A look back at the stories that shaped Prince Edward Island in 2023

A provincial election. A scathing report detailing a toxic workplace at the University of Prince Edward Island. Playing host to the Canada Games. Let's take a look at the stories that made headlines on the Island this year.

A report into allegations of workplace misconduct at UPEI released in June painted a shocking picture of an institution where bullying and harassment went unchecked, prompting the university to part ways with a vice-president and thrusting the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) into the spotlight.

The report from a Toronto-based law firm followed a wide-ranging 18-month review of complaints and policies at the Charlottetown-based campus after former UPEI president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz resigned. It laid out "dire, toxic" issues at the university, including sexual violence, bullying, racism and sexism.

Advocates called the report the strongest condemnation yet of the use of NDAs in cases of sexual violence, abuse and harassment on campuses across Canada. 

Two women who signed NDAs with UPEI were later permanently released from the threat of being sued by the university for speaking out, but still face the possibility of being sued by Abd-El-Aziz.

The university's vice-president administration and finance, Jackie Podger, was placed on administrative leave in the days after the report was released. Several months later, UPEI announced she was no longer a university employee. 

Meanwhile, Pat Sinnott resigned as chair of the university's Board of Governors one week after the report was released, citing a need for new leadership.

UPEI's interim president offered an apology on behalf of the university "to anyone who had suffered harm." In response to the report, the university created a new vice-president responsible for people and culture. The board of governors issued an unequivocal apology for the university's handling of the complaints, and promised to develop an action plan based on the report's recommendations.

In November, the university announced it had spent $677,578 on nine different settlements that included non-disclosure agreements over the years covered by the report, all involving allegations of harassment, discrimination or sexual harassment.

Later that month, the two women who came forward back in 2012 appeared in person to deliver victim impact statements to board of governors members behind closed doors. Erin Casey, who spoke to reporters after the meeting, called it "an important first step."

Dennis King won a second term as premier on April 3 after leading the Progressive Conservatives to one of the strongest victories in modern P.E.I. history following a snap election call.

The PCs took 22 of the province's 27 seats, the Liberals secured the role of Official Opposition with three seats, and the Greens fell to third-party status after winning just two seats.

The election came a full six months earlier than the fixed election date of Oct. 2. Some criticized King's decision to trigger an early election, given that he said in 2019 that fixed election dates are "something that we should actually set and stick to."

Critics also blamed that early election call for the historically low voter turnout. Fewer than 70 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot, marking the lowest voter turnout on the Island in six decades.