Latest news with #RobLantz
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
More calls for federal government to address Confederation Bridge Toll
The premier of P.E.I. is asking the federal government for an update on the timeline to reduce the tolls for the Confederation Bridge. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is urgently calling on the federal government to fulfill its promise to reduce and ideally remove tolls on the Confederation Bridge. The association represents over 900 small businesses in Prince Edward Island and throughout Atlantic Canada said Frédéric Gionet the Atlantic Director of the federation. Gionet said 76 per cent of members agree eliminating the toll is the best option to alleviate the impact of transportation costs and level the playing field with the rest of Canada. 'I mean its years in the making and there's a reason why both political parties really jumped on this one as an election campaign promise,' Gionet said. 'They've heard from P.E.I. They've heard from businesses. They've heard from the region. this is a no brainer.' Gionet said there are some constitutional provisions because the bridge was based on the island coming into the confederation. He said a letter has been sent to Ministers in the federal government, local MPs and Premier Rob Lantz to 'bring this election promise over the finish line.' 'The potato industry itself is estimated between five and seven million dollars in direct impact from the toll bridges and you could take every industry in PEI and probably come up with a very similar figure.' Gionet said removing tolls will reduce transportation costs, encourage greater labour mobility, investment and tourism for the island. 'In the spirit of tariffs and Canada having some nation building projects and looking at how we can better trade, there's no better time to do this.' The association is asking for three things right now: urgency on a timeline, fairness for all vehicles and certainty that this change is here to say. In a statement to CTV News, Transport Canada said in part that 'the Confederation Bridge is essential for tourists, residents, and businesses, who need to have safe and reliable options to travel. That's why we're making the Confederation Bridge more affordable. We will ensure fair and equal treatment for P.E.I.'s bridge.' No details were provided for a timeline or what 'more affordable' might look like. 'We're going to continue pushing,' said Gionet. 'CFIB never goes away when it comes to these things. We follow our members demands and they've been clear and they're expecting some answers, so we'll be asking the questions.' For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
P.E.I. and Ontario partner to reduce trade barriers
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that strengthens both provinces' commitment to eliminating barriers to interprovincial trade. (Source: Government of P.E.I.) Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz and Ontario Premier Doug Ford will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reduce internal trade barriers. The agreement was signed at the First Ministers Meeting in Saskatoon and builds P.E.I.'s Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act and Ontario's Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada. The MOU will reduce red tape, recognize equivalent standards, improve mobility for workers and create opportunities for economic growth in both provinces, a news release from the government of P.E.I. said. 'Prince Edward Island may be Canada's smallest province, but we are punching well above our weight,' Lantz said. 'With our reciprocal Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act, we're not just keeping pace – we are setting the standard and securing our future. Together, we're proving that when provinces work together, the whole country moves forward.' Ford said the MOU comes at a critical time to improve interprovincial trade. 'With President Trump threatening our economy, there's never been a more important time to boost internal trade and cooperation between provinces,' said Ford. 'By signing these agreements and working together, we're helping Canada unlock up to $200 billion in economic potential and standing shoulder to shoulder to protect the future of Canadian workers across the country, not just in Ontario.' The agreement signals a commitment to continue building the relationship between the two provinces and enhance collaboration across the country, the news release said. The annual value of trade in goods and services between Ontario and P.E.I. is over $1.5 billion. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. pitches 7 'nation-building' projects to Ottawa at first ministers' conference
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is pitching seven so-called "nation-building" projects at the first ministers' conference in Saskatoon on Monday. Lantz is meeting with other provincial and territorial leaders and Prime Minister Mark Carney for the first time since the April 28 federal election. Carney told CBC's Power & Politics last week that "major projects" are the top priority of the meeting. He described them as "nation-building projects" that will unite the country, diversify the economy, boost exports and move the economy forward. Each province was asked to bring a list of ideas. At the top of Lantz's list is a regional project to increase electrical capacity on the Island. "This concept that we're bringing forward here in Saskatoon would strengthen the transmission across Atlantic Canada, and connect the region to the national grid, open up regional generation opportunities," Lantz told CBC's Island Morning. "It would trigger billions of dollars, not just in infrastructure investment, but also economic development opportunities. We're running up against capacity issues in Prince Edward Island, and it could be difficult to develop any large industrial or agricultural enterprises here in the province, unless we really deal with our energy future and secure our energy future." Power reliability has been a major topic this year on the Island after the City of Summerside, which operates its own utility, faced a series of power disruptions this winter. Summerside Electric generates about 60 per cent of its electricity through renewable sources like solar and wind, but it still relies on Maritime Electric's transmission grid for power that the smaller utility buys from New Brunswick. A failure at Maritime Electric's Sherbrooke substation, located just north of the city, led to significant power challenges in February. As a result, residents were asked to conserve electricity and a mobile transformer had to be brought in from Newfoundland to stabilize the system. Lantz noted P.E.I. depends on New Brunswick for additional electricity, delivered through underwater cables. He said the province may need to look at other solutions, for example another undersea cable to Nova Scotia, as part of the energy pitch. Trade agreement with Ontario signed Ahead of the first ministers' meeting, P.E.I. and Ontario signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Sunday to cut down on trade barriers and ease the flow of trade and labour across the two provincial borders. Lantz said it came together as a direct result of P.E.I. Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act. "We're the second province in the country to pass [an] internal trade and labour mobility act in the legislature this spring, and so we are in a position to start making deals with other provinces. Ontario has been very active in that front," he said. The MOU says the two provinces agree on six points, including encouraging other provinces to join P.E.I. and Ontario in their agreement, looking for ways to align regulated professions and creating a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement, among other priorities. The annual value of trade in goods and services between Ontario and P.E.I. is more than $1.5 billion, the P.E.I. government said in a release. An external analysis by the Montreal Economic Institute suggests a deal like this between P.E.I. and Ontario could contribute $1.1 billion to the Canadian economy. Other projects In addition to the energy proposal, Lantz is pitching six other infrastructure projects. One of them is building another road into West Prince. The issue has raised concerns in the past by Liberal MLA for Tignish-Palmer Road Hal Perry, who warned the region relies on a single road in and out, which is a stretch of Route 2 between Portage and New Devon, and what would happen in the event of an emergency or if that road were closed. Other proposed projects include developing a shipping port, expanding air cargo capacity at Charlottetown Airport, and establishing a year-round connection to Nova Scotia, potentially through a bridge or ferry. The premier is also calling for an expansion of three-phased power, improved cell service. "The prime minister has been very vocal that he wants the provinces to be very ambitious on these projects," Lantz said. "So we're pitching everything we can that we can think of that would rise to that threshold of a nation-building project." The regional energy initiative stands out among the seven proposals as it "approaches a nation building-threshold better than those other projects and very much needed in the region," he said. Lantz says he does not know how many — if any — of these projects will be approved or whether the province would have to pay a portion of the cost. The province's financial capacity is already under pressure. A report by the auditor general in November flagged rising debt levels. P.E.I.'s net debt increased by 26 per cent over the past decade, reaching $2.65 billion as of March 31, 2024. The most recent provincial budget projects a $183.9-million deficit, with the debt expected to climb to about $4.2 billion by March 31, 2028. When asked whether P.E.I. can afford to invest in such large infrastructure, Lantz said: "We need to invest in order to grow."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I. pitches 7 'nation-building' projects to Ottawa at first ministers' conference
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is pitching seven so-called "nation-building" projects at the first ministers' conference in Saskatoon on Monday. Lantz is meeting with other provincial and territorial leaders and Prime Minister Mark Carney for the first time since the April 28 federal election. Carney told CBC's Power & Politics last week that "major projects" are the top priority of the meeting. He described them as "nation-building projects" that will unite the country, diversify the economy, boost exports and move the economy forward. Each province was asked to bring a list of ideas. At the top of Lantz's list is a regional project to increase electrical capacity on the Island. "This concept that we're bringing forward here in Saskatoon would strengthen the transmission across Atlantic Canada, and connect the region to the national grid, open up regional generation opportunities," Lantz told CBC's Island Morning on Sunday. "It would trigger billions of dollars, not just in infrastructure investment, but also economic development opportunities. We're running up against capacity issues in Prince Edward Island, and it could be difficult to develop any large industrial or agricultural enterprises here in the province, unless we really deal with our energy future and secure our energy future." Power reliability has been a major topic this year on the Island after the City of Summerside, which operates its own utility, faced a series of power disruptions this winter. Summerside Electric generates about 60 per cent of its electricity through renewable sources like solar and wind, but it still relies on Maritime Electric's transmission grid for power that the smaller utility buys from New Brunswick. A failure at Maritime Electric's Sherbrooke substation, located just north of the city, led to significant power challenges in February. As a result, residents were asked to conserve electricity and a mobile transformer had to be brought in from Newfoundland to stabilize the system. Lantz noted P.E.I. depends on New Brunswick for additional electricity, delivered through underwater cables. He said the province may need to look at other solutions, for example another undersea cable to Nova Scotia, as part of the energy pitch. Ahead of the first ministers' meeting, P.E.I. and Ontario signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Sunday to cut down on trade barriers and ease the flow of trade and labour across the two provincial borders. Lantz said it came together as a direct result of P.E.I. Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act. "We're the second province in the country to pass [an] internal trade and labour mobility act in the legislature this spring, and so we are in a position to start making deals with other provinces. Ontario has been very active in that front," he said. The MOU says the two provinces agree on six points, including encouraging other provinces to join P.E.I. and Ontario in their agreement, looking for ways to align regulated professions and creating a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales agreement, among other priorities. The annual value of trade in goods and services between Ontario and P.E.I. is more than $1.5 billion, the P.E.I. government said in a release. An external analysis by the Montreal Economic Institute suggests a deal like this between P.E.I. and Ontario could contribute $1.1 billion to the Canadian economy. In addition to the energy proposal, Lantz is pitching six other infrastructure projects. One of them is building another road into West Prince. The issue has raised concerns in the past by Liberal MLA for Tignish-Palmer Road Hal Perry, who warned the region relies on a single road in and out, which is a stretch of Route 2 between Portage and New Devon, and what would happen in the event of an emergency or if that road were closed. Other proposed projects include developing a shipping port, expanding air cargo capacity at Charlottetown Airport, and establishing a year-round connection to Nova Scotia, potentially through a bridge or ferry. The premier is also calling for an expansion of three-phased power, improved cell service. "The prime minister has been very vocal that he wants the provinces to be very ambitious on these projects," Lantz said. "So we're pitching everything we can that we can think of that would rise to that threshold of a nation-building project." The regional energy initiative stands out among the seven proposals as it "approaches a nation building-threshold better than those other projects and very much needed in the region," he said. Lantz says he does not know how many — if any — of these projects will be approved or whether the province would have to pay a portion of the cost. The province's financial capacity is already under pressure. A report by the auditor general in November flagged rising debt levels. P.E.I.'s net debt increased by 26 per cent over the past decade, reaching $2.65 billion as of March 31, 2024. The most recent provincial budget projects a $183.9-million deficit, with the debt expected to climb to about $4.2 billion by March 31, 2028. When asked whether P.E.I. can afford to invest in such large infrastructure, Lantz said: "We need to invest in order to grow."
CBC
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Lantz leaves door open for P.E.I. Progressive Conservative leadership run after all
Social Sharing Premier Rob Lantz says he is not ruling out a run for the permanent leadership of P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative Party, despite previously indicating that he didn't want anything but the interim job. Lantz became the governing party's interim leader and thus the premier on Feb. 21, a day after Dennis King's sudden resignation from both roles. In a statement to CBC News on Wednesday, Lantz said he's been focused on leading the province and the spring legislative sitting over the past three months. "In that same time, many Islanders have approached me about reconsidering my stance on running for the leadership of the PC Party," he said in the statement. "I owe it to those who have been encouraging me to have a conversation with them and hear what they have to say — and that's what I am doing right now." WATCH | As P.E.I. PCs work on leadership convention plan, Premier Rob Lantz says he's being urged to run: As P.E.I. PCs work on leadership convention plan, Premier Rob Lantz says he's being urged to run 1 hour ago Duration 2:31 The interim leader of Prince Edward Island's Progressive Conservative Party says he's not ruling out a run for the permanent leadership of his party. That's a change from a few months back. The PCs haven't set a date for their leadership convention yet, says party president Sydney Gallant (shown), but that isn't stopping the talk in Island political circles. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau has more. King's resignation meant all three political parties with seats in the P.E.I. Legislature were left without a permanent leader. The Green Party will hold a leadership convention on June 7, while the Liberals' top spot will be contested Oct. 4. The PCs have not yet selected a date for their convention. Sidney Gallant, president of the P.E.I. Progressive Conservatives, said Wednesday that the party has now finalized the rules for the race. The government also has to call two byelections in the near future — one in Brackley-Hunter River triggered by King's resignation, and another in Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park after Natalie Jameson stepped down to run in a losing bid for the federal Conservatives in the April general election. WATCH | P.E.I. premier talks to CBC News: Compass about his resignation and what's next P.E.I. premier talks to CBC News: Compass about his resignation and what's next 3 months ago Duration 10:36 Dennis King announced Thursday that he was stepping down as P.E.I.'s premier and walking away from politics entirely. A few hours after the announcement, he joined CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin to talk about his decision and his plans for the future. "It's our job to make sure that the party's ready to tackle those byelections when the premier calls them," Gallant said. "There's a lot on the plate, and we don't take this lightly. The next leader of the PC Party will be the next premier of Prince Edward Island, so we want to make sure that we're not rushing [a convention]. We want to do this right." Other candidates unconcerned Lantz had been relatively clear from the day he was sworn in as premier that he did not intend to seek the permanent leadership — but even back then, he didn't fully close the door. "I may very much enjoy doing this job and regret that I don't put myself forward for that permanent leadership," he told CBC News in an interview after his Feb. 21 swearing-in ceremony. If the current premier throws his hat in the ring for the leadership, he'll face at least two other candidates, neither of whom said Wednesday that they would be concerned with Lantz entering the race. Mark Ledwell, a Stratford lawyer, announced last week that he's interested in the party's top job. He's been working behind the scenes with the Progressive Conservatives since the 1980s. "Premier Lantz stepped into a big job on short notice, and I think he needs to be applauded for doing that," Ledwell said. "I know what he said publicly, and whether or not he runs, that's his decision. I don't discourage anyone from running." Cory Deagle, the other announced candidate and the current MLA for Montague-Kilmuir, stepped down from a cabinet post just days after King's resignation to announce his leadership bid. Whether Lantz decides to run for leadership or not, Deagle said he expects the race to be competitive. "It would definitely change the dynamics of the race," he said Wednesday of the possibility of his current boss seeking the leadership. "A competitive race is good for the party. Ultimately it'll be up to Premier Lantz whether or not he decides if he wants to run for the leadership." Gallant said she expects more people to come forward, with a party search committee actively recruiting candidates. If Lantz does decide to run, he'll have just 10 days after the convention date is announced to hand over the reins of the province to yet another interim party leader, who would therefore also be premier.
