If undelivered, return to: Prince Edward Island address label Union of Public Sector Employees 4 Enman Cres., Charlottetown PEI C1E 1E6 THE A DVOCATE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND UNION OF PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

We asked the leaders S of the four parties P running in this election to respond to E a series of questions C that are of concern to UPSE members. I A In this special election edition you L can read their responses and find E out what grade they received from UPSE L President Shelley E Ward C T

Pat Binns—PC I Robert Ghiz—Liberal O N Shelley Ward—UPSE E D I Sharon Labchuk—Green Dean Constable—NDP T I O N

Rating System: A - Indicates that the response is one that is acceptable for UPSE members C - Indicates that although part of the response is acceptable - there is still room for improvement. F - Indicates that this answer is not acceptable to UPSE members

Early Childhood Education

In spite of the high importance that Islanders place on their children and on the benefits of Early Childhood Education, there are serious problems with the funding of Early Childhood Education. The recent announcement that the current government was going to finally allocate the federal dollars that it had been holding on to for the past two years lacked any specific designation of these funds to Early Childhood Educators. Most operators of Early Childhood Education centres will state that they cannot afford to provide their employees with adequate wages and benefits in relation to their education and training. The employees also indicate that they cannot afford to work in the field for any length of time at wages that, in many cases, barely exceed the minimum wage. As a result, many workers leave the profession after a few years of employment and seek retraining or pursue other careers and employers are having a hard time retaining and finding adequate numbers of properly trained staff.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, will you make a commitment to work with Early Childhood Educators, their representatives and their employers and set aside budget dollars to be allocated for wages and benefits for Early Childhood Educators? As well, would you be willing to negotiate a comprehensive agreement at a common bargaining table that would produce a standard level of wages, benefits and pensions for all Early Childhood Educators in Prince Edward Island?

Ensuring the children of Prince Edward Island get the right start is a continuing priority of the Pat Binns Government. We recently announced a significant investment in early learning for Island preschool children and their families. With C this new investment, all eligible licensed child care centres will now receive grant funding – 76 early childhood centres will begin receiving new funding immediately at an approximate investment of $1 million annually. The key areas targeted by this investment include: Grade Better Access and Affordability for child care programs: more low- and middle-income families will be eligible for C child care subsidy; Quality Licensed Child Care and Early Learning Environments: supporting greater stability in the licensed child care sector by providing stable,on-going funding; Early Years Information Campaign: a focus on the importance of the early years and how parents, caregivers and communities can be actively involved in learning; and, Research and Evaluation: resources are committed to collect and report data to measure how well our children are doing in areas of development and learning. The Pat Binns Government is allocating $4.2 million in funding held in trust as part of the Early Learning and Child Care Agreements of 2005 to support these strategic investments in early learning. We are also committed to increasing our annual contributions to early learning by $1.8 million commencing in 2009, building upon current annual funding levels of $8 million to support early learning initiatives

The Liberal Party understands that effective early learning and child care services are critical building blocks in the lives of our children. What happens in the first few years of a child’s life can have profound impact on their L emotional and intellectual development. Offering our children the very best start in life is a goal that will drive our Liberal government’s approach to early childhood learning and child care. A Liberal Government will be committed to improving services aimed at early childhood education and child care. We find it unacceptable that the current government has played politics with federal funding dollars earmarked for Early Childhood education. By Grade withholding these funds for two years, the current government shows that it is places a higher priority on making A announcements at election time than providing timely support for our Early Childhood education system. It’s time for a change! A Liberal government will put Islanders first by announcing a series of initiatives during this campaign to help address the issue of improving the retention and recruitment of Early Childhood Educators, including improving educational opportunities and wages for Early Childhood Educators through a $1 million wage enhancement fund. For more information on the specifics of the Liberal Party plan for “The Early Years: Every Child Deserves the Best Start” please visit www.islandersfirst.ca

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 2

N The NDP has been a long term supporter of a National Childcare Program and recognized that early childhood D educators should be recognized for the valuable work they do rather than continue to be paid extremely low wages for P a valuable role. We believe that a comprehensive agreement with improved wage levels, benefits and pension are needed to retain workers in this field. Grade A We stand for funding to create additional daycare spaces for infant care and care for children with special needs. We also think that like every other Province, wages and benefits will increase for kindergarten workers when it is part of a public school system. We would work to ensure that present day workers would qualify for those positions.

Yes, we support more resources for the proper care of children in early childhood education programs.

G Yes, we completely support fair and adequate wages, benefits and pensions for Early Childhood Educators.

Women, typically, are employed as Early Childhood Educators and in 2007 it is still a struggle to have women’s work Grade valued. The Green Party will work hard to ensure all women are paid fairly and equitably and that value is placed on A caring for and nurturing our small children

The Green Party is aware of wage discrepancies and the resulting abandonment of the profession by educators who tire of the struggle. The only way to ensure that Early Childhood Educators stay in the field is to pay them in keeping with their commitment. Education is not an expense, it’s an investment.

Provincial Public Service Unionization

In the past, various Prince Edward Island governments made a commitment to recognize the unionization of provincial government employees. More recently, however, some Prince Edward Island governments have allowed or endorsed the creation of pockets of non-union employment with various boards, agencies or other bodies that perform or deliver public services at the provincial level. (examples; PEI Business Development Corporation, Island Waste Management Inc. etc.)

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, would you agree to incorporate these various boards, agencies or other bodies that perform or deliver public services, into unionized, public sector bargaining units?

C Over that last decade, the Pat Binns Progressive Conservative Government has made every effort to work with unions to ensure that positions within the public sector that should be unionized are unionized. The casual conversion process Grade is one example of our government converting casual non-union positions into classified union positions. Casual C employees who are eligible to apply for, and are successful in competitions, become part of the unionized public sector rather than casual workers who are not part of the union. We have worked hard to develop an ongoing dialogue with unions, and will continue to work with unions to ensure that, where appropriate, positions are classified and that those workers belong to a public sector bargaining unit.

L The Liberal Party shares your concern about the trend towards a lack of accountability and averting the public sector hiring process that has taken place by the Conservatives. This lack of accountability was evident in the extraordinary Grade salary previously paid to a former CEO of a Crown Corporation that was well beyond the pay scale of senior govern- C ment management positions. The Liberal Party questions this type of activity that favors a fortunate few, while the Conservatives at the same time proceeded to reduce public sector positions due to financial constraints posed by their own fiscal mismanagement. A Liberal Government will provide a new direction for Boards and Agencies as outlined in the Liberal Party’s “Fairness and Transparency in the Public Service” policy statement that will be released during the cam- paign. Upon its release, it can viewed at www.islandersfirst.ca.

The Liberal Party believes that instead of the current government’s approach of manipulating the current Public Service hiring system by setting up “external corporations” for staffing considerations, we must instead develop fresh forward thinking ideas in partnership with groups such as UPSE to address our human resource challenges. After all, the changing demographics of our society are creating a much more competitive environment for retaining and attracting high caliber staff.

cont’d

T h e A D V O C A T E V o l u m e 2 7 N umber 2 Election Issue May, 2007 3 The Liberal Party understands that our province is very fortunate to have a very dedicated and competent public service that take on positions that are often very complex and challenging. However, in more and more areas such as Information Technology and various Specialists capacities it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract and retain staff. We believe that it is time for a change, time to provide more employee friendly working options and increase the investment in our employees through improved professional development and related opportunities.

N

D P We disagree with government attempts to allow or endorse pockets of non-union employment within various boards, agencies and other bodies that perform or deliver public services at the provincial level. These should all be incorpo- Grade rated into unionized, public sector bargaining units. People providing public services should have the protection of pub- A lic sector unions.

G Yes. The Green Party supports uniform employment standards for all public sector employees

Grade C

Provincial Pharmacare Program

Islanders require prescription drugs to maintain their health and in some cases, prescription drugs are necessary to sustain life itself. Nevertheless, many Islanders cannot afford the high cost of prescription drugs. Currently the Prince Edward Island government provides coverage for a limited number of prescription drugs for people over the age of 65 and for Islanders in need of social assistance. However, this very limited program still leaves many Islanders without affordable access to many of the prescription drugs that they require to maintain an optimal level of health.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, what would be your plan of action be in relation to this very serious issue?

The Pat Binns Government continues to make improvements to the health care system in ways that respond to the C priorities of Islanders. We recognize that we have a role in providing support for Islanders who cannot afford medications. We have worked to address the challenge of affordable drugs by increasing the budget for provincial pharmacy programs by 63 percent since 2000, and we have added 81 new medications to the various programs drug we Grade deliver. We have a host of different programs to assist Islanders with the cost of medication. Benefits of the Drug Cost C Assistance Plan are available to all residents of the province who are 65 years of age or older and are entitled to benefits under medicare. Currently Island families can apply for prescription medication coverage under the Family Health Benefit Program. Just last year, we added a series of oral diabetic medication to the Exceptional Drug Program, and two new oral cancer medications were also added. The exceptional diabetes drugs are Actos and Avandia, with Amaryl, Diamicron and Prandase. The High Cost Drugs Program provides assistance to Islanders for the purchase of approved high cost drugs. The Pat Binns Government also provides support for Islanders living with HIV/AIDS by covering the cost of their medications. Further drug cost assistance is also available to Islanders through a wide variety of programs such as the Immunization program, Community Mental Health program, Cystic Fibrosis program, Growth Hormone Program, Hepatitis program, Cancer Drug program, Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) Program, Meningitis Program, (cont’d)

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 4

Phenylketonuria (P.K.U.) Program, Rheumatic Fever Program, Transplant Drugs Program, and Tuberculosis Program. We also provide free vaccines to combat serious childhood illnesses, despite the rising costs of childhood vaccines at 400 percent. As well, Prince Edward Island has recently earned the distinction of being the first Canadian province to add Menactra vaccine to its immunization schedule to protect against Meningococcal disease which can cause meningitis and other serious illnesses

Liberals believe that a government should be judged on the basis of how it treats those most in need. By any L measure, Islanders have the poorest access to publicly-funded medications in the country. This unfortunate reality is supported by these disappointing statistics:

“Government spending on prescribed drugs in PEI is the lowest in the country measured in terms of the share of Grade drugs costs paid for publically.” A Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information, Drug Expenditures in Canada (2005) pg. 16

“Of 173 new drugs approved for use in Canada between 2003-2005, PEI did not fund even 1 of them for Islanders. NB residents got access to 25 new drugs, NS to 45, NFLD residents to 28”. Source: IMS Health (August 2005)

A Liberal Government will put Islanders first by:

• Reducing the co-pay amount for seniors drugs by 50% over 3 years. • Providing Islanders with the same access to publicly-funded drugs as other Canadians by increasing the provincial government’s share of total drug spending to the national average from the lowest in the country. • Dramatically speeding up access to medications approved by the Canadian Common Drug review process. • Establishing a palliative care home drug program so Islanders can access drugs in a home environment. • Working with the Federal Government and other provinces to develop a catastrophic drug program to support those Islanders whose health depends upon access to costly medications.

N D Prince Edward Island probably has the most limited provincial pharmacare program in Canada. We believe in a P National Pharmacare Program as a true extension of the Public Medicare vision of Tommy Douglas, but we stand for an expanded provincial program until that becomes a reality. Our platform notes "Increase the number of drugs covered by the Seniors Drug Plan, and the Island's Pharmacare program to be inline with other Canadian Grade Provinces." A

G The cost of drug prescriptions over the last 20 years have doubled and represent 16% of our total health care costs. Over the last 20 years, we have seen more and more drugs on the market and fewer of them are covered by our health care system. The weight of this financial burden is inappropriately on the shoulders of the sufferers, many of whom have been exposed to unhealthy environments.

Grade The Green Party supports a pharmacare program so that all citizens have equal access to available effective medica- C tions. This would include “alternative” health care treatments such as chiropractic, herbal and acupuncture treat- ments.

The Green Party is committed to reducing the need for pharmaceutical drugs through:

* enacting health-conscious environmental policies

* promotion and education in healthy lifestyles including nourishment

* the elimination of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in favour of a 100% organic province.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 5 Privatization / Contracting Out of Public Services

Over the past number of years, Prince Edward Island governments have taken a number of steps to introduce or expand the concept of privatization to services that were previously provided by public employees. Payroll services, driver testing, delivery of prescription drugs for social assistance recipients – these functions and others have been among those that have experienced examples of outsourcing. There is also the very real possibility that our Island golf courses – built and paid for by the taxpayers of this province, will be sold to be run by a private company. Our members employed in the Information Technology sector have every reason to be uncertain about their futures considering the increasing amount of outsourcing that the current government is conducting in this area. The last proposed budget indicates that this trend will continue in many of the government’s departments.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, what position would it take regarding the responsibility of the provincial government to deliver a comprehensive range of quality public services rather than exposing public employees and the citizens of Prince Edward Island to the negative effects of privatization and contracting out?

C A Pat Binns Progressive Conservative Government believes in delivering high quality public services in a responsible and accountable way and in the manner most able to meet public needs. A government, to be account- able to the taxpayers it represents, must consider all options and then base a decision on the best choice for the Grade province as a whole. In most cases, whenever the option of privatization has been considered, it was not found to F be in the best interest of the people of Prince Edward Island. The protection of existing jobs is an important factor in any such considerations

We believe the conservative government has become pre-occupied with privatizing public services for two main L reasons:

Ø The Conservative party is philosophically aligned to “less government” and thus a smaller public service. Grade Ø The Conservative party is attempting to recoup dollars from its mismanagement, such as tens of millions dollars C lost in fiascos (IE: Polar Foods, etc.) and ill conceived investment priorities (IE: Casino/Racino, etc.).

The Liberal Party believes that government has a responsibility to both provide quality programs and services to Islanders and spend their hard earned tax payers dollars in a competent and effective manner. At times, it can make prudent sense to outsource some activities after reviewing the full impact of these decisions on Islanders. However, in many cases, the result of privatization is more in the perception of saving money rather than actually achieving results by reducing costs. The reality is in some cases, these outsourced services result in no cost savings, and result in reduced quality of services. Furthermore, outsourcing of services can result in a chosen few companies profiting from these arrangements, while private employees are paid low wages, and public service positions are eliminated, while others fear being the next victim of privatization. The Liberal Party believes its time to put Islanders first for a change.

N The NDP are opposed to efforts to privatize or contract out any public service as we know that privatization only D increases costs in the long run as profit is introduced as an extra cost borne by taxpayers. We do not believe in the P sell off of our provincial resources. We should maintain the expertise and knowledge (like IT knowledge) we have built up within our public services. Privatization in many other jurisdictions has only resulted in the weakening of Grade public services as well as increased costs to citizens in the long run. A

Government has a responsibilty to spend tax payers money wisely, ethically and in a manner that does not G jeopardize the environment or human health. Services provided must meet standards expected by taxpayers. The Green Party is committed to creating local economies based on small-scale business and sustainable use of our air, water, soil, forests and oceans. We do not support undermining the public service by outsourcing in order to pay Grade non-unionized employees sub-standard wages or to avoid adhering to environmental regulations. However, C government does have a role to play in stimulating small scale local economies.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 6 Honouring Signed Collective Agreements

In keeping within the spirit of good labour relations, UPSE enters into negotiations with the intent of bargaining in good faith. UPSE aspires to obtain the best deal possible for its members during this process.

We asked the questions:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, will you make a commitment to:

(a) Honour signed collective agreements?

(b) Work respectfully with the Union by providing proper consultation on any and all items that effect the Union’s membership?

( c ) C r e a t e a r e v i e w c o m m i t t e e t h a t w i l l i n c l u d e U n i o n a p p o i n t e d front line workers to assist in the development of new policies and or changes to existing government programs and services?

Our commitment in this regard has been clear: The Pat Binns’ Government has honoured collective C agreements and contracts over the last 11 years and will continue to honour all collective agreement and contracts. Over the last decade, the Pat Binns Progressive Conservative Government has always worked hard to reach a mutually satisfactory collective agreement with unions. In almost all cases, our government has reached Grade agreements that are beneficial to both government and the union and, as a result, it has not been necessary to refer C any outstanding issues to arbitration.

We feel that the citizens of Prince Edward Island should receive uninterrupted service from their government especially essential services. As always, we will sit down with unions to discuss the implementation of more effective ways of reaching agreements without resorting to work stoppages which we all know can be detrimental to both the employers and the workers, as well as the public we all strive to serve. We are always open to discussing ways to improve the collective bargaining process.

(a) Yes, Robert Ghiz and the Liberal team are fully committed to honouring signed collective agreements.

(b)The Liberal Party believes that we can develop the best solutions to challenges that arise in our province by working together and listening to the viewpoints of Islanders. Unfortunately, after over 10 years of being in office, L the current tired conservative government has increasingly stopped listening to Islanders and groups such as UPSE. The Grade result is poorly thought out plans that often do not meet either the intended goal of the government or respect the C employees that are impacted by these plans.

(c ) A Liberal government understands that front line workers often hold the best understanding of challenges fac- ing the delivery of programs and services. It only makes sense to include front line workers and other staff in decision mak- ing processes to ensure the best possible solutions are achieved when making changes to government programs and services.

A) We would honour all signed collective agreements. We are concerned that both of the other parties have not N historically done so and that back to work legislation was contemplated by the Binns government in the recent D UPEI strike. P b) We believe in bargaining in good faith and working respectfully with all our unions by providing proper Grade consultation on matters affecting its membership. Program renewal and other backward initiatives have under- A mined the faith between unions and government.

c) Union appointed Frontline workers should be consulted about the best ways to assist in the development of new policies or changes to existing government programs and services in order to ENHANCE programs and services and serve our citizens more not less.

Green Party’s response on page 13

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 7 Health Care Staffing / Underutilization

It is generally recognized that the current health care system in Prince Edward Island suffers from a lack of staff at almost all levels. Compounding this problem is the underutilization of certain segments of that staff – in particular, Licensed Practical Nurses, Residential Care Workers, Homemakers, Addictions Workers and Social Service Workers – whose experience and skills are not being fully recognized.

We asked the questions:

(a) If your party is elected to form the government in this election, what actions will it take to preserve the work of people currently performing these functions and to increase the levels of staffing in the health care system so that quality health care services can be delivered to the citizens of Prince Edward Island?

(b) Recognizing the corelation between the recruitment and retention issues and the underutilization of the existing staff in the health field, what actions will you take to address this issue and what time frame do you propose it will take place within?

C We are reviewing scope of practice issues and looking for better ways to utilize the full range talents and skills of our health care professionals. We support the maximization of the positive contribution made to our health care system by our front line health care professionals. We are committed to resolving challenges in the recruitment of professionals but also recognize that employing the skill sets of currently employed professionals is integral to Grade improving staffing challenges currently in the health care system C

The Liberal Party understands and acknowledges that we face serious challenges in retaining, recruiting, and properly L utilizing our dedicated health care professionals. The reality is the Conservative Government has had over 10 years to address these problems, and yet they have only gotten worse. Moreover, they even tried to falsely claim during the last election campaign that 97% of Islanders had access to a family doctor. Liberals believe its time for less spin and Grade more action in health care. Its time for a new more aggressive and partnership approach to improving our health care C delivery in our province. During this campaign, the Liberal Party has outlined a new forward thinking plan for Puttling the Health of Islanders First. Some of the highlights of how a Liberal Government will put Islanders first include:

· Developing a rural nurse-practioner model of health care delivery that fully utilizes the skills of these professionals and recruit a minimum of 4 practioners over the next 2 years. · Increasing the number of social workers and providing these workers increased legislative support to assist youth in need · demographics, new models of care, and equiipment and infrastructure requirements to guide community health delivery. · Doubling the doctor recruitment budget to $4.1 million over a 2 year period. · Implementing a family medicine residency program for the next residency period. · Conducting a 5 year supply and demand analysis of key health professionals in order to ensure better planning for future recruitment and retention efforts. To view the full Liberal Party Health Care platform, please visit www.islandersfirst.ca.

N (a) Public health care services are delivered by teams of professionals who all contribute to positive outcomes. We D believe that we not only have to reinvest in doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians but all other professionals and P workers. Cooks contribute to nutritious and fresh food for our residents and patients. Cleaners lead the fight against super bugs. LPN's and RCW's provide valuable hands on care. Homemakers keep our residents at home where they Grade enjoy a higher quality of life in the community. Addictions workers and social service workers treat the whole patient and his/her needs. All perform valuable roles and contribute to meeting the needs of all of our citizens in an C efficient manner. i.e., without homemakers we would have higher rates of institutionalization and higher costs.

(cont’d)

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 8 b) We would work to ensure that all workers in the health care system are fully utilized as well as deal with recruitment and retention issues. We would discuss these issues immediately on being elected. We stand for increased training and hiring of health care technicians and support staff.

(a) The current health care system in PEI is more accurately described as an “illness care” system. The Green Party G is committed to reducing the massive and ever-increasing expense of an out-of-control health system. Taxpayers subsidize industries, products and practices that harm human health, and then pay dearly to deal with the consequences. This is neither smart nor sustainable.

Grade It will be necessary in the short-term to increase levels of staffing to cope with a population plaqued with all-time C high rates of obesity, cancer, asthma, learning disbailities and other diseases. But in the long term, Green Party policies for illness prevention will reduce the need for illness care. During the transition from illness care to a healthier population, some staff would be transitioned to jobs promoting health prevention and offering alternative health options.

(b) Nurses would perform certain procedures currently only allowed by doctors. Likewise, LPNs would assume greater responsibility and do some of the work now carried out by nurses. A transition team composed of health workers, citizens and administrators would determine the best course of action for a speedy improvement in the more efficient use of health care workers. Hospitals and Long Term Care Facilities

Islanders have enjoyed, and hope to continue enjoying, the availability of accessing publicly funded and publicly delivered health care sevices. There is an increasing trend throughout Canada to contract out many of these health related services, with the outcome of an increase in costs for the service, a decrease in the quality of the service provided, and a decrease in the standard of working conditions, wages and benefits for the employees.

We asked the questions:

(a) If your party is elected to form the government in this election will you guarantee the taxpayers of this province that you will continue to provide publicly funded - publicly delivered health care sevices?

( b ) W i l l y o u a l s o g u a r a n t e e t h a t n o p r i v a t e c l i n i c s w i l l b e allowed to set up operations to deliver any health s e r v i c e s t h a t a r e c u r r e n t l y p r o v i d e d b y u n i o n i z e d h e a l t h care workers?

A Pat Binns Government is committed to a publicly funded health care system and will, as always, uphold the Canada Health Act. For Prince Edward Island, we believe our public model is the best, and most cost-effective way to deliver C health services to Islanders – private clinics are not the answer for PEI. The Pat Binns team now invests over $480 million a year, or $1.3 million per day, on health care and social services for Islanders, nearly double what was spent a decade ago. Grade Consultations have been held with Islanders to hear their views on how to shape the future direction of health care. C That engagement has helped shape government policy and direction. Decisions are not always easy, but they are nec- essary. Pat Binns has shown his ability to make the right choices by involving Islanders and showing the leadership needed for a sustainable health care system on Prince Edward Health care today is constantly changing and evolving

A) Yes

(B) Publicly delivered health care is the number one priority of Islanders and the Liberal Party. L Like many Islanders, we have asked the question why we have publicly-owned golf courses and privately run health care such as ambulance services? Do the Conservatives believe its more important to fund staffing of golf pros Grade instead of health care services, such as Ambulance services? As Liberals, we believe its essential that we ensure that our most important prioritiies, such as health care, always offer the best possible care and services for Islanders. C The privatization scheme for ambulance services is an example of how the business of ambulance services has dominated decision-making around the delivery of services. The results – reduced level of health services for Islanders, lower wages for staff, and user fees for ambulance care. - (cont’d)

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 9

This is not a case study that appeals to the deep roots and connections that the Liberal Party shares with Islanders for Publicly funded universal access health care. That’s why a Liberal Government will eliminate fees for emergency ambulance services and cap total ambulance fees paid by individuals. Liberals believe that a government should be judged by how it takes care of those most in need, and will ensure that the provision of services always meets the needs of Islanders.

a) Canada's publicly funded and publicly delivered health care services are much more efficient than the privatized, N profit driven US model. We know that there is no evidence from the Romanow Report or elsewhere which illustrates D that any private model is more efficient than our current public model. When the Binns government considered a P-3 P Model for East Prince Health Hospital it was dissuaded from doing so at the overwhelming evidence that these private models do not work to provide the most efficient approach to delivering health care. Grade b) We believe that the Canada Health Act should be enforced and that no private clinics be allowed to set up shop. A This can be quite dangerous due to our trade agreements and what this would mean down the road opening the door to private health care. We were disappointed that Former Premier and Liberal Senator Callbeck leant her support and name to the Chaouilli case with Senator Kirby. We stand for NO private clinics where the health services are cur- rently provided for by unionized health care workers.

G Taxpayers expect efficient and effective publicly funded and publicly delivered health care services. The Green Party stands behind this principle completely and would guarantee its continuance and work toward bettering and expanding services. The Green Party opposes any steps that further the move to two-tier health care system. Grade A

Reducing the Financial Barriers to Post-Secondary Education

With the increasing cost of post-secondary education, many young people on Prince Edward Island are encountering significant financial barriers to their ability to attain a proper education. As a result, many young people feel that they can not afford to pursue a post-secondary education, resulting in limits to their future potential – with all of the ramifications that has on future job prospects and income expectations. Those who do continue with a post secondary education are left with improved prospects - but also with a huge debt load, often resulting in their postponing future milestones like starting a family or purchasing a home.

We asked the questions:

(a) Knowing the gravity of this situation, if your party is elected to form the government in this election, what measures (if any) would you be prepared to take to reduce the financial barriers to post-secondary education for Prince Edward Island students?

(b) Would your government also consider some incentives to assist Island students who choose to attend an off Island post–secondary institution, knowing that their return to the province after they finish their education will only serve to benefit the economy?

(c) What plans does your party have (if any) in relation to the apprenticeship program for skilled trades workers and to ensuring Island students have access to seats in programs that are not available at Island post- secondary institutions?

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 10

We will implement a 10% rollback of post-secondary tuition at UPEI. This will reduce tuition to 2004 levels and provide improved accessability for post-secondary students. C We will be expanding and enhancing the Island Student Award for post-secondary students. Island post-secondary students will be able to receive up to $2000 over a four year university program. Grade C We will introduce an Island Skills Award. This award will provide a $1,000 annual grant for students at Holland College and La Societe educative not currently receiving federal skills development benefits. The Pat Binns government will implement a Lifelong Learning and Literacy Strategy for Prince Edward Island. It is important that we support a culture which will encourage learning, literacy and lifeskills for all Islanders. Additionally, student debt relief programs have been implemented to assist Island students. To succeed in the 21st century economy of the future, the Pat Binns team knows that higher learning opportunities must be accessible and affordable.

Liberals believe that post-secondary education is a path to a brighter future for both our children and our L province. We find it very disturbing that PEI has the lowest ranking in Canada in terms of government spending on post secondary education as a percentage of government spending. Source: Canadian Association of University Teachers, CAUT Almanac of Post-Secondary Education (2006) pg. 2 Grade C A Liberal Government will put Islanders first by: · Creating incentives for recent post-secondary institution graduates to live on the Island through a non-taxable tuition rebate of up to $2,000 per year to a maximum of $10,000 Pursuing Tuition Support Measures, as finances permit, to significantly reduce the cost of tuition for 4th year students attending UPEI Increasing operating funding on a per student basis to UPEI and Holland College to the national average over a 4 year time period Changing student loan funding eligibility to reduce the extent to which parental income is a consideration for eligibility for assistance. Developing a provincial skilled trades strategy that engages industry, high school system, and Holland College to dramatically increase the supply of skilled trades workers on PEI.

N (A) in our platform document we state: D “Our future starts with: Removal of barriers to student loans and enhance relief for persons carrying student loans -a rollback of all post secondary tuition to 40% of current levels -stable public funding for post-secondary education P Institutions, and ensuring that federal funding transferred for this purpose is applied accordingly.” Grade b) We want to ensure that all Island students have the opportunity to return to PEI and contribute to our Island A economy without a crippling burden of debt. There are skills and training only available off Island and we need to attract young people with those skills to remain here. c) We know that we are facing a shortage of skilled trade’s people and that many of these workers leave PEI for higher paid jobs elsewhere. We need to institute a provincial fair wage policy similar to the federal policy. We need to make sure they have ac- cess to affordable and accessible training. We need a comprehensive skills and apprenticeship program. In many job classifica- tions, PEI ranks the very lowest in hourly and annual wage rates.

G a) The Green Party supports radically reduced, even free, tuition for students from middle- to low-income families. Students should be made aware of and given more opportunities to attain post-secondary skills that do not involve universities. Too much emphasis is given to attending university and many graduate students are finding themselves unable to acquire meaningful well-paid employment. Grade C The Green Party would encourage cooperative education and apprenticeship programs as an effective and less ex- pensive path to obtain job skills. Reducing operating costs of universities and colleges would result in cost savings to students. Buildings would be retrofitted for energy conservation and site specific alternative sources of energy would be employed. Better tax incentives to individuals, companies and foundations to sponsor scholarship programs would help reduce debt.

( b) Yes

(c ) The Green Party would ensure students are just as informed about opportunities in the trades as they are now about university options. Our vision for a100% organic province includes increased employment opportunities in food processing and artisanal foods. College and apprenticeship programs would be developed for trades with real job opportunities in PEI - trades such as cheese-making, specialty bread- making, fermented milk products like yoghourt, wine making, etc. PEI would become known as a centre for quality training and apprenticeship.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 11

PENSION BENEFITS ACT

In 1990, the Prince Edward Island legislature passed the Pension Benefits Act outlining the standards that should be applied in the operation and administration of pension plans. To date no government has taken the initative to proclaim this legislation.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election, would you ensure that a Pension Benefits Act be proclaimed and, if your answer is“Yes”, provide us with a time frame for this to happen?

The Pension Benefits Act was passed on April 26, 1990 but never proclaimed. Initially some small companies had C concerns about the complexity of the legislation and the associated red tape. Over the years there has not been a lot of demand to have the Act proclaimed. Grade In recent years there have been a few requests to proclaim the Act, such as submissions from the Investment F Dealers Association and the Federation of Labour. The Act is intended to regulate pensions and protect pensioners - ie to ensure they get the pension promised.

To proclaim the Act would require a review and update of the Act, development of new regulations, a fresh round of consulta- tions of those organizations with pension plans, and the dedication of some new resources by the Consumer, Corporate and Insurance Division. We will monitor the level of interest in this initiative to determine if there is support for a future re-examination of the Act and its goals

According to the Financial Services Commission of Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island is the only province in L Canada that does not have Pension Benefits Legislation. This is consistent with the lack of leadership provided by Conservatives in areas of vital importance to Islanders, such as:

Ø Lowest Health care spending as a percentage of budget Grade Source: Dominion Bond Rating Service (May 2006) F Ø Slowest economic growth, “RBC predicts that PEI will be the slowest growing province in 2007..” Source: RBC Economics Division, October 2006

Ø Poorest access to school phychologists and speech language pathologists in the country Source: Provincial Joint Working Committee on Learning Disabilities (December 2004) pg. 15

The Liberal Party believes that we can reverse these trends and make Islanders First for a Change in providing improved services and making our province stronger and a better place to live.

A Liberal government will review the Pension Benefits Act realizing that it will be in some respects outdated since it was passed in the legislature through the leadership of Premier Joe Ghiz in 1990. Since then, the Supreme Court has ruled on changes for the modernization of benefits and other factors that will need to be reviewed prior to making a decision to proclaim a new revised act.

N D

P It is shameful that PEI is the only jurisdiction in Canada and the United States that does not have pension legislation. We would ensure that the Pension Benefits Act was modernized and proclaimed in our first term in Grade office. Our platform states we support "removal of obstacles to enactment of Pension Benefits legislation for A which Island workers have been waiting for 17 years."

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 12

G Yes. Consultation with affected parties would begin immediately with a revised Act ready for the fall sitting of the legislature.

Grade

A

Honouring Signed Collective Agreements

Cont’d from page 7

(a) Yes. G (b) Yes Yes, and the committee should be broadened to include many sectors of society Grade such as the recipients of programs and services. C

MAY 28, 2007 - ELECTION DAY Make Sure That You Vote WHY? - BECAUSE

C 1. IT’S YOUR TURN TO MAKE THE DECISIONS

Grade 2. IT’S YOUR TURN TO MAKE THE VOICE OF LABOUR HEARD C 3. IT’S YOUR TURN TO LET POLITICIANS KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU 4. IT’S YOUR TURN TO GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED 5. IT’S YOUR TURN TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS L 6. IT’S YOUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO VOTE

Grade A

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 13 ATLANTICA

There has been much talk recently about the creation of a ‘Business without Borders’ entity that would include the At- lantic Canada Region. For this concept to become a reality many obstacles would have to be removed. The result would lead to the possibility of many detrimental effects such as – reduced or eliminated public services and programs, and the abolishment or reduction of minimum wage standards. The proponents of this concept also feel that the Provincial, Fed- eral and State – Public Services are too large and that their size is a factor in what they see as ‘Regional Disparity’.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election what stand will you take in regards to this pri- vate business initiative?

Prince Edward Island is integrated with other provinces through the Council of Atlantic Premiers. Co-operation is essential as we share a number of regional issues. A Pat Binns Progressive Conservative C Government believes that we can work constructively with our regional partners while maintaining our economic independence. Prince Edward Island has the products, the services, and the talent to compete nationally and regionally. We believe that access to new markets and new opportunities can only benefit Islanders. Stronger Grade economic ties with our regional neighbours does not mean a reduction in public services and or changes to the C Island way of life

Robert Ghiz and the Liberal Team have a great sense of pride in our province and way of life. Our Island has tremendous advantages over other Islands such as Cape Breton or Vancouver Island because we have provincial L jurisdiction. It is this autonomy of self government and provincial status that has served Islanders very well over the years. A Liberal government will always protect this important advantage our Island enjoys over many other jurisdictions and ensure that we do not become a small voice in a larger Atlantica jurisdiction. Grade At the same time, a Liberal government is open to pursuing prudent opportunities to partner with our neighboring C provinces to reduce costs and maintain high quality services for Islanders as long as they do not result in the types of negative outcomes described by UPSE, such as reduction in minimum wage standards or reduced public services. Moreover, a Liberal government will act aggressively to ensure that our province receives at least our fair share of employment from these partnerships.

Atlantica is a scheme of the business elite represented by AIMS (Atlantic Institute for Market Studies) and big N business (Irving's). There is very little in the scheme to recommend to Prince Edward Island. The premise is in fact D quite laughable: economic development in our region would be contingent on large boats carrying Asian goods docking in the expanded port of Halifax and the goods would then be transported by truck trains along a super high- P way to the Northeastern USA. It is hard to see what benefit PEI would derive from such a scheme. However, the real motivation seems to be in dragging down our labour, environment and other standards as well as harmonizing our Grade rules. They point out that public services are too large on this side of the border. They wish to grant more power to A transnational business forces and weaken the power of democratically elected governments to make rules in favour of its citizens. We also oppose TILMA which is also a scheme which would take powers from our government and place it in the hand of unelected corporations.

G

Grade The Green Party is adamantly opposed to Atlantica. A

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 14 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

All Union members have concerns about the future health of our Island. The elevated nitrate levels in our water are of the utmost concern. We understand that our farmers need to use chemical fertilizers to assist them with their growing opera- tions. We also feel that it is a responsibility of the government in power to ensure that every possible effort is made to ensure that this practice does not have a negative effect on our groundwater resources.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election what measures will you put in place to deal with this issue?

Prince Edward Islanders have become widely known for their leadership on a broad range of green initiatives. C Prince Edward island is becoming known as "Canada’s Green Province" and this reputation is well earned. It comes from an integrated approach to environmental stewardship, including the success of Waste Watch, a move toward renewable energy, the adoption of environmental farm plans and protection of our water. We are proud of our record on watershed management, crop rotation, buffer zones, and the development of a renewable energy Grade strategy to meet our climate change and clean air commitments. C We look forward to implementing these additional initiatives to further improve our environment for Islanders today, and for generations to come:.

Launch the Premier’s Task Force on Nitrates

More work to add more renewable energy to Prince Edward Island by expanding support for the Hydrogen Village Initiative;

Expanding training opportunities through Holland College to ensure the Island has a skilled workforce for the new jobs being created in wind power;

Exploring research to advance new opportunities for renewable energy in wind, solar, biomass and hydrogen;

Strengthen and improve Island Green Tax Incentives to encourage the purchase of energy efficient cars and trucks, environmentally responsible property management and sustainable land stewardship;

Helping our farmers and our environment by encouraging the development of an Island biofuels industry;

A greater focus on energy efficiency and conservation through enhanced measures to promote the purchase of energy efficient thermostats, light bulbs, weather stripping, insulation and furnaces, as well as providing up to 200,000 energy efficient light bulbs to Island schools for fundraising;

The Island Transit Tax Credit to make it more affordable for Islanders to choose environmentally friendly transportation;

Changing to a greener government by using more energy efficient hybrid vehicles in the government transportation fleet and more energy efficient light bulbs in government buildings.

We are working with our federal partners to invest the $15 million flowing from the Eco Trust for Climate Change and Clean Air

The Liberal Party understands that clean water is essential for the future health of Islanders and our province. It is L clear that a new direction and vision for our water quality is necessary, as the current government has ignored this issue and allowed the quality of our water to deteriorate over its past decade in power. In contrast, the Liberal Party’s commitment to this issue was demonstrated by introducing the Liberal Plan to put Grade “Islanders First in Water Quality” that was outlined by Leader Robert Ghiz and Liberal Candidate for C Borden Kinkora, George Webster in the first week of the campaign. Mr. Webster is an award-winning potato farmer who has been national recognized for his promotion of environmental stewardship initiatives in farming.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 15 Highlights of the Liberal Water Quality Plan include:

Ø The establishment of an independent body to create binding solutions for protecting our water supply. Ø The creation of Clean Water Assistance Program that will provide residents with financial resources for water testing and water treatment. Under this program, the fees charged to residents for water testing will be immediately reduced by 50%. Follow-up tests every two year will be free to residents. Ø The significant expansion of groundwater testing and water quality monitoring in partnership with watershed groups. Highlights of the Liberal Plan for Agricultural Stewardship include: Ø Increased funding assistance to farmers to significantly expand nutrient management planning to reduce fertilizer usage. Ø Working with farmers to fund variety trials of potato varieties that yield well, yet require fewer nitrates. The Liberal Party understands that there are clearly opportunities for Island potato farmers to play a key role in reducing nitrate levels here on the Island. Nutrient management planning and shifting to other potato varieties requiring less nitrates will help accomplish this goal. At the same time, we must also work to assist farmers in achieving broader adoption of sustainable crop rotation practices. A Liberal Government will work with farmers to make these improvements for the benefits of all Islanders.

The Island New Democrats know that all development must be governed by principles that protect our water, our air N and our land.

D Our future starts with: P *Immediate short- and long - term solutions to Prince Edward Island's threatened groundwater systems; Grade *A province-wide ban on cosmetic pesticides; A *Programs and support to help farmers move to environmentally sustainable farm practices; *Improvement and enforcement of sustainable farm practice regulations, including buffer zones, crop rotations, and fertilizer and pesticide applications; *Increased investment in organic farming; *A law to prevent governments from de-designating protected natural areas; *A recycling program for construction and demolition waste

It is incorrect to state that “our farmers need to use chemical fertilizers to assist them with their growing operations”. Food can be grown without dumping toxic substances into the environment. It is called organic agriculture and it is the only model of agriculture that is proven to be safe for the environment and safe for G human health,

Nitrate pollution of our groundwater cannot be eliminated as long as chemical fertilizer is used on 100,000 acres of Grade industrially grown potatoes. There are no magical “agriculture practices” that can be employed to stop nitrate C pollution as all three other parties are promoting during the election campaign. The situation is very simple to understand. When fertilizer is put on the ground in the massive quantities required by a crop that is a high nitrogen user, it has no where to go but into the groundwater. To say otherwise is either fraudulent or ignorant.

No one should be exposed against their will to ANY level of chemical fertilizer in their groundwater. The Green Party would work to dismantle industrial agriculture and replace it with organic agriculture. It is the only way to ensure we stop polluting our groundwater.

Following is an excerpt from a new article from Associated Press:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070505/ap_on_re_eu/un_organic_food

Switch to organic crops could help poor By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer Sat May 5, 4:51 PM ET

ROME - Organic food has long been considered a niche market, a luxury for wealthy consumers. But researchers told a U.N. conference Saturday that a large-scale shift to organic agriculture could help fight world hunger while improving the environment , , , ,These models suggest that organic agriculture has the potential to secure a global food supply, just as conventional agriculture today, but with reduced environmental impacts," Scialabba said in a paper presented to the conference.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 16 Casual Employment

At any given time as many as 2000 of our UPSE members are cas- ual employees. These members do not have full benefit of the col- lective agreement and do not have a clear commitment of job secu- rity.

We asked the questions:

(a)If your party is elected to form the government in this election, what initiatives will you take to ensure the creation of additional classified positions within the Civil Service?

(b) Will your government commit to a ‘hands off’ approach in the hiring of government employees?

The Pat Binns’ Progressive Conservative Government is committed to the elimination of patronage hiring and it is C our goal to ensure fairness and job stability for all Islanders. Seasonal employees can be assured that, providing they receive a satisfactory job performance evaluation, they will be recalled to their positions in succeeding seasons. The casual conversion process also gives casual employees the Grade opportunity to apply for permanent position after a determined period of time – many casual employees have been C converted to permanent status as a result of this initiative. Casual employees also receive an additional 12 percent of their wages to cover benefits that would normally attach to permanent staff.

A) The Liberal Party believes that we must restore trust and confidence in the government hiring process. For some employees, the job security connected to the classification of their positions would provide them piece of L mind and make it more appealing for our province to retain more of our people in our province. A Liberal government will take measures to make the hiring process is fair and transparent for Islanders including the status of casual employees. Grade C B) Islanders have grown tired of old-style patronage politics. Under the Conservatives, over 800 Islanders lost their jobs for no other reason than being associated with another political party. The government even went so far as to change the Human Rights Act to limit access for victims of patronage.

Liberals understand that a strong and professional public service is essential to delivery high quality services for all Islanders. A Liberal Government will address this issue by taking a “hands off” approach in the hiring of government employees by implementing a series of actions outlined in the Party’s “Fairness and Transparency in the Public Service” policy statement.

This bold new approach is in steep contrast to the current patronage laden approach embraced by the Conservatives. This Liberal Plan will support strengthening of our professional public service and put regular Islanders first for a change. This Liberal policy direction will be unveiled during the campaign, and can be accessed at www.islandersfirst.ca .

N a) We believe that all jobs should be ones which respect the dignity and skills of the worker. One way on ensuring D this is to classify additional casual positions so workers can count on employment and have a greater sense of job P security.

b) We believe that patronage is inherently a divisive and negative practice which divides Islanders and plays Grade neighbour against neighbour. Recent attempts by government to circumvent human rights legislation or to limit A settlements, illustrate problems with this process and that public money is being used incorrectly. Our Government would commit to ending the wasteful and divisive practice of patronage and institute a fairer system of hiring.

G (a) First step would be to review the positions with employees and the union to determine which position should be classified.

Grade (b) Yes. C

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 17 Cost Sharing of Retirement Benefits

Upon retirement, retirees incur a huge added expense to maintain their participation in a health and dental insurance plan. This expense can be hundreds of dollars each month. In some cases maintaining their health needs results in the need to forgo other basic necessities.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election will they commit to alle- viating / decreasing this financial burden while allowing retirees to maintain their health benefits?

Pat Binns Progressive Government values the contribution made by our Public Service retirees and appreciates how they enrich our Island way of life. One of the main challenges regarding the is- C sue of offering health and dental benefits to retiress, is that it would be virtually impossible to restrict a cost-sharing arrangement to any single group that may be requesting such a subsidy. Over the years, there has been consideration given to this Grade issue, but the costs to do so are so prohibitive that the Province has been unable to reasonably entertain such F arrangements.

Under the accounting rules that the Province is subject to, the one-time cost to initiate 50/50 cost-sharing of retiree health premiums alone for the life of all provincial public sector retirees would be approximately $110 million. In addition, the annual cost thereafter would be about $4.5 million.

Liberals understand that retirees across our province face many financial burdens after retirement and as they age into their senior years. With an aging population, Liberals believe that we need to focus more of our energies in providing improved services and financial supports to our retirees and seniors. L It is clear that the Conservatives have failed to meet the needs of seniors, as retirees needs for items such as drug coverage, and health care supports naturally increases later as they eventually transition into their senior years. Grade F For example, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, “Islanders spend more of their own money on prescription drugs than anywhere else in Canada”. This form of unfair downloading of costs to all Islanders, in- cluding public service retirees, needs to stop. Liberals believe we need to re-think the way government is organized to address these issues. A superficial name change of a government department does little to respond to the growing financial burden incurred by retirees.

N

D Until we have a national and expanded Pharmacare and Medicare system we should find a way to ensure retirees P have access to an affordable and comprehensive health and dental insurance plan.

Grade An expansion of the senior’s provincial pharmacare program will assist in alleviating some of these costs. C

he Green Party is committed to bringing dental care into the health care system to end what is essentially a G two-tier health system. Employees with dental plans and anyone else fortunate enough to be able to afford a dental plan, now enjoy a superior level of health care. We are committed to the principal that all Canadians should have equal access to the health care system. Insurance plans and individual wealth give some citizens more access Grade than others.

C The Green Party would enact a provincial Pharmacare Plan and ensure that Islanders most in need are first in line for assistance. We would commit to exploring creative options for retirees who cannot afford their health and dental plans.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 18 Tax Breaks

Taxes are always an issue for Islanders. While we recognize the need for taxes to support the public services that we require we also want to be assured that every measure is taken to ensure that the taxes imposed are fair and reasonable.

We asked the question:

If your party is elected to form the government in this election what measures will you put in place to ensure that Islanders are not burdened with unreasonable taxes?

Islanders work hard for their money and in Budget 2007 we committed to reducing to broad-based tax relief. C Tax reductions announced in Budget 2007 mean that Islander individuals will pay 20.3 percent less in provincial Personal Income tax than in 1997; A typical family of four, will pay 30.3 percent less than in 1997. Details of our plan include: Grade $11.2 million in tax relief for all types of Island families by raising the thresholds of the Basic Personal Amount, C Spousal Amount and Age Amount, as well as higher Tax Brackets and eliminating a surtax on middle-income families. $6.5 million in tax savings for Island seniors by matching the federal government's pension income splitting. $1.5 million in tax breaks for university college students and many of their parents by doubling the value of the Personal Income Tax Education Amounts. $700,000 in lower provincial taxes by matching a series of federal tax fairness measures, including extending the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption for fishermen, farmers and small business owners. $2.2 million to reduce the taxes small business pay, on track to make small business tax rates on PEI the lowest in Canada by 2010. $1.5 million in lower gas taxes by capping the changing part of the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel fuel. Capping property tax increases to the rate of inflation for the past 5 years has saved islanders more than $13 million dollars. Under the Leadership of Premier Pat Binns, our tax plan will mean Islanders get to keep more of their own money and the economy will continue to experience record growth and prosperity

The Liberal Party has a vision for greater tax fairness for all Islanders. For too long, the Conservative government L has reached deep into the pockets of Islanders to pay for their mistakes. Its time for a change! The Liberal Plan provides a clear contrast to the unfair tax policy of the Conservatives.

Grade Ø Fuel Tax Fairness – When the Conservatives came to power the tax on gasoline was 12 cents. Today, Island- A ers are paying 20.2 cents. For every $50 that Islanders put in their gas tanks, $9.00 of that goes to provincial taxes. A Liberal Government will: · cut the gas tax by 4.4 cents per litre immediately · conduct a review of IRAC and its capacity and expertise to meaningfully protect consumers from rising costs. Ø Property Tax Fairness – Since the Conservatives came to power, property tax revenues have increased 70%. They argue that assessments, not taxes are going up. Does it seem fair that property taxes rose higher in PEI than any other province in 2005-06, including the very hot Alberta housing market? Of course not, Liberals understand that there isn’t a fair explanation to this cynical Conservative shell game. A Liberal Government will: · Freeze residential property tax assessments increases until 2010, and limit future increases to the cost of living

Ø Income Tax Fairness – Since 2000, income tax revenues have increased 45%, yet average weekly earnings of Islanders have risen by only 12.6%. A Liberal Government will: · Raise the basic personal deduction by $500 this year, and introduce cost of living indexing in the next year. · Increase the disability tax credit to match the current federal tax credit immediately. · Work towards greater equity in personal deductions to be in line with federal deductions.

ØGovernment Fee Fairness – Since the Conservatives came to power, total fees for licenses and permits have increased over 47%. - Put a two-year freeze on all government license and permit service fees, and after two years, limit fee increases to cost of living adjustments.

The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 19

N We believe in reinvesting in Islanders and their needs and using tax dollars wisely to provide public services to D Islanders. We believe in fair taxation policies. We know that the burden of taxation has gradually shifted from business and upper income earners and now has increased for middle and lower income families in the form of P greater taxes and reduced services. Some examples from our balanced and fair taxation policy include: Grade We are committed to ending the provincial claw-back of the Child Tax Benefit for Island families receiving social C assistance

Short term tax relief for small businesses to support investment in employee training and equipment upgrades for higher productivity

Steps to provide relief from price increases in gasoline, home heating oil and electricity, consistent with energy efficiency standards and a renewable energy policy

Removal of the $65 per day accommodation fee in public manors

The Green Party approach is to taxation is that anything detrimental to society, the economy and the environment G should be heavily taxed. Tax breaks and subsidies should be given to that which is good for the environment, the economy and society.

So heavy taxes would be imposed on pollution, carbon, resource extraction, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, Grade VLTs, junk food, plastics, packaging, disposables, etc. F Tax breaks would be available for products supporting health, organic farming inputs, least-toxic products, solar water heaters, insulation, alternative energy systems, etc.

Income is good and needs to be encouraged so we would lower income taxes.

We would like to thank the parties for their prompt reply to this questionnaire. The grade that has been given will not be shared by all UPSE members. It is, however reflective of the answer in relationship to the question(s) asked and the impact of the answer on UPSE as a labour union. We want to encourage members to read the answers carefully and be fully informed of where your party stands on these important issues.

On May 28 - VOTE

Moving? Please complete the form below, clip it out and send it along with the mailing label to:

The ADVOCATE 4 Enman Crescent, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1E 1E6

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Address:______

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The ADVOCATE Volume 27 Number 2 Election Issue May, 2007 20