The Fall sitting of the PEI Legislature opened Tuesday with the Speech From the Throne.
Highlights include a commitment to come forward with a Carbon Mitigation Strategy and Carbon Adaptation Plan in early 2018. It says the PEI approach to climate change and carbon pricing will include infrastructure development and direct supports for Islanders to encourage a shift to electricity consumption.
The Speech also indicates Government will introduce a poverty reduction strategy this year. A Poverty Reduction Advisory Council will be struck to look at all aspects of poverty, including housing, food, education, employment and health. A report will be due in 2018.
Government’s also committing to build a high-speed fibre network from tip-to-tip across the province.
As for electoral reform, a referendum will be tied to the next provincial election, and legislation will be developed to be debated in 2018. That legislation will include a clear referendum question. Government will also be asking for the creation of a map that clearly lays out the boundaries with the mixed member proportional model from the 2016 plebiscite.
This sitting will also include the tabling of a Capital Budget, and the Water Act, which comes after public consultation on the matter.