Latest news with #MattMacFarlane
CBC
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Matt MacFarlane chosen as leader of P.E.I. Green Party
Matt MacFarlane has been elected leader of the P.E.I. Green Party. The Borden-Kinkora MLA got 507 of the 647 votes cast. He was running against former Green Party MLA Hannah Bell. The leadership convention took place at Bluefield High School in North Wiltshire Saturday. It was originally scheduled for a smaller venue, but was relocated after the party's membership quadrupled to 800 in the lead-up to the vote. The Greens have been without a leader since Peter Bevan-Baker left the position after the 2023 provincial general election. That vote saw the party tumble from Official Opposition status. Their eight seats were cut to two — Bevan-Baker and Karla Bernard, who stepped up as interim leader. The Greens added a third seat in the legislature after MacFarlane won a February 2024 byelection in Borden-Kinkora. That was triggered by the resignation of former Progressive Conservative MLA Jamie Fox, who stepped down to run for the federal Conservatives. Byelections are set to be called before the end of the summer in Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park and Brackley-Hunter River. Those seats were left vacant when former PC cabinet minister Natalie Jameson stepped down to run in the federal election for the Conservatives, and Dennis King stepped down as premier and MLA. The Greens and the P.E.I. Liberal Party each have three seats in the legislature, so the upcoming byelections could decide which party becomes the Official Opposition.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Borden-Carleton residents speak out against fourth gas station in the town
Social Sharing Many residents in and around Borden-Carleton showed up Monday night to share their concerns over plans for a fourth gas station in their town. Borden-Kinkora MLA Matt MacFarlane called the meeting to discuss an application by D.P. Murphy to build a new gas station in the town. More than 100 people came out for the meeting at the Legion. Jennifer Murray of North Tryon says she's fearful that if the new gas station is approved, it will jeopardize the two family owned gas stations in the town, Ceretti's and Howatt's. "It's that friendly face, as soon as you walk in the store, they know what you called in for and they know what you're there for," Murray said following the meeting. "That's a real loss. We don't have that anymore." 'Why do we need four?' D.P. Murphy, which owns the Tim Hortons, Wendy's and Boston Pizza franchises on P.E.I., is behind plans for the new gas station. If approved, it would include a 24/7 Irving gas station, Tim Hortons, convenience store and EV charging stations. In its application, D.P. Murphy said that while Borden-Carleton has a small population, the town serves as the "main entryway" to P.E.I., and many travellers pass through the town. But Paul Dawson of Cape Traverse said a new gas station is not needed. "Right now, we have three service stations in the area, and there are 700 people in the area. Why do we need four service stations?" asked Dawson. "The [City] of Summerside, they have seven service stations serving 30,000 people. We don't need a fourth service station in the area." 'A shame to see that end' Denise Robinson of Searleton also doesn't see the need for another gas station. Robinson told people in the crowd how the locally-owned gas stations continue to step up for the community, like when post-tropical storm Fiona hit the province. She said they opened their doors for people to get warm, charge their phones and get a coffee. "They contribute so much to the community," she said. "It would be a shame to see that end." In a statement to CBC News, D.P. Murphy said it is respecting the processes of all regulatory and municipal authorities, adding, "We look forward to having our respective applications judged on its merits." The company went on to say: "We are very excited about the unique features our prospective development can bring to the community of Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, and our valued tourists given our property's distinctive location next to the Confederation Bridge. We know that these processes are essential to ensure that all aspects of development are considered and meet the applicable standards and requirements." 'I had concerns then' The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission still has to approve the application for the new gas station. That hearing is scheduled for May 13. MacFarlane said he plans to forward the comments he heard to the commission. But public consultation is now over, so it's unclear whether the commissioners will ever see those comments. "It is slim, but the fact of the matter is that it's been almost two years since the public has had a chance to weigh in on this project. We're going back to June and July 2023," said MacFarlane. "So my goal here this evening was to give a chance to the people of the town and the community to get caught up on the matter." MacFarlane said he wrote a letter before he was elected as an MLA opposing the fourth gas station.
CBC
05-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
As P.E.I. considers presumed consent for organ donation, experts say system support is crucial
Social Sharing Matt MacFarlane still remembers the moment 24 years ago when he learned he would need a kidney transplant. "I was 12 when I was diagnosed with kidney disease. I was told at that age that at some point in my life I'd need dialysis or transplant. I managed to get to age 26 under my own steam, and at that age I was told it's time," he told This is P.E.I. podcast host Mitch Cormier When that time came, all three of his sisters stepped forward to be tested as potential transplant donors. All were good matches, and one of them, Rosie, didn't hesitate. "I was the one who was in the best position at the time to donate. There was no deliberation. It was just something you do," Rosie said. MacFarlane, now the Green MLA representing Borden-Kinkora, was recently among those who voted in favour of a motion that aims to improve organ donation rates in P.E.I. The motion, introduced by Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly, proposes that P.E.I. adopt a presumed-consent model for organ and tissue donation. It passed unanimously in the provincial legislature. Under this model, individuals who die are assumed to have given consent to donate their organs and tissues unless they have actively opted out. P.E.I. currently uses an opt-in system, meaning individuals must sign up to become organ and tissue donors in the event of their death. But as the province considers this change, experts say legislation alone won't be enough; the whole system needs to be ready, too. Presumed consent model in Nova Scotia P.E.I. relies on other provinces, including Nova Scotia, for many specialized health-care services, including organ harvesting and transplants. Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction in North America to implement presumed consent in 2021. In that province, residents over the age of majority who have lived there for at least 12 months are automatically considered potential donors unless they opt out or have otherwise communicated their wishes. Dr. Stephen Beed, a professor at Dalhousie University's medical school, was one of those physicians who helped create the presumed-consent model. "We had about 17 donors per million when we began this journey, and we are now more than double that," he said. "In an environment where getting a 10 per cent increase per year might be considered a good year, we have more than doubled our donation rate, and our trends are that it's going to get even better than that. We've almost tripled the number of actual transplants that are being done." It takes more than just a law Beed noted that legislation alone did not drive Nova Scotia's success. "We had the chance to completely reboot our entire program, top to bottom, and think about what we could do better in all components of the donation process," he said. "And collectively that process, under the umbrella of this new law, has dramatically increased donation." That included training health-care workers to better identify potential donors, something that often didn't happen in the past. Previously, health-care professionals in emergency departments and ICUs often missed potential donors because they didn't have much education around it, Beed said. "So a potential donor might be right in front of them, and they didn't recognize them as a donor, so they didn't make the phone call," he said. Now, Beed said they are asked to call about almost any potential case, which dramatically increased referrals from around 50 per year to more than 400 annually. The province also provided funding to support this systemic overhaul, which Beed called "very, very modest by health-care standards" but made a significant difference. "If in the context of bringing a new law on board, you recognize that you need to provide support, to reboot and support the system you're bringing on board, now you have the chance to be successful." With P.E.I. looking into the presumed-consent model, Beed said building the right infrastructure alongside legislation will be key. Building the foundation Angela Carpenter, manager of P.E.I.'s organ and tissue donation program, agrees. "In order for presumed consent to be successful, we would have to have the foundations of a good organ and tissue donation program here on P.E.I.," Carpenter said. That includes training health-care providers on when and how to refer donors, what information to gather, and how to communicate with families. Public education is also critical, Carpenter said. This month, the province is running a campaign to tackle common myths and facts about organ donation. "A lot of people will rule themselves out. They'll think, you know, 'I can't be a donor because I'm too old or I'm on medication or I have a condition,' and really, we don't know until the time comes what the criteria are going to be. So we do encourage everyone: If you want to be a donor, put your name on the registry, and we'll sort everything out when the time comes." Carpenter also stressed the importance of having conversations about donation preferences when people are healthy, not during a crisis. She added that at the end of March, 10 Islanders were waiting for transplant organs including kidneys, liver, heart and lungs, a slight decline from the waiting list in recent years. 'One of the lucky ones' As for Rosie, she said donating a kidney to her brother more than two decades ago hasn't changed her life much, but she knows people have questions. "I guess people who are considering it want to know if it's affected me physically, my lifestyle, which it absolutely has not. I have an active job, I have an active lifestyle. I have two healthy children that I had after this transplant," said Rosie, who is a freshwater fish biologist. "I never think about the transplant, and unless Matt on the anniversary every year — if he doesn't send me a message, I just don't remember it. I feel no different at all." As for Matt MacFarlane, he said he's always been grateful. He remembers, after his surgery in Ottawa, seeing another patient whose transplant ultimately failed. That patient died within just two months.
CBC
01-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Borden-Carleton mayor concerned over MLA's public meeting about proposed gas station
Social Sharing The mayor of Borden-Carleton is raising concerns about a public meeting to be held Monday by the area's MLA, Matt MacFarlane, about the planning of a fourth gas station in the town. The proposed project, to be built by D.P. Murphy at the corner of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Dickie Road, would include a gas station, coffee shop and convenience store. It's sparked discussion in the community in the past, with some residents and business owners saying the town of about 800 people is already "well served" by three other gas stations. The proposal is under review by the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, which is responsible for approving retail gas outlets on the Island. In a letter to Housing, Land and Communities Minister Steven Myers, Borden-Carleton Mayor Randy Ahearn said MacFarlane's meeting could cause issues. MLA's meeting 'undermines integrity of municipal planning process,' Borden-Carleton mayor warns 3 hours ago Duration 2:14 Borden-Carleton officials are expressing concern about a public meeting being planned on a proposed gas station development. The district's Green MLA has organized it. The P.E.I. town's mayor says the meeting risks causing confusion about the planning process. Now the provincial minister involved, Steven Myers (shown), is weighing in. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau has the story. "The MLA's decision to host a separate meeting — without any consultation with town council — undermines the integrity of the municipal planning process," he wrote. "This is not an official part of the planning framework and risks creating confusion among residents, while signaling to potential investors that due process can be sidestepped for political purposes." Ahearn said planning and developing are "core municipal responsibilities," adding: "When an MLA initiates parallel processes, it not only disrupts community trust — it may deter future developers who question whether their projects will be reviewed fairly and predictably under the planning act." 'These are my constituents too' Myers said he doesn't think the project needs additional oversight in the form of MacFarlane's meeting. "After I got the letter, I sought out legal advice to see what path we could chart to make sure the town not only felt that they were supported, but... have the room to operate without having to stickhandle a backbench MLA," Myers told CBC News on Tuesday. "This is all well inside the governance framework that is set up by the provincial government so, you know, we don't feel like it needs extra oversight at this point, but for some reason Matt MacFarlane does." IRAC's public hearing is scheduled for May 13. In the meantime, MacFarlane said he doesn't see what's wrong with setting up a meeting with his constituents on a topic of public interest. "This is an opportunity for people to speak on both sides of the issue if they want, and my intention is to make note of what I'm hearing, what people say and I'll send those comments along to IRAC as part of their deliberation process," he said. This repeated pattern is deeply troubling. — Randy Ahearn, Borden-Carleton mayor "I recognize they're a part of the town, but these are my constituents too, and they reach out to me and they... want to know what they can do to have their voices heard." Ahearn said this isn't the first time MacFarlane has hosted a public meeting about an upcoming project in the town. "A similar situation occurred during discussions around the Fabrication Yard Project. This repeated pattern is deeply troubling," he wrote in his letter to Myers. For his part, MacFarlane said he wants to meet with town officials before the public meeting. "I continue to communicate regularly with the town and their new CAO," he said. "If we can get a chance to get together before the public meeting, great. I'm hoping we can." Statement sent from town CBC News asked for an interview with Ahearn about his letter. He was not available Wednesday, but the town sent a statement. "The matter in question is currently before the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC), and it is essential that the established regulatory and planning process is respected and followed. It would be inappropriate for members of council to comment on an application that is currently being processed by IRAC," the statement reads. "In the interest of due process of integrity, we trust that all parties — including the MLA in question — will allow the IRAC process and the town's planning framework to proceed without undue influence or parallel initiatives."
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I. government moving too fast on easing interprovincial trade restrictions, say opposition parties
Opposition parties on P.E.I. are urging caution when it comes to the Progressive Conservatives' proposed bill to eliminate trade barriers between provinces. Debate began Tuesday in the legislature on the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act, introduced last Friday by Premier Rob Lantz. The bill would ease the flow of goods to and from other provinces with similar legislation, and make it easier for workers in some regulated professions to find employment on the Island. Lantz has said he wants to get the act through the legislature as fast as possible, but the Liberals and Greens argued that the government is moving too quickly to be able to figure out which trade barriers it should keep. WATCH | Bees, oysters and farm machinery raised as P.E.I. politicians debate new bill on trade barriers: "If we were the last [province] to come forward, they'd be criticizing us … but we're showing leadership by coming forward," Lantz said during question period. "It's a priority in this country. Canadians want to see us dropping interprovincial trade barriers." Nova Scotia became the first province to enact this type of legislation back in February in an effort to boost the economy after U.S. President Donald Trump signalled he wanted to launch a trade war with numerous countries, including Canada. Prince Edward Island is currently the only other province to propose a reciprocal bill. The idea is that every province that passes similar laws would recognize the others' standards, regulations and accreditations. There are some important exceptions in the P.E.I. bill — regulated health professions and lawyers would not fall under the act. The opposition parties pointed out Tuesday that Nova Scotia's legislation had to be significantly amended after groups representing veterinarians and other professional associations said they would lose any ability to regulate or even track who was practising in that province. There can be more carve-outs for other professions in P.E.I.'s bill, but it's not yet clear what those would be. 'Runs a risk' There was also concern Tuesday that the legislation would supersede all other laws, including P.E.I.'s Lands Protection Act, which limits non-residential land ownership in the province. Green MLA Matt MacFarlane says it's risky to move so quickly to enact legislation that supersedes all other laws on P.E.I. (CBC) Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane took issue with the first line of the act, which reads that its purpose is to "remove barriers to trade in goods, services and investment between the province and other jurisdictions within Canada." The Greens tried to get the word "investment" removed from the bill. "Copying from Nova Scotia's legislation and bringing it in here without looking at our unique … laws in this province, I think that runs a risk, and I think the risk is if we move too quickly through this review," MacFarlane premier actually agreed with the Greens' motion, saying he didn't believe removing the term would alter the bill's purpose. "We don't feel like the inclusion of that word provides … any undue risk," Lantz said. "We had no objection to deleting it because it doesn't substantially change the intent of the bill." The amendment seemed to catch the PCs off guard — the premier and Finance Minister Jill Burridge voted with the opposition, but the rest of the PCs defeated it, so "investment" remains in the bill. Lantz hopes the act will be ready for July 1 to align with Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to have "free trade by Canada Day."
