New police and firefighters

It's the last Friday of June...how'd that happen?

I made a few design changes to help increase the visibility of headings and links on mobile devices with dark mode enabled. Let me know what you think by replying.

Let's get to today's issue of Island Edition.

⌚Approximate reading time is 4 minutes.

ISLAND BRIEFS

The price of gasoline and diesel took a slight dip this morning. Gas is down 5 cpl (max price 211.8 cpl); diesel is down 1.7 cpl (max price 238.2). There was no change to the price of furnace oil.
PEI continues to lead the country when it comes to inflation. Statistics Canada data shows PEI's inflation rate hit 11.1 per cent in May, up from 8.9 per cent in April.
Maritime Electric plans to spend over $24M on new advanced meters. The multi-year project would take place over 2024 and 2025. Advanced meters submit near-real time usage data to the utility, giving it the ability to introduce a 'time-of-day' rate structure.

COST OF LIVING

Relief payment out next month

Some Islanders will notice a little extra tacked onto their HST rebate issued by Canada Revenue Agency on July 5. What you might be eligible for, if anything at all, will depend on your 2021 income.

What is this? This is the long-promised inflation relief payment that Islanders may remember hearing about back in March when Premier Dennis King announced a $20M program to help some Islanders with the growing cost of living crisis.

Who's getting what? The province says 90,000 Islanders will be eligible for a payment of some sort. Here's how it breaks down:

If you're single:

Individuals who earn $70,000 a year or less will receive $150;
Individuals who earn $70,000 - $80,000 will receive a prorated amount. 🤔

But if you're married, or in a common-law partnership:

Couples that earn a combined $70,000 a year or less will each receive $150;
Couples that earn a combined income of $70,000 - $100,000 will each receive a prorated amount. 🤔

Ok, but what if I owe taxes, or need to repay a CERB benefit? Canadians owing the federal government money usually find themselves in a process referred to as 'collection of first available funds' meaning the feds keep any money that becomes available. But don't worry. I confirmed with CRA that they don't intend to keep this money. Here's what they told me:

"The temporary measures applicable to the Prince Edward Island Sales Tax Credit (PEISTC) also apply to the additional amount related to the PEI carbon rebate and emergency support payment that will be issued to individuals in July with their regular PEISTC payments."

But, if you still haven't filed your tax return then you'll likely not see any money next month. CRA holds HST payments if an individual has not filed a return. You'll eventually get the money, but you first have to catch up on your tax filings.

Afterthought on the timeline: The price of fuel is 28 per cent more expensive today than it was on March 8 when Premier King first announced this relief payment. 🤷

QUICK HITS

Fentanyl warning: The province and Summerside Police are warning Islanders that fentanyl is circulating in street drugs after two confirmed fentanyl overdoses were reported in the last 24 hours. A third possible overdose has yet to be confirmed. If you know someone who uses drugs, there's some information on this page that might help you help them.

Wolf of Kent Street: Josh Lewis of The Eastern Graphic reported Thursday on Maritime Electric's proposed rate increases. Aside from asking the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission if they can increase rates, the privately-owned utility has also applied to increase the profits its shareholders are allowed to earn, from 9.35 per cent to 9.95 per cent annually.

It's not even funny anymore: Peter Kelly is in the news, again, just six weeks after being fired as chief administrative officer in Charlottetown. Halifax Examiner is reporting that Kelly has started constructing an oceanfront home on a piece of property that's mostly wetland. There's questions about public access, lack of permits, and destruction of sensitive habitats.

Food support for seniors: The province announced a one-time $100 Sobeys gift card is being made available to low income seniors (65 and older, one card per-household). Seniors have until August 26 to apply for the program. Visit this page for more information.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

FRIDAY

🎡 Olde Fashioned Carnival @ Wyatt Heritage Properties (75 Spring St, Summerside) / 4:00 - 7:00PM: The lawns of the Wyatt Heritage Properties will be transformed into the site of a Victorian-style carnival. More Info

🎶 Bridgette Blanchard @ Next Door at Merchantman / 5:00PM

🎵 Nathan Carragher @ Piatto Pizzeria Charlottetown / 6:00PM

🎶 Ross Boyd @ Founders' Food Fall & Market / 6:00PM

🎥 The Phantom Of The Open @ City Cinema / 7:00PM: Amateur golfer Maurice Flitcroft achieves his late-in-life goal of participating in the British Open Golf Championship, much to the ire of the staid golfing community. Buy tickets | Watch Trailer

🎵 Adam MacGregor @ Marc's Lounge / 8:00PM

🎶 Soul Good @ Olde Dublin Pub / 10:00PM

🎵 Duelling Pianos @ Salvador Dali Café / 10:00PM

🎶 Two DJs and two dance floors @ The Factory / 11:00PM

SATURDAY

🎶 Wannabeez @ Olde Dublin Pub / 10:00AM

🌈 A Slice of Pride: Rainbow Brunch @ Kings Playhouse (Georgetown) / 11:00AM: Second annual A Little Slice of Pride: Rainbow Brunch. New this year, the Playhouse has partnered with drag queen Treyla Parktrash to host a brilliant morning of Pride themed lip syncing and dance routines while you sit back and enjoy a delicious brunch prepared by The Lucky Bean Cafe. More Info / Tickets

🎶 Got Blues Matinee w/ Amanda Jackson and Todd MacLean @ Trailside Music Hall / 2:00PM

🎵 Adam MacGregor @ Next Door at Merchantman / 8:00PM

🎥 The Phantom Of The Open @ City Cinema / 2:00 & 7:00PM: Amateur golfer Maurice Flitcroft achieves his late-in-life goal of participating in the British Open Golf Championship, much to the ire of the staid golfing community. Buy tickets | Watch Trailer

🎶 Brad & Griffen @ John Brown's / 2:00PM

🎵 Kristy Wright @ Founders' Food Fall & Market / 3:00PM

🎶 Plain Dirty Blues Band @ Baba's Lounge / 5:30PM

🎵 Nathan Carragher @ Next Door at Merchantman / 7:00PM

🎶 Niimo @ Craft Beer Corner / 8:00PM

🎵 Brandon Gillis @ Marc's Lounge 🍻 / 8:00PM

🎶 Nick Hann @ Silver Fox (Summerside) / 9:30PM