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You are here: News Province announces initial supports for Island’s most vulnerable

Province announces initial supports for Island’s most vulnerable

Premier King today announced initial investments to support the Island’s most vulnerable.

“This is an unprecedented time in our province which calls for an immediate response. We recognize that Islanders are being impacted greatly by COVID-19 and the measures in place to mitigate the virus. We have to ensure that they are supported during this time.”

– Premier Dennis King

Specific measures put in place as part of the province’s response to COVID-19 were highlighted by Minister of Social Development and Housing Ernie Hudson. Highlights of immediate investments currently being implemented include:

  • $250,000 to United Way Prince Edward Island to support the Atlantic Compassion Fund;
  • $100,000 to the Prince Edward Island Food Bank Association;
  • $100,000 to Salvation Army Prince Edward Island; and
  • $50,000 initial contingency fund for community programs and non-government organizations.

“Islanders have an incredible ability to come together and find solutions to support our friends and neighbours,” said Minister Hudson. “Our network of community sector partners is best able to deliver these services to Islanders most in need and we will continue to work with them in this public health emergency.”

As well, the PEI Housing Corporation has suspended all evictions for the next six weeks.

The Province is currently finalizing plans and resources to support seniors and those with intellectual disabilities currently residing in long-term care and community care facilities as well as residential homes.

Minister of Economic Growth and Tourism Matthew MacKay provided further details related to supports for businesses and the economy. They include:

  • Emergency Income Relief for the self-employed, which will provide $500 per week lump sum for self-employed Islanders, delivered through Innovation PEI; and
  • Emergency Working Capital Financing, which will provide support for small businesses through a capital loan of up to $100,000 with a fixed interest rate of 4% per annum, to be delivered through Finance PEI.

Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Steven Myers also provided further details on the provision of essential government services to support Islanders. 

Service delivery locations closed to the public as of end of day today, Tuesday March 17, include:

  • Access PEI locations across the province, and 
  • Provincial Administration Building in Charlottetown.
  • Island Waste Management Corporation will continue to receive and collect waste but their offices and contact centres will be closed to the public
  • Some sites will remain open to provide essential services to Islanders; however, we are working to keep staff and visitors at those sites safe by:
  • Limiting points of entry for the public
  • Posting signs asking those who are feeling ill to not visit our offices
  • Limiting courier and delivery access to buildings
  • Depopulating our buildings of non-essential staff and supporting social distancing for our staff
  • Enhancing our cleaning schedules, with more frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces
  • Removing items that are not easily cleaned and disinfected like brochures and magazines. 

We are continuing to work through the details on government operations so we can balance the need to provide essential services to Islanders with the advice to implement social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Media Contact: 
Amanda Hamel
Executive Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Office of the Premier
(902) 368-4400
ahamel@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder

Complete list of locations currently closed to the public:

  • PEI Libraries
  • All PEI schools, PSB offices, and Education offices in Charlottetown and Summerside
  • PEI early years centres
  • Access PEI locations
  • Provincial Administration Building
  • IWMC will continue to receive and collect waste, but their offices and contact centres will be closed to the public
  • Aubin Arsenault Building
  • Workers Compensation Board 
  • Innovation PEI and Finance PEI
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • EfficiencyPEI 
  • Provincial offices in the Atlantic Technology Centre
  • Skills PEI offices
  • Agriculture and Land offices, including Inspection Services at Gordon Drive, however dairy samples will continue to be delivered
  • Visitor Information Centres
  • Museum and Heritage Foundation sites
  • Public School Board offices
  • French Language School Board offices

View more News from the Government of Prince Edward Island: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news