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CBC
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
City asks for meeting on Park Street services, but P.E.I. housing minister says it's pointless
Social Sharing The City of Charlottetown wants more details on the province's long-term plan for services within its boundaries directed at those facing homelessness, but Prince Edward Island's housing minister says he doesn't know what such a meeting would accomplish. Steven Myers and the city have been at odds about the location of an emergency overnight shelter and the Community Outreach Centre, which currently sit at 15 Park St. in Charlottetown's southeast end. In late April, Mayor Philip Brown sent a letter to Myers asking for a meeting to discuss what's going to happen with the services. "From a planning perspective, we stand by our decision in rejecting the province's proposed amendment to [the] Zoning and Development Bylaw that would allow the continued operation of the shelter and centre," Brown wrote in the letter. "However, since the province has affirmed its intention to continue operations at the Park Street site through changes to the Planning Act, it's vital that the city and the province work together toward long-term solutions to support individuals with complex social service needs in appropriate community settings." Back in March, Charlottetown council voted to reject the province's request for a zoning change that would have allowed the shelter and outreach centre to remain on Park Street. Two days later, Myers said that vote didn't matter: The province would set up a special planning zone in the area that would allow both operations to stay in place, effectively overriding council's decision. The mayor could say 'Put it on the moon,' and I could care less what he thinks. — Steven Myers, P.E.I.'s housing minister On Friday, the housing minister told CBC News there have been several meetings between the province and city, so he's not sure what's left to discuss. "I don't know what would be accomplished in a meeting. We have a minister's task force on housing that the mayor was invited to be a part of and he decided he didn't want to be part of it, so he's had lots of opportunity to be a willing part of this," Myers said. "I'm not really sure where this would come from at this point, after being such a negative force on such a positive solution." WATCH | 'I could care less what he thinks': Myers dismisses Charlottetown mayor's opinions on Park Street: 'I could care less what he thinks': Myers dismisses Charlottetown mayor's opinions on Park Street 25 minutes ago Duration 1:58 The City of Charlottetown wants to meet with P.E.I. Housing Minister Steven Myers about the provincial emergency shelter and outreach centre located on Park Street, but Myers doesn't think that's necessary. He says the province has bought some homes in the area and the plan is to turn them into social housing. CBC's Tony Davis reports. The mayor has suggested Acadian Drive near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a possible location for the services. On Friday, Myers made it clear that he's not taking any suggestions. "The mayor could say 'Put it on the moon,' and I could care less what he thinks." In the meantime, the province has been buying up some properties near Park Street, and those homes might be turned into social housing. The province's long-term plan to help fight homelessness is to transition to a model that involves providing stable housing first, then incorporating support services. Myers says the province hopes to do that starting with a 24-unit building in the Park Street area later this year. "We think that when that happens, the sheltering need will lower a lot," he said. "Some of our long-term tenants… the ones that come every night and we know are participating and trying to work inside our system to get on a better track, we think we can put them in a better housing situation."
CBC
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities offers to step in to mediate Park Street dispute
Social Sharing The Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities is willing to step in as a mediator between the province and the City of Charlottetown when it comes to the future of the emergency overnight shelter and Community Outreach Centre on Park Street. There have been heated political debates recently about whether the shelter and outreach centre should continue operating at their current location near the Hillsborough Bridge in P.E.I.'s capital. Last week, city council voted to reject the province's request for a zoning change that would have let the operations stay on Park Street. Two days later, P.E.I. Housing Minister Steven Myers said the province would use its powers under the Planning Act to set up a special zone in the area that would remove any city role in planning decisions, effectively overriding the Charlottetown council's decision. Mayor Philip Brown has told CBC News he would be talking to the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities about the possibility of taking the province to court over the issue. "We're never interested in launching a court challenge, because that costs everybody," said the federation's president, Bruce MacDougall, who has been a city councillor in Summerside for three decades. "We have been talking with our member of Charlottetown, and we need to come together, talk with the City of Charlottetown, talk with the province, and come up with a solution for the vulnerable people that this issue is all about." Charlottetown mayor wants Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities to step in on Park Street dispute 4 days ago Duration 6:42 'This is not just about Charlottetown,' Mayor Philip Brown warned as he responded to the P.E.I. government's move to give itself planning power over the Park Street parcel of land that hosts outreach services for vulnerable Islanders. That followed a vote by Brown's council to deny the province a variance to let the services stay in that part of Charlottetown. Brown spoke with Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass about the standoff. MacDougall said the federation will reach out to the province to discuss a mediation process. "I'm sure they'll be willing to accept a mediator," he said. "Collaboration is the way forward. Confrontation gets nobody nowhere." MacDougall said the federation has previously helped municipalities resolve issues involving the province, often working behind the scenes to facilitate solutions. 'A precedent-setting issue' MacDougall said he's concerned over the province's decision to create a special zone, effectively overriding Charlottetown council's authority. That represents an unprecedented intervention that could set a precedent affecting municipal decision-making, he fears. His concern is that the province could simply bypass established municipal planning processes and impose special planning zones at will. Typically, the creation of a special planning area by a municipality involves a thorough process, including council meetings and public consultations, MacDougall said.
CBC
31-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Political turf war over outreach centre comes at expense of vulnerable Islanders, says advocate
Social Sharing An advocate who works to get vulnerable people housed says the Community Outreach Centre's location on Park Street in Charlottetown is making a difference, but recent political debates over whether it should stay there are creating uncertainty for those who rely on its services. Chris Clay, the co-ordinator of the Native Council of P.E.I.'s Reaching Home project, said he's seen first-hand how the centre provides critical support to Islanders who are often overlooked or stigmatized. "I've seen a huge improvement in the services at the outreach center. The clinic that they're running now is fantastic," he told CBC's Island Morning. "It helps address a lot of needs to the population that don't often get to see doctors. The services that the case managers are doing down there are phenomenal, and they're providing such good help to the people who need it." Political dispute over location Park Street is the outreach centre's fifth location since it first opened in January 2020 at 211 Euston St. to serve Islanders in need of access to financial assistance, counselling, employment, food and housing. Some residents in the area have expressed concerns about the location, citing fears for their safety. There were similar complaints when the centre was located on Euston Street. Clay said the current location has worked well because it's within walking distance of downtown Charlottetown and essential services. But the future of the centre and the nearby emergency shelter recently became the focus of a heated debate between the City of Charlottetown and the P.E.I. government. Last week, city council voted to reject the province's request for a zoning change that would have allowed the operations to remain on Park Street. Two days later, P.E.I. Housing Minister Steven Myers said the province would set up a special zone in the area that would allow the shelter and outreach centre to stay in place, effectively overriding council's decision. Myers went as far as using words like "lies" and "coward" when referring to the city's vote against the zoning change. Mayor Philip Brown later told CBC News he wants to avoid what he called a "sandbox fight," but he did not rule out taking the province to court over the issue. Charlottetown mayor wants Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities to step in on Park Street dispute 3 days ago Duration 6:42 'This is not just about Charlottetown,' Mayor Philip Brown warned as he responded to the P.E.I. government's move to give itself planning power over the Park Street parcel of land that hosts outreach services for vulnerable Islanders. That followed a vote by Brown's council to deny the province a variance to let the services stay in that part of Charlottetown. Brown spoke with Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass about the standoff. Clay said the political discord is happening just as staff at the outreach centre are seeing positive results. "Every time we get a few steps ahead, we seem to find barriers," he said. "It affects the people who access the services and the service providers who are trying to give them out. If we don't have a central location to work from, then it's hard to find this population." Clay acknowledged that political discussions are necessary because funding for the outreach centre and shelter comes through government. "I just wish that it would be through a lens of more caring about the population that they're arguing over." Vulnerable population, staff bearing the brunt Clay said the uncertainty surrounding the location of these services is making life even more difficult for vulnerable people. "They're the ones that get the brunt of the anger," he said. "It's not so much the political side of the argument, but the neighbourhoods, the public interactions — it often casts the people who need the services in the worst eye." Then there's the impact on the staff. "It's hard to set down connections. Our job is based a lot on relationships, and if you can't build a relationship of stability, then it's hard to keep providing the services to the people who need them the most." 'Anchor of stability' Looking ahead, Clay believes moving the centre again would be costly and unnecessary. "If both sides could meet and come with a better plan going forward on how to provide services instead of fighting over locations, we can better serve the people," he said. Housing Minister Steven Myers on province's decision to make Park Street a 'special planning area' 4 days ago Duration 7:14 P.E.I.'s minister of housing is standing firm on the location of the Community Outreach Centre and emergency shelter in Charlottetown. As Steven Myers tells Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass, the province is enacting a regulatory amendment to ensure it stays on Park Street. Some city councillors have suggested decentralizing services instead of keeping everything in one location. Clay noted there is already a level of decentralization, with the offices of organizations like Peers Alliance, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Native Council of P.E.I. spread across Charlottetown. "Everything else around them is chaos. If you're living rough, there's a lot of reasons — you know, economic struggles, mental health struggles, addiction issues — there's a lot of reasons to be homelessness," Clay said. "To have one little anchor of stability in that storm is [massive]." Last year, the P.E.I. government released a five-year plan aimed at increasing the province's housing supply and addressing the ongoing housing crisis. The strategy takes a housing-first approach to people dealing with homelessness, focusing on transitional and supportive housing. Clay said that plan is still in its early stages, but "the direction is definitely on the right path." Discussions are ongoing about the kind of housing needed to set people up for success. He pointed to an existing program, the Salvation Army's New Roots initiative, as an example of what works. The program provides supportive transitional housing with caseworker check-ins to ensure clients are doing well. "Those programs are starting to show the province and our funders that more supportive, more wrap-around supports will lead to more successful client interaction."
CBC
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Charlottetown mayor wants Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities to step in on Park Street dispute
'This is not just about Charlottetown,' Mayor Philip Brown warned as he responded to the P.E.I. government's move to give itself planning power over the Park Street parcel of land that hosts outreach services for vulnerable Islanders. That followed a vote by Brown's council to deny the province a variance to let the services stay in that part of Charlottetown. Brown spoke with Louise Martin of CBC News: Compass about the standoff.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie Real Yields Surge in Battle Against High Cost of Living
(Bloomberg) -- Australia's inflation-adjusted bond yields jumped to the highest in over a decade as the government announced plans to ramp up debt issuance in an election year to alleviate cost-of-living pressure on voters. Why Did the Government Declare War on My Adorable Tiny Truck? How SUVs Are Making Traffic Worse Trump Slashed International Aid. Geneva Is Feeling the Impact. These US Bridges Face High Risk of Catastrophic Ship Strikes Gold-Rush Fever Returns to Historic New Zealand Mining Town The yield on the nation's inflation-indexed 10-year government bonds touched 2.38% this week, the highest since 2011, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. The so-called real yield has risen almost 30 basis points this quarter, after a 39-basis-point jump in the previous three months. 'It might be a reaction to the politics,' said Philip Brown, head of research at FIIG Securities Ltd. in Melbourne. 'Every time inflation rises, the government does something to mechanically lower CPI. That doesn't help my bond. I'd need yield to compensate me for that.' The government unveiled tax cuts and other sweeteners this week, ahead of the May 3 elections, to soothe voters' cost-of-living concerns and help win Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a second term in office. Authorities plan to fund these initiatives via a 50% increase in debt issuance in the fiscal year starting July. The additional debt supply has cheapened long-dated bonds both against shorter tenors and swaps. The yield spread between three- and 10-year notes widened to 71 basis points on Friday, the most since March 2022, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The nation's sovereign bond returns were 0.6% so far this quarter, less than the 1.9% gain in global peers. 'The Australian curve has steepened notably in recent weeks,' said Martin Whetton, head of financial markets strategy at Westpac Banking Corp. 'The market had placed a supply-driven expectation of ACGB issuance that would drive a steeper curve,' he said, referring to Australia Commonwealth Government bonds. The issuance projections may have lagged behind some estimates, which may lead some investors to fade the cheapness of the 10-year bonds, he said. Business Schools Are Back Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT Israel Aims to Be the World's Arms Dealer A New 'China Shock' Is Destroying Jobs Around the World The Richest Americans Kept the Economy Booming. What Happens When They Stop Spending? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
