Opposition Green Caucus of Prince Edward Island

06/16/2026

Statement from Matt MacFarlane: Premier’s Inaction Leaves Islanders Holding the Bill

I am deeply disappointed by IRAC’s decision to allow Maritime Electric to pass Hurricane Fiona recovery costs on to Islanders. Premier Lantz now claims he wants to hold Maritime Electric accountable, but his actions, or inaction, speak louder than his words.

This spring, the Green Party brought forward legislation that would have strengthened accountability for Maritime Electric, introduced clear performance metrics, and created incentives for the company to properly manage vegetation around power lines before disaster strikes. Premier Lantz and his government had the perfect opportunity to act and stand up for Islanders. Instead, they chose to do nothing.

This most recent ruling also raises serious questions about IRAC itself. Time and again, we see IRAC make decisions that fail to put Islanders’ best interests first. Whether it is electricity rates, land issues, gas price regulation, or other matters that directly affect people’s lives, confidence in the commission has steadily eroded.

The Green Party believes Islanders deserve a regulator that is transparent, accountable, and focused on protecting the best interests of all Islanders. Under my leadership, a Green government would dismantle IRAC and replace it with a modern regulatory framework that delivers real accountability for Maritime Electric and puts Islanders first.

Islanders should not be left holding the bill for failures they did not cause. We need a government willing to stand up for ratepayers, demand accountability, and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of Islanders, not utility shareholders.

Matt MacFarlane
Leader of the Green Party of PEI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2026 Statement from Matt MacFarlane: Premier’s Inaction Leaves Islanders Holding the Bill Charlottetown, PE – I am deeply disappointed by IRAC’s decision to allow Maritime Electric to pass Hurricane Fiona recovery costs on to Islanders. Premier Lantz now claims h...

05/29/2026

Spring sitting ends with Greens bringing real solutions while PC government spends recklessly with no benefit to Islanders:

The spring sitting of the legislature ended today with the Lantz government using its majority to pass the largest budget in our province’s history – one with a projected deficit of $410 million.

During the 10 week sitting, the Green caucus stood up for Islanders, held government accountable, and put forward real, positive solutions in healthcare, electricity, affordability, education and housing. These solutions include:

- A bill to remove the sick notes requirement - something doctors tell us will reduce their administrative burden and would allow them to spend more time with patients. Government ignored healthcare workers and voted it down.
- A bill to modernize our electricity system and force Maritime Electric to be accountable, reliable and affordable. Government sided with Maritime Electric and voted it down.
- Passed a bill to rein in the PC’s reckless spending of public money by ensuring special warrants are only used in urgent circumstances.
- Called on government to dismantle IRAC to remove the political patronage and make it more transparent and more accountable to Islanders by developing targeted commissions to oversee the Lands Protection Act, Energy regulations and other responsibilities currently housed with IRAC.
- Passed a motion to establish a satellite menopause centre on PEI
- Passed a motion to track school absences related to bullying.

“This sitting showed Islanders that this government is more concerned with keeping power and using that power to help themselves than it is with making changes that benefit everyday Islanders,” said Matt MacFarlane, Leader of the Green Party of PEI. “When solutions were brought forward by our caucus on electricity costs, gas prices, IRAC, improving school safety and increasing healthcare access for Islanders, Premier Lantz’s response was to kick the can down the road and delay taking action.”

“Islanders elect a government to make decisions, not commission reviews," said MacFarlane. “It’s time for a new government – one that listens to Islanders, takes their concerns seriously, and then puts those ideas in action.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2026 Spring sitting ends with Greens bringing real solutions while PC government spends recklessly with no benefit to Islanders Charlottetown, PE – The spring sitting of the legislature ended today with the Lantz government using its majority to pass the largest budge...

05/28/2026

Peter Bevan-Baker gave a member statement on the government's unwillingness to make any changes to modernize our Island's energy system.

05/28/2026

Karla Bernard gave a member statement calling on the Minister of Education to take action and make changes in the education system that support teachers, students, parents, EAs, support staff and school personnel.

05/22/2026

Matt MacFarlane gave a member statement on Islanders deserving a government that is focused, hard-working, and knows above all else that it serves the people of this province.

05/20/2026

Peter Bevan-Baker gave a member statement on the PC government's inability to make any positive change or progress for Islanders.

05/20/2026

Karla Bernard gave a member statement on the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women's 2026 Equality Report Card which assesses the Prince Edward Island Government’s progress toward gender equality goals.

05/20/2026

RELEASE: PCs vote down Green Party bill to remove sick notes for Islanders

Today in the Legislature, the Rob Lantz PC government voted down Green Leader Matt MacFarlane’s bill to remove the requirement for sick notes for employees who are already guaranteed sick days under the Employment Standards Act.

The bill, which is an amendment to the Employment Standards Act, would have relieved pressure on our struggling and overwhelmed healthcare system.

“Today the PC government led by Premier Rob Lantz chose petty politics over Islanders – all in the midst of a healthcare crisis,” said MacFarlane. “Since I first brought this bill forward two years ago and government voted it down, our healthcare system has gotten more strained and we’ve lost more family doctors. As politicians we should do everything we can to improve Islanders’ access to healthcare.”

“It’s crystal clear that the PC government has no interest in making positive changes for Islanders. It’s time for a new government, one that isn’t afraid to do the work and improve our healthcare system.”

MacFarlane was joined in the Legislature by Dr. Kay Dingwell, an emergency room physician, who spoke about the importance of lessening unnecessary administrative burdens on frontline healthcare workers and freeing up space in doctors’ offices, walk-in clinics and ERs for Islanders who need medical treatment.

“As an ER doctor, I should be seeing patients who need medical treatment, not people who are there only because they need a sick note for work,” said Dr. Dingwell. “Writing someone a sick note does nothing to help them get better and only adds to our already strained healthcare system. This common sense legislation would have made a real difference and I’m disappointed government did not support it.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2026 PCs vote down Green Party bill to remove sick notes for Islanders Charlottetown, PE – Today in the Legislature, the Rob Lantz PC government voted down Green Leader Matt MacFarlane’s bill to remove the requirement for sick notes for employees who are already gua...

05/19/2026

Green Leader Matt MacFarlane will be bringing his sick notes bill back to the floor of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island on Wednesday May 20th. Dr. Kay Dingwell, an emergency room physician, will once again join Matt in support of this bill that will remove an administrative burden for healthcare workers and free up more space in doctors' offices and hospitals for Islanders who need medical treatment. Tune in live at 3pm: https://www.assembly.pe.ca/watch-live

05/14/2026

Peter Bevan-Baker gave a member statement in support of his bill which would modernize PEI's energy system and hold Maritime Electric accountable. Unfortunately Bill 108 was voted down by the PC government shortly after this statement.