ANDY WALKER
The Journal Pioneer

While the Speech from the Throne contained the self-praise and rehashed announcements that have become standard fare on such occasions, no matter what party is in power, there were some new initiatives Islanders can expect will become reality in the coming months.
The emphasis early in the speech on the world economic situation and its impact on the Province is a signal the Island’s financial health will be a major topic of debate. While the budget won’t be presented until next spring, the public accounts for the past fiscal year will likely be presented this session and will show a growing deficit.
Premier Robert Ghiz is promising a smooth transition when kindergarten is introduced into the public school system in September. However, it’s a little too early to start patting themselves on the back. There are some very real space problems, especially in suburban schools like Glen Stewart in Stratford and Westwood Primary in Cornwall.
Health PEI, a new arm’s length board designed to oversee health care, sounds  little more to me than a return to a provincial health board established when the Liberals were last in power. It, along with five regional health boards, were  dismantled by the Conservatives. The money could be better spent on front-line services rather than creating another level of bureaucracy.
What will the three regional business centres slated for rural areas be able to deliver to businesses and potential entrepreneurs that are not being delivered by Access PEI?
Legislation to ban hand-held phones while driving is hard to argue against but may be difficult to enforce. Certainly that has been the major point raised in the other jurisdictions where it has been introduced.
Pension benefits have become a hot button issue in most jurisdictions across country and the government plans a new Pension Benefits Act. It is a measure that is long overdue and the government is allowing for a one year timeline for public consultations.
The decision to establish a regional training Centre in West Prince in conjunction with Holland College should help improve opportunities in that region. In today’s economy, training is essential for a good paying job and having the training in the region should convince many to stay at home rather than leave the region. There is no reason the centre can’t be expanded to include university courses as well.
The idea of a “culinary alliance”, bringing together agriculture, fisheries and tourism to develop events like “Fall Flavours” has potential to extend the fall tourism season.
They also plan to develop a more co-ordinated approach to landing major concerts – something all other jurisdictions are doing as well.
Hopefully, this strategy has as a basic goal, the need for any government support to make sense for the taxpayer.

Andy Walker is a former reporter for the Journal-Pioneer and is now a freelance writer who lives in Cornwall, P.E.I.
awalker@islandtelecom.com