the audience clapping and tapping

Lennie at Tall Ships Lennie Gallant performs at Halifax Tall Ships photo

Lennie Gallant performing at the Halifax Tall Ships 2012, with his nephew Mitchell Gallant on bass (photo Stephen Pate)

A free afternoon concert by award-winning, singer songwriter Lennie Gallant was a highlight of Friday afternoon at the Halifax Tall Ships Festival 2012.

Performing under a beautiful blue sky with picturesque white clouds, Lennie Gallant sang many of his top hits from the past two decades. The crowd loved every toe-tapping minute, singing along and giving him rousing applause.   Continue reading →

Charlottetown and PEI facing dry hot summer

Rain has fallen below 30% for three months with no end in sight

Noah Sad 400 Charlottetown and PEI facing dry hot summer photo

Noah looks in vain for the water fountain on Victoria Row, Charlottetown (photo by Steven Daniel McKenna)

Charlottetown and PEI in general is having its worst summer in decades for heat without rain.

As of July 15th, Charlottetown has only received 4.25″ (108 mm) of rain since May.

Normally, 9″ (230 mm) of rain would have fallen in the same time.

Noah Clements and all the other children who like to play in the fountain on Victoria Row will be disappointed unless rain starts falling, which is not in the forecast.  Continue reading →