P.E.I. premier faces health-care criticism inside and outside legislature
A small group health-care support staff rallied outside Prince Edward Island’s legislature for higher wages Thursday, after talks between the province and union representing health-care cleaners, cooks, and porters, among others, broke down.
Premier Dennis King went out to meet with them briefly before the legislature opened.
“They are demoralized,” said CUPE representative Lori MacKay to King. “Seventy per cent of the people on that survey told us they are considering, or have considered, leaving healthcare.”
CUPE's contact expired in 2023. P.E.I. health-care locals do not have the right to strike. They say 85 per cent of members struggle to make ends meet.
The province offered a 10.5 per cent raise over three years. CUPE is asking for a $10/hour increase over the same time.
“We want to be as fair as we possibly can. We’ve been dealing with a variety of different unions along the way, and we’ve been very, very fair,” said King. “Trying to meet our obligations as well as meet the realities of the cost of living, et cetera, and trying to keep wage parity within the region, so we’ll continue to do that.”
King didn’t get a better reception inside the legislature, challenged on his government’s Wednesday announcement of $25 million for 54 new long-term care beds in private nursing homes instead of public facilities.
“Until the books of the private long-term care facilities are fully open, there is no openness or accountability,” said Peter Bevan-Baker, P.E.I. Green MLA, as the legislature hooted around him. “Public dollars are being given to Tory friends with no way for opposition members or islanders, or islanders, to know how it is being spent."
King said keeping the elderly in hospital costs four times as much as in long-term care homes.
“The honourable member speaks so disparagingly about not only of the people who own these facilities, but the people who work within them,” said King. “It really, really, really pains me to see this tremendous fall from grace to someone I used to hold in the highest of regard.”
Much of that money is to bring private long-term care wages closer to the public sector, while outside public health-care and long-term care employees say they aren’t paid enough.
For more Prince Edward Island news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977485.1721935249!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE UPDATES Rain reduces wildfire activity, aids firefighters: Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials said Thursday night that rain over the day resulted in "minimal fire behaviour and spread."
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.