Category Archives: Government of PEI

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 →

PEI Narcotics Regulations Attack Disabled and Dying

Prince Edward Island’s plans to further restrict legal prescriptions of pain killers will harm the long-term disabled and terminally ill.

doug currie press conference src 240x222 PEI Narcotics Regulations Attack Disabled and Dying photo

PEI Health Minister Doug Currie promoting new regulations that will harm people with disabilities

The new legislation will limit legal prescriptions for those suffering chronic pain in the terminal stages of life.

Using data from PEI’s maligned health information system, PEI’s Minister of Health plans to limit pain medication for PEI’s 25,000 disabled.

Narcotic pain killers are already highly regulated in Canada and access for people with chronic pain and disabilities can be difficult. New regulations are a likely a smokescreen of other changes in the PEI healthcare system.  Continue reading →

PEI Opposition calls for AG investigation of troubled Tourism Department

Contracts worth $4.2 million were handled improperly and the Deputy is tied to a rumored police investigation

pe melissamaceachern PEI Opposition calls for AG investigation of troubled Tourism Department photo

Melissa MacEachern, former PEI Deputy Minister of Tourism in alleged conflict of interest over contracts (photo – CBC)

Updated 8 PM -Opposition Leader, Olive Crane has asked the Auditor Genera to make public all copies of contracts and letters involving the PEI government and the Tourism Research Centre, to determine if the former Deputy Minister of Tourism Melissa MacEachern was in conflict of interest.

“The Auditor General confirmed Tuesday that the former Deputy had signed many of the $4.2 million in contracts that had violated treasury board policies and the Financial Administration Act. Some of these saw large amounts of money paid up front without the work having been started and in some cases, not completed. Some of those contracts were verbal, some did not have the required signatures and many of the invoices for cheques had no explanation for the money paid out.”  Continue reading →

Is UPEI professor Sean Hennessey being charged by RCMP?

Charges of fraud and income tax evasion expected this week against professor with connections to PEI Department Tourism

Sean Hennessey Is UPEI professor Sean Hennessey being charged by RCMP? photo

UPEI Professor Sean Hennessey, working for Tourism Research Centre at UPEI or himself?

Mild ripples of scandal permeated the spring 2011 Legislature sitting when MLA Jim Bagnall went public with fraud allegations against Sean Hennessey, a UPEI business professor.

RCMP have not confirmed this week that charges will be laid against Mr. Hennessey, after a year-long investigation. After the allegations were made in the Legislature, Dr. Roberta MacDonald who held the UPEI Dean of Business position since 2002 stepped down. MacDonald is Hennessey’s wife.

Former UPEI President Wade McLaughlin was criticized at the time for not investigating and disciplining Hennessey before his retirement in June 2011.

Several sources have told NJN the RCMP are getting ready to move on Hennessey.  Continue reading →

EI Reform and the Folly of PEI

PEI Premier Ghiz let $500 million in development money slip away with no industrial development

Ghiz worried EI Reform and the Folly of PEI photo

Premier Ghiz of PEI worried about EI changes that affect 78% of Islanders (Photo CBC News)

Did Premier Ghiz see the shifting sands of Canada coming to hit him with the triple threat of reduction in Employment Insurance benefits, Federal transfer payments and massive layoffs of public servants?

If he had, perhaps some of the $500 million PNP money would have been spent on industrial development and not buying luxury homes and cars, propping up bankrupt businesses and essentially squandered on anything that had a pulse with a partisan connection.  Continue reading →

Super Moon coming on May 5 – 6

Catch the biggie-sized moon near the horizon on May 5th but watch out for the hound dog barking

Super moon rise Super Moon coming on May 5 6 photo

Perigee super moon rising (photo Bill Watson Hamilton Ontario)

I knew something magical was happening last night. When I was going to sleep, the almost full moon was streaming light through the blinds.

I opened them up and fell asleep bathed in the moonlight. When I awoke at 2:30 AM the night was alive with moonlight.  Continue reading →