The message is repeated:

Spent all day canvassing in the district - Andrews Lodge, Parkhill Seniors Residence, Notre Dame Place, and Lefurgey Avenue. In St. Eleanors I was on Weeks and East Drive and the All Weather Highway. This evening I canvassed in home poll.

I did a telephone interview with Nancy MacPhee for a Journal Pioneer profile of District #22 candidates. The same issues are emerging again and again - health care, healthy communities, and senior concerns.

Thursday our son Jonathan is graduating from UNB Law School so our family is together tonight and we'll all be attending the ceremony. Tomorow morning will be spent canvassing on Linden Avenue and I'll return to door to door work on Thursday evening.

Liberals and Lifelong learning:

May 14, 2007

I visited residents on Water Street today as well as apartment dwellers in the First Street and surrounding areas. I attended the press conference this morning where the Liberal platform on post-secondary education was released.

As an former educator myself and a father of two post-secondary education students, I know it’s important to provide government support for lifelong learning. That’s why I’m particularly proud of the Liberal post-secondary education platform released today. With your support a Liberal government will introduce the Skills at Home tax rebate, providing $2000 a year in tax relief for up to five years for post-secondary graduates who live and work on PEI. Starting in 2007, first year Island students entering UPEI will be provided with a $2000 Entrance Grant with a comparable program to be available to Island students entering Holland College. A Liberal government will work with both Holland College and UPEI to encourage the regional delivery of courses through satellite and/or distance learning options.

As I said at the opening of our District #22 Headquarters, our youth need to know that they will have a future here in Summerside-St.Eleanors and on PEI. The people of Summerside-St-Eleanors, indeed all Islanders, have a choice - our graduates working here? Or somewhere else?

It's Great to be a Liberal!

This morning I went to two senior apartment buildings. Had a number of visits with elderly people who are lonely and welcomed a listening ear. I heard often how disillusioned they are with Premier Binns. They believe that it is time to give Robert Ghiz an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills. Spent the rest of the day on Poplar, Willow and Hawthorne Avenues. A Happy Mother's Day to my lovely typist Elizabeth and all Island mothers.

Friday, May 11

It was a great day to be a Liberal! It started out with postive door to door campaigning on Jennifer Street, and Hunter, Currie, and Chestnut Avenues. Once again, people were talking about their tax assessments. I was proud to be able to reiterate the Liberal Tax Fairness Policy which offers them "meaningful tax relief." In the evening it was off to the big rally in Montague where we were enthiastically greeted by a crowd which spilled out into the street. The mood is very optimistic as everyone can sense the mounting momentum as the Liberal Team heads to victory.

Challenges abound:

Today was busy - worked along Brophy, Avon, St. Lawrence and North Market Streets and Wood Avenue and finished off on Weeks Drive.

I met people challenged by their physical disabilities and concerned over their inability to find meaningful work, even though they are willing and able to do a job. They want the satisfaction of contributing in the workplace. I spoke to a firefighter who is concerned over the provincial government's refusal to provide special insurance for protection against certain cancers associated with fire fighting.

Still hearing talk of the urgent need for change, indignation over promises made now - if dollars were there before why wasn't the government using them to help Islanders? and disdain at the arrogance of the Binns' government.

Island families need support:

I was tired and cold when I arrived home late last night so am combining the two entries. Yesterday, May 8, I traveled in the downtown area, Brophy Avenue and on Central Street. People are asking why a new school will be built in Startford when there is space in other schools and we need resources for the schools we already have. Another question is where does that put the new gym and renovations for Elm Street School on the priority list?

Today I was in St. Eleanors and on Elm and Tower Streets. The tax assessments are out and people's bills are up again. People are asking "Where will this end?" Those on assistance and/or disability supports are penalized if they take the initiative to make a few extra dollars when all they are trying to do is what any parent wants to do - give their children money to go to a movie, get them new summer footwear or provide them with money to go to the school cafeteria as a special treat. Families are our greatest assest and a Liberal government will stand behind them.

Changes in the Climate:

The weather has changed – it’s getting warmer and people are out in shirtsleeves. Worked my way on Notre Dame Street from Granville Street to Greenwood Drive, Highland Avenue and Jennifer Street and Norman Drive. The momentum is building, people are excited about the change and are looking forward to better representation with the city painted red.

This evening we had a few dozen people at the official opening of he District # 22 office. I spoke to them about my week and left them with these thoughts. "Our youth need to know that they will have a future here in S'Side-St.Eleanors and on PEI. The people of S'Side-St-Eleanors, indeed all Islanders, have a choice - our graduates working here? Or somewhere else? Seniors and people facing daily challenges in their lives, need to know that their government will help them to live a life of dignity. The people of Summerside-St.Eleanors, indeed all Islanders, have a choice – a government hungry for power? Or a government committed to empowering Islanders? We need to take care of our environment - our air, land and water. The people of Summerside-St-Eleanors, indeed all Islanders have a choice – clean water for the future? Or more dirty laundry?"

My last meeting of the evening was the information session about public transit for the Island. Lots of food for thought and, if we are to truly be a green province, we need to support and provide public transit for our citizens.

Health Care is a big concern:

Began the day by having breakfast with Premier Binns. Elizabeth and I had joined our friends at a fundraiser breakfast for a Relay for Life team at Sobey’s and Mr. Binns arrived there also. He has been spending a lot of time in the Summerside area this first week of the campaign.

The people in this area have many issues regarding the economy and health care. Sunday shopping and the lack of good paying jobs are two concerns. One question asked was “Is Summerside going to turn into a retirement community where all we’ll need are service industries; therefore the younger people will have no choice but to work for minimum wages if they stay here?”

People are very worried at the prospect of Dr. Hoare leaving the province. Other health issues are: not enough doctors, long waits at clinics when you only need a refill for a prescription written, and then longer waits at emergency as the clinics only take 30 patients. Since the writ was dropped I have spoken at length with two local doctors and they both expressed the view that a residency program will help secure doctors. I can’t understand why their professional opinions, as well as that of others, are not accepted as valid. I look forward to the announcement of the Liberal Party’s health policy.