• P.E.I. non-profit eyes food hub expansion with possible federal funding

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-17 19:47:43.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, National, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Affordability]

  The Prince Edward Island non-profit Growers Station is preparing to apply for federal funding under Ottawa's $3.2 billion, 10-year food security strategy to finance a major physical expansion. The organization aims to double its current operational footprint to increase cold storage capacity, improve distribution for small-scale local Island farmers, and establish an onsite retail and pick-up option alongside its existing online ordering platform. By scaling up physical infrastructure and delivery capacity, the non-profit intends to extend the seasonal availability of local produce and lower operational costs for both producers and small grocers.

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• How does P.E.I. decide which drugs to cover? It’s more complicated than you might think

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-10 09:00:00.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, National, Healthcare, Affordability, Finance]

  The federal government has renewed the Improving Affordable Access to Prescription Drugs program (IAAPD) for Prince Edward Island with $32 million in funding over three years. The program, which launched as a pilot in 2021, has helped add more than 100 medications to P.E.I.'s public formulary and lowered patient co-payments to $5 for many eligible drugs. In addition to the IAAPD, P.E.I. participates in the federal pharmacare program covering specific diabetes medications, supplies, and contraceptives. The multi-step drug coverage process involves Health Canada authorization, price reviews by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, cost-effectiveness evaluations by Canada's Drug Agency, collective price bargaining by the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, and final provincial formulary decisions.

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• Minimum wage hikes set to begin across 5 provinces

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-01 12:34:05.0
  Tags: [National, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Labour, Economy, Affordability]

  Minimum wage increases ranging from 25 to 40 cents take effect in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, bringing their respective rates to $17.95, $17.30, $17.00, $16.40, and $15.70 per hour. Ontario has tied its adjustment directly to the rising cost of living. With these changes, Alberta maintains the lowest minimum wage in the country at $15.00 an hour, having not increased it since 2019, while Nunavut leads the country at just over $20.00 an hour following an increase at the beginning of September.

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• P.E.I. consumers will pay more in wake of Canadian counter-tariffs

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-09 09:00:00.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, National, Trade, Economy, Industry, Affordability]

  Retaliatory counter-tariffs implemented by Canada on American-made products took effect, raising import prices and impacting businesses and consumers on Prince Edward Island. Sam Sanderson, executive director of the Construction Association of Prince Edward Island, noted that approximately 65 per cent of construction materials used in the province originate from the U.S. and face these tariffs, potentially increasing material costs by 20 to 50 per cent. Prime Minister Mark Carney released a video stating that Canada will respond to the ongoing trade war by reducing reliance on the United States and pursuing new international trade agreements. Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island businesses such as MacArthur's Appliances, led by owner-operator Chris Welton, are managing price hikes and noting a shift in consumer sentiment away from American-made goods. The provincial government has also rolled out $12.5 million in support for businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.

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