PEI Rural Alliance fights closure of 11 rural schools

Georgetown Mayor Peter Llewelyn speaks out against urban bias in Liberal government

Rally in Covehead (Photo CBC)

“Rural PEI produces 100% of the agriculture, 100% of the fishing, 80% of the tourism. Why do we get 5% of the respect.”

Mayor Llewellyn told the 300 people in Covehead at the kick off meeting of PEI Rural Alliance.

“When did it start” that rural PEI was separate from the rest of PEI Llewellyn told the receptive crowd.

Llewellyn called on the government to show leadership in building a plan that will address the real problems of rural PEI and not shut down the schools.

“We’re getting fed up. We’re not mad and we’re not going to throw any shoes.” he told the MLA’s, School Superintendent Sandy MacDonald and trustees in attendance.

“We need money, let’s sit down and talk. We need teachers, let’s sit down and talk. Refusing to talking to us is not an option. We’re voters, we’re taxpayers and we’re from PEI.”