Month in Review – Prince Edward Island

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Month in Review – Prince Edward Island

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LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Oct 1: Prince Edward Island will receive an additional $6.9 million in federal funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The money will go to help 17 tariff-impacted businesses and organizations across the province adapt, enhance productivity, and pursue new long-term growth opportunities.

Action Point: The U.S.-Canadian trade war is escalating. Find out about the 8 things HR directors can do to help their companies survive the impact of tariffs.

New Laws

Oct 2: The federal government announced a three-year investment of more than $32 million to support the Improving Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs Program (IAAPD) in PEI. Launched in 2021, the IAAPD has already provided $35 million to finance expansion of PEI’s public formulary list of publicly covered drugs to give Islanders more treatment options while reducing drug costs resulting in an estimated $13.8 million in savings.

New Laws

Sep 26: To reduce the costs of living, Prince Edward Island temporarily suspended its provincial fuel tax until January 31, 2027. The tax of 8.47 cents per litre on gasoline and 14.15 cents per litre on diesel will return in February, but at only 50% of the current rate before returning to 100% on April 1, 2027.

Health & Safety

Sep 28: Flu season in Prince Edward Island is off to an unusually early start with confirmed cases and hospitalizations already reported. In addition to offering free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, the province is expanding Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) program by making all infants (8 months of age and younger) eligible for Beyfortus®, a long-acting monoclonal antibody that provides season-long protection.

Action Point: Find out how to create a legally and clinically sound workplace Exposure Control Plan to protect your employees against the risk of COVID, RSV, seasonal influenza, and other respiratory infectious illnesses.

Health & Safety

Oct 16: With respiratory illness activity increasing, Health PEI implemented a face masking policy in all its facilities. Masks are mandatory for Health PEI staff as well as members of the public when within two meters of a patient. Masking is also encouraged in hallways of acute care settings. Masks are available onsite at facility entrances.

Action Point: Find out how to implement a legally sound face masks policy at your workplace.

Workers’ Compensation

Oct 30: The Prince Edward Island WCB proposed changes to its policy on workers’ compensation coverage of Pre-Existing Conditions (POL-61). The changes are mostly clarifications designed to align PEI with pre-existing conditions rules with other Canadian jurisdictions with little to no expected measurable impact on claims costs. Deadline to comment: October 30.