JEERS: To P.E.I. Justice Minister Bloyce Thompson and the government’s response to questions about possible stowaways coming to P.E.I. During a recent news conference, Thompson responded to a question from the media about reports of people being smuggled into the province over the Confederation Bridge. Thompson said there were two reports of incidents that were under investigation. He provided no further details, including who was investigating. An East Prince RCMP officer said he was only aware of one alleged incident and the police confirmed there was no evidence it happened. A request for an interview with Thompson was denied. Questions about where he got his information and who was investigating the allegations went unanswered. At a time when rumours are running rampant and some people are fearful because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Thompson’s comments need clarification. His remarks only fueled fears and speculation that seems unjustified.
CHEERS: To Capreit, a Canadian company with offices on P.E.I., that manages the Riverview Estates mobile home subdivision in Charlottetown’s East Royalty neighbourhood. When informed by The Guardian that the newspaper had received a call from a concerned resident that a pile of scrap metal was spotted and one of the mobile trailers on a property the company owns had fallen into such a state of disrepair that the siding on one side had completely fallen off, the company CEO didn’t hide from it, didn’t decline to comment and didn’t try and make up excuses. Mark Kenney sounded genuinely concerned to the point where, during an interview with the newspaper, he called up one of his staff members in Charlottetown, and said the problem had to be addressed immediately. Transparency and accountability are refreshing – and rare.
CHEERS: To an Islander who, while standing in a lineup at a P.E.I. liquor store on Friday allowed a woman who had ice cream melting in her car to go ahead of her. How P.E.I. is that?
CHEERS: To Charlottetown chef Lucy Morrow who continues to make P.E.I. proud while on Food Network Canada’s reality show Top Chef Canada. Morrow is in the top five finalists heading into Monday’s program. The season finale airs Monday, June 1.
CHEERS: To the many rather hairy Islanders that showed both patience and understanding while maintaining social distancing as they waited hours Friday to get into a barbershop for a much-anticipated hair cut as shops opened for the first time since a provincewide shutdown in mid-March due to the pandemic. Also cheers to the barbershop and hair salon operators for adopting cumbersome, but necessary, safety protocols.
CHEERS: To the Womens' Institute of P.E.I. for continuing to conduct its annual roadside cleanup, which the group did again on the weekend. Not even a pandemic can keep this group from helping to clean up P.E.I. Now, if only the rest of us did our best to not litter in the first place.
