Information and Analysis on the PEI Budget:

• 2007 PEI Budget Address
• Highlights of the PEI Provincial Budget (in PDF)
• CBC article - "Disability advocate fears increase not enough"
• CBC article - "Opposition doubts surplus"
• PEI Disability Alert says that the increase in spending for the Disability Support Program is not enough to support all people with disabilities on the island.

P.E.I Senior Citizens' Federation is disappointed that the federal budget will do nothing for the 52 per cent of Island seniors who live below the poverty line. Read more in the CBC article, "P.E.I. seniors disappointed by budget."

Alert PEI, an anti-poverty coalition is asking the government to increase welfare to at least the poverty line. In some cases this is an increase of almost 100%. A single employable person receives $6214 a year on welfare in PEI. The poverty line is $17,784. Read more on CBC, "Alert PEI calls attention to plight of poor."

More people are having to use PEI's food bank for people with HIV and AIDS. It is argued that this is a response to the increased cost of fuel which has forced many people on social assistance to spend their food and grooming allowances on rent and utility costs. This forces many of them to turn to food banks for their meals. For more detals there's a CBC's article regarding PEI's AIDS food bank.

Prince Edward Island's government is resisting a move by the opposition to provide legal aid funding for Workers Compensation claims. The opposition is stating that it is unfair to make Workers Compensation claimants pay for their own legal representation. The minister in charge of Workers Compensation is responding by saying that there is nothing in the legislation which permitts cases to be funded by legal aid and he states that he is unwilling to change the legislation. For more information read the CBC news story on the WCB legal aid debate.

PEI's new Provincial Budget has increased spending in welfare benefits and disability benefits. This is the link to PEI's budget document - page 6 tells of the increases.

In Charlottetown, PEI, an anti-poverty group says the recent provincial budget was a huge disappointment. Social assistance cheques will increase by three per cent but Ken Bingham, spokesperson for the anti-poverty group ALERT, says that will do little to help people who are having a hard time making ends meet. See a CBC report regarding increasing poverty on the island.

PEI's new Provincial Budget has increased spending in welfare benefits and disability benefits. PEI's budget document (in PDF) is available - page 6 tells of the increases.