P.E.I. legislative session begins with 1st throne speech read by new lieutenant-governor

The second sitting of the 67th General Assembly of Prince Edward Island began Tuesday at "a pivotal moment for our province, our country and the world," according to the throne speech read out by Lt.-Gov. Wassim Salamoun. 

The province has a new premier, Canada has a new prime minister and international relations are changing in significant and unsettling ways. 

This will be the first session of the legislature with Rob Lantz as premier. The former Progressive Conservative education minister and MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton was sworn in as premier on Feb. 21, the day after Dennis King announced he was stepping down from the role.

"This marks a new chapter for our province, with a new premier and renewed leadership committed to building on the progress we have made while setting a course for our future," Salamoun said as he read out the speech from the throne, traditionally prepared by the governing party to lay out its legislative agenda for the weeks ahead. 

The throne speech discussed the province's plans for the economy, healthcare, infrastructure, municipalities, law enforcement and education. 

"As we've done many times before — as Islanders and as Canadians — we will band together and get through this together," the text said. 

In another development Tuesday, MLAs voted to select Progressive Conservative MLA Sidney MacEwen as the legislature's new Speaker. He had been serving as deputy speaker until Speaker Darlene Compton was named as Lantz's new minister of economic development, innovation and trade.

The speech text read by Salamoun said P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative government will introduce legislative changes in the spring sitting to support efforts to reduce internal trade barriers amid ongoing tariff uncertainty.

That includes continuing to push for the removal of tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fares for the Wood Island ferry service, which the speech called "the biggest trade barrier" and "an unfair burden on Islanders" that holds back the province's economy. 

The tolls have become a talking point in the federal election campaign in recent days as both major parties pledged to reduce or eliminate the tolls. 

Lantz's government will also explore the creation of a shipping port on P.E.I. to connect the province to new and emerging markets around the world, the speech said. 

As Lantz promised on March 4, the province will double its number of trade missions this year and aggressively pursue new markets around the world, while also promoting Island products across Canada, according to the speech text. 

For P.E.I. farmers, the government will introduce a land buy-back program for those whose land has been affected by the Potato Wart Management Plan, the speech said. The program will let farmers sell land that is restricted for use in agriculture, and purchase or lease other land if they choose.

The government will also introduce tax cuts to support Island companies, and will review and improve its community economic development business program that allows equity financing with tax credits for investors in approved businesses, Salamoun said.