Two upcoming forums featuring the leaders of P.E.I.’s political parties will discuss environmental and land protection issues.
The first forum, taking place April 8, will provide an opportunity for Islanders to learn about the positions of the four political parties on a variety of key environmental issues associated with the quality of the Island’s soil, water and air, sustainable water extraction, offshore resource extraction and climate change.
The All-Party Leaders Environmental Forum will take place in MacDougall Hall (Room 242) at UPEI at 7 p.m.
Peter Bevan-Baker (Green party), Joe Byrne (NDP), Dennis King (Progressive Conservatives) and Wade MacLauchlan (Liberal party) will all be present and will each answer a series of questions prepared by a coalition of 20 environmental, conservation and watershed groups that cover a broad range of issues.
There will also be an opportunity for those attending to ask the leaders questions.
The forum will be moderated by Carolyn Peach-Brown, director of environmental studies at UPEI.
The second forum, taking place April 9, is hosted by the Coalition for the Protection of P.E.I. Lands and will feature leaders of three of the four parties in a public debate on urgent land-related issues in P.E.I.
The Party Leaders’ Debate on P.E.I. Land Issues will be held in Charlottetown at the Murchison Centre, 17 St. Pius X Ave., 7-9 p.m.
The leaders of three parties have confirmed their participation, including the Greens, PCs and NDPs. Liberal Leader Wade MacLauchlan will not be attending.
The purpose of the debate is to give P.E.I. voters an opportunity to hear the leaders address the importance of land issues and their policies for the real protection of Island lands.
Leaders will answer written questions submitted from members of the coalition. If time permits, questions will also be solicited from the audience.
This will be a moderated event and will follow a non-partisan, unbiased and impartial format. The moderator is Bill McGuire, journalist and recently retired editorial /opinion page editor of The Guardian. The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.
