P.E.I. election: climate change takes back seat on campaign trail - CTV News Atlantic
P.E.I. election: climate change takes back seat on campaign trail | CTV News
Skip to main content
Climate change hits home for some on P.E.I. but takes back seat in election
A week into the Prince Edward Island election campaign, there has been plenty of talk about health care and housing. But after post-tropical storm Fiona pounded the Island last fall and heightened fears about rising seas, some observers are questioning why climate change is not front and centre on the campaign trail.
Scientists say tropical storms like Fiona that form in the southern Atlantic and head north to the Canadian coast are likely getting more intense as the planet warms. Phyllis Carr, whose Carr's Oyster Bar in Stanley Bridge, P.E.I., suffered minor damage from Fiona, has seen the shoreline change over the years. To her, climate change is "definitely" one of the most important issues this election.
"The amount of erosion that we have in our area is crazy, and on Prince Edward Island as a whole. And how are we going to rebuild?" she asked in an interview last week. "People who own places on the shoreline, how are they going to deal with the loss of land?"
Fiona's wrath is visible in Stanley Bridge, as displaced buildings still sit where the storm left them. But while the storm's fury was an eye-opener, Carr said she's not sure how seriously people are thinking about the climate change issue as the province heads to an April 3 vote.
"If we go through another Fiona to be hit as hard as we were and for that to happen again in another year or two down the road, it is scary," she said.
Marvin Graham's fishing boat, Greenwitch, was damaged when Fiona hit on Sept. 24 and it's in a shop for repairs. But the owner of Graham's Deep Sea Fishing is not sure what comes next because a dock that was ripped out by Fiona is still sitting on the opposite side of the harbour -- on dry land -- and the Stanley Bridge wharf needs to be fixed.
He is hoping he can work this coming season, he said. After Fiona left his livelihood in peril, he is convinced the issues of climate change and erosion are as important as health care in the election. But unless climate events threaten a person's home or make it hard for them to put food on the table, the climate issue seems abstract.
"It should be the top priority," he said.
Peter Bevan-Baker, leader of the Green Party, which formed the official Opposition before the election was called Monday, said the incumbent Progressive Conservative government has "shown a complete lack of imagination, and an inability to plan" on a number of issues including protecting the environment.
"They have done a very, very poor job of looking ahead, thinking ahead, and creating plans to proactively deal with things and make things better," he said in an interview.
The Green Party's raison d'etre is environmental protection, but during the campaign's first week, Bevan-Baker's news conferences have been about health care, housing, affordability and labour shortages. He said he is "absolutely not shying away" from the climate change issue because it is "foundational to the health of our society." He promised it will be "very much a front-and-centre issue" in the coming weeks.
Progressive Conservative Leader Dennis King, whose term as premier was bookended by post-tropical storm Dorian in 2019 and Fiona last September, said his government has "reacted and dealt with climate change" aggressively.
Though he has so far not made any environmental announcements, King denied that he is avoiding the issue. "I think we are treating this with the urgency that it needs to [be treated]," King said in response to a reporter's question. "I think every Islander is aware that climate change is real."
Liberal Leader Sharon Cameron said P.E.I. is not a "smokestack" province producing large amounts of carbon emissions.
"I've always been a firm believer that good policy is based on three main pillars -- social, economic, and environmental -- and at any given point in time, one of those pillars can emerge as important," she said. Climate change will be a major part of the Liberal platform, Cameron added, but right now it is health care that is "critically important" for the province.
For Bruce Stewart, who lives in New London Bay, P. E. I., climate change is a sweeping issue that will ultimately have an effect on health and housing. But housing and health care needs seem more immediate, he noted.
"Climate change seems to be more on the horizon until you're hit with something like Fiona and speak to the people who lost their cottages, speak to people who lost metres of land off the shoreline of their properties," he said.
Xander Wang, an associate professor in the University of Prince Edward Island's school of climate change, said Fiona has shown how vulnerable P.E.I. is as warming temperatures accelerate coastal erosion. Agriculture and fishing practices might need to be changed to support crops as temperatures rise, Wang added.
He said the next government will have to be ready with "effective policies" for adapting to climate change and mitigating its effects. But in the shorter term, people will need support and options to protect their land and homes in the face of the next major storm. "With a warmer climate, everything is moving so quickly."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2023.
Atlantic Top Stories
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trade Minister Mary Ng did not consider resigning, repaying money after ethics breach
Canada's minister for international trade says she never considered resigning after the federal ethics commissioner found she broke rules by awarding a contract to a friend.
Does money buy you happiness? Researchers join forces to reveal the answer
A recent study finds the relationship between money and happiness may be more complex than previously thought. For most people, researchers said, more money meant more happiness, but noted 'if you're rich and miserable, more money won't help.'
How BBC host's tweet, suspension upended U.K.'s sports weekend
The BBC's sports coverage was hit with a second day of severe disruptions Sunday as dozens of staff refused to work in solidarity with top soccer host Gary Lineker, who was suspended by the broadcaster after he tweeted criticism of the British government's asylum policy.
How a Toronto-made AI therapist could bridge the gap in Canada’s mental health-care system
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being incorporated into people's daily lives, including in mental health care in Canada. Many telehealth companies are using AI to give personalized health care to patients, and most use text as a main form of communication.
Flair Airlines says four of its aircraft seized in a 'commercial dispute'
Passengers travelling with Flair Airlines were 'impacted' on Saturday after four of its leased aircraft were seized in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo, Ont., in what the company described as a 'commercial dispute.'
15 million Californians are under flood watches as another atmospheric river takes aim at a storm-battered state
Another round of storms is heading to flood-ravaged California, where residents are still grappling with impassable roads, overflowing rivers, inundated neighbourhoods and a levee breach that forced hundreds to evacuate.
Sister grieves for American killed in Mexico kidnapping
Zalandria Brown urged her brother, Zindell, not to travel to Mexico earlier this month. While preparing for his first trip out of the country, the 28-year-old from South Carolina felt something more than nerves, his sister said.
Police: Stalker kills woman, husband in Seattle-area home
A longhaul truck driver from Texas who became obsessed with a software engineer in Washington state after meeting her through a social media chatroom app killed her, her husband and himself after stalking them for months, police said.
Dellen Millard, Mark Smich murder appeals reopen wounds for victim's family, 10 years later
When Dellen Millard and Mark Smich make their appeals before Ontario's highest court starting Monday, they will be entitled to reduced sentences for their multiple murder convictions -- cutting 50 years and 25 years off their respective parole ineligibility periods.
Toronto
Dellen Millard, Mark Smich murder appeals reopen wounds for victim's family, 10 years later
When Dellen Millard and Mark Smich make their appeals before Ontario's highest court starting Monday, they will be entitled to reduced sentences for their multiple murder convictions -- cutting 50 years and 25 years off their respective parole ineligibility periods.
Flair Airlines says four of its aircraft seized in a 'commercial dispute'
Passengers travelling with Flair Airlines were 'impacted' on Saturday after four of its leased aircraft were seized in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo, Ont., in what the company described as a 'commercial dispute.'
‘Ceremonial and Sacred’ headdress stolen ahead of Little Native Hockey League tournament
The Chief of the Nipissing First Nation’s truck was stolen early Saturday morning in Mississauga and with it a “ceremonial and sacred” headdress.
Calgary
'My secret is no secret': Calgary's Kitty Reeves turns 100 years old
It was a very happy 100th birthday for Kitty Reeves Friday.
Manitoba's Dunstone beats Wild Card 1's Bottcher in Brier semifinal
LONDON, Ont. - Manitoba's Matt Dunstone is moving on to the Tim Hortons Brier final.
'Their eyes were burning': Former Calgarian producer Odessa Rae heads for Oscars Sunday for Navalny
A former Calgarian is up for an Oscar Sunday night at the Academy Awards.
Montreal
Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne by-election: Here's what you need to know
Voters in the Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne riding will head to the polls Monday to elect their new representative. The March 13 by-election was called to replace former MNA Dominique Anglade.
'She's a trooper': Survivor of Herron care home crisis celebrates 100th birthday
Forty-seven seniors died during the COVID-19 pandemic after they were abandoned at the Herron care home in Dorval, Que. Antonietta Pollice survived. And on Saturday, she celebrated a milestone: her 100th birthday.
Three years in: Quebec hasn't seen the last of COVID-19, says doctor
It's been a tumultuous three years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the situation in Canada is relatively stable. But, as one Quebec doctor points out, stable does not mean over -- far from it.
Edmonton
Moving forward: Edmonton doctor recalls highs and lows of working during COVID-19
A local doctor who worked in a COVID-19 ICU unit says she and her colleagues are just starting to process how Saturday marks three years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
Alberta acts take home hardware at Junos opening night
Two nominees from Alberta are celebrating after winning at the Junos opening night awards on Saturday.
Maple Leafs score four times in the second period, down McDavid's Oilers 7-4
John Tavares scored twice as part of a four-goal barrage in the second period as the Toronto Maple Leafs roared back from a 3-1 deficit to down the Edmonton Oilers 7-4 on Saturday.
Northern Ontario
Cashback, reward apps helping Canadians save, but where is the data going?
Some Canadians are using apps to save on their grocery bills and trips to the mall. But perks are often offered in exchange for tracking purchases or completing surveys. So, where does this information go and who is really profiting from it?
‘Ceremonial and Sacred’ headdress stolen ahead of Little Native Hockey League tournament
The Chief of the Nipissing First Nation’s truck was stolen early Saturday morning in Mississauga and with it a “ceremonial and sacred” headdress.
A new urine test can detect bladder cancer up to 12 years before diagnosis: study
A simple urine test may be able to detect bladder cancer years before any symptoms show up due to genetic mutations, according to a new study.
London
Family in mourning after hours-long standoff leaves one deceased in London, Ont.
NEW I A family is in mourning, two police officers are recovering from their injuries in hospital, and residents are reeling following a multi-hour standoff at a northeast London apartment building on Saturday.
18-year-old Londoner caught driving more than double the speed limit
A teenager from London, Ont. got their mom’s vehicle impounded after Middlesex County OPP stopped them allegedly driving 117 km/h in 50 km/h zone in Thames Centre late last week.
- WATCHWATCH | Suspect in northeast London, Ont. standoff in custody, two officers injured
A London, Ont. man has been arrested in relation to an investigation in the northeast end of the city that commenced early Saturday morning. Throughout the course of the day, police negotiated with a barricaded man, who they believed to be in possession of a gun, inside of an apartment building located at 621 Kipps Lane.
Winnipeg
Manitoba's Dunstone beats Wild Card 1's Bottcher in Brier semifinal
LONDON, Ont. - Manitoba's Matt Dunstone is moving on to the Tim Hortons Brier final.
Woman overdoses in City Hall bus shelter: Police
A Winnipeg woman is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a possible opioid overdose in a Winnipeg Transit bus shelter Saturday.
The online art auction raising money to teach English to Ukrainian newcomers
Winnipeg's Ukrainian cultural and educational centre is offering up the chance to own a beautiful piece of art and help Ukrainian newcomers settling in Manitoba.
Ottawa
Centretown porch pirate caught on video
A post on Reddit called "Centretown Porch Pirate" shows a man walking up to the door of an Ottawa home and then walking away with a delivery box.
Here's when Ottawa could see up to 10 cm of snow during March Break
Environment Canada is calling for 5 to 10 cm of snow for Ottawa and eastern Ontario on Monday, with more snow possible on Tuesday.
Saying goodbye to the Rideau Street McDonald's and March Break: Five stories to watch this week
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five things to watch in Ottawa this week.
Saskatoon
'Things are a little more expensive': Vendors at Saskatoon Homestyles event seeing rising input costs
As thousands of people walked through the doors of the Homestyles show at Praireland Park, inflation wasn’t far behind.
'Here for a good time': Western Canada’s largest cheerleading competition descends on Warman, Sask.
Over 2,500 athletes turned out to compete in the 16th annual Warman Cheer Classic.
10-year-old boy missing in Saskatoon has been located safe
Saskatoon Police announced Sunday morning that the missing 10-year-old boy has been located.
Vancouver
'Lots of memories': Weekly floor hockey game in Vancouver school gym lasts 59 years
For nearly six decades, a group of men has come together on Friday nights to play floor hockey in a Vancouver school gym. This week however, was their last hurrah.
Snowfall warning in effect for Coquihalla
Drivers on Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt are being warned to brace for changing and challenging conditions.
Minor earthquakes reported near Daajing Giids and Port Alice, B.C.
Earthquakes Canada says two separate, minor quakes rattled areas off the coast of British Columbia over the weekend.
Regina
Regina police charge 2 people following alleged robbery, forcible confinement
A man and a woman in Regina face multiple charges after an alleged robbery and forcible confinement incident.
Yorkton RCMP ask for help in finding wanted man
Saskatchewan RCMP are asking for the public's help in finding a wanted man.
Former CFL player Darnell Sankey making quick adjustment to playing in XFL
It hasn't taken Darnell Sankey long to adjust to life in the XFL.
Vancouver Island
Greater Victoria bus drivers' union reaches tentative agreement with BC Transit
Greater Victoria transit workers who have been without a contract for nearly a year may soon get a new one.
Rally held for North Island health care
North Island residents gathered in Port McNeill Saturday morning to show their support for health-care workers and voice their frustration with the provincial government's response to staff shortages in the region.
Hugging cat befriends dog missing both front legs in Victoria
Katie Thorne's cat Otis loves to hug, so naturally that's how he greeted her new, two-legged dog named Mama Roo.