A musical weekend ahead 🎶

IN THIS ISSUE

➡️ Summerside considers transit overhaul

➡️ Climate action payments explained

➡️ Soup kitchen volunteers needed

QUICK HITS

🙅 Thanks, but no thanks: Summerside council has squashed a developer’s plan to add 600 housing units to the city’s north end. The plan, proposed by Stratford-based Z & C Flourish, required council’s approval to rezone a 64-acre parcel of land off Greenwood Drive, north of Pope Road, from single-family R1 to high density R4. Council voted unanimously against the rezoning request, effectively killing the developer’s plan. The project faced strong opposition from nearby residents, many who were concerned about increased traffic. The developer spoke before the vote saying she appreciated the feedback from residents and apologized for the stress this plan has caused.

🛣️ Remembering a Friend: A portion of Fitzroy Street in Charlottetown may soon receive an honorary name in memory of Kerri Wynne MacLeod. The city has received an application from Ocean 100 to rename the block of Fitzroy Street between Prince and Great George streets to Kerri Wynne Way. The legal name of the street, including civic addresses for Canada Post and 911, will remain Fitzroy Street. The application has received support from the city’s public works committee and will now go to council for a final vote. MacLeod was well known to Islanders, most recently as the co-host of Ocean 100’s Morning Show, a role she held since 2006. MacLeod passed away on February 26, 2023 at the age of 57.

TRANSIT

Summerside considering transit overhaul

A plan to overhaul Summerside’s transit system with an all-electric fleet was pitched to city councillors Tuesday.

If implemented, the system would be based on a hybrid service model offering both fixed-route and on-demand service. There would be a single route connecting downtown to Slemon Park via Granville Street. Residents in on-demand areas would use an app to pre-book their trip. At launch, service would be available on weekdays between 8AM to 6PM at an average cost of $2 per ride.

A report on transit was completed in 2021 and then updated in April 2023. The report found that it would be feasible for Summerside to operate a more robust transit system with the potential to boost ridership from 3,500 rides per-year to 45,000.

The plan calls for four 30-foot low-floor electric buses. Two buses would operate while one bus would be on the charger and another would be fully charged on stand-by. The city would own the fleet and manage everything from route planning to system branding. A private operator would serve the route and perform maintenance and cleaning.

💵 Upfront Expenses

🚍 Electric Buses (4): $1.6M

🔋 EV Charging Station: $50,000

☔ Stop Shelters (2): $15,000

👷 Stop Accessibility Work (5): $25,000

🚏 Stop Signage (80): $20,000

💰 Total Capital Cost: $1,710,000

The annual cost to operate Summerside’s transit system would increase from $23,000 a year to $500,000, although $100,000 of that would be covered by fares. Staff are still researching options for available subsidies from other levels of government. The plan now moves to the city’s finance committee for further consideration and could be before council for a decision by this fall.

Copy to share the story:

https://islandedition.ca/read/summerside-considering-transit-overhaul

EXPLAINER

Climate action incentive payments

The Climate action incentive payment is a tax-free amount paid to individuals and families to offset the cost of the federal carbon tax and clean fuels regulations. Unlike many payments from government, the CAIP is not income tested, meaning everyone is eligible to receive a payment as long as they filed a 2022 income tax return.

What you receive will depend on your living situation and family structure. The payment will be issued to individuals by whatever method they would normally receive an income tax return. If you're in a common-law relationship or a marriage, the full payment for both spouses will be issued to whichever spouse was first to file an income tax return.

Adult children living with their parents (19+) will receive the full individual payment, as will roommates who share an address.

📅 The next three payments will go out on

• Friday, July 14, 2023

• Friday, October 13, 2023

• Monday, January 15, 2024

💸 Here's what Islanders will receive each quarter

Your family situation will determin what you receive.

• $120 for an individual

• $60 for a spouse or common-law partner

• $30 per child under 19

• $60 for the first child in a single-parent family

So if you're a single parent of two children, you will receive $120 for yourself, $60 for the first child, and $30 for the second child, for a total payment of $210. If you're a common-law or married couple with no children, the payment will be $180.

💰 But wait...there's more (maybe):

Some Islanders, depending on their 2021 income, will receive a little extra when HST rebates go out this week; here's a breakdown explaining how the 2023 grocery rebate works.

SUMMER GIVEAWAY

I have a family pack of four wristbands up for grabs for the Old Home Week midway. The wristbands are good for unlimited rides during any one day that Campbell Amusement is in town (August 10th to August 19).

🏆 How to Enter:

1️⃣ Refer friends using your unique link: *|RH_REFLINK|*
2️⃣ Reply to this email telling me what you like most about Island Edition.

#PEIslandEdition

Always Breathtaking 🏝️

Steve Mackin shared this image taken north of the New London lighthouse. Even on a cloudy day our shores are breathtakingly beautiful. Check out Steve’s Instagramfor more photos from PEI and across the east coast.

Tag @PEIslandEdition or use #PEIslandEdition to get your post featured in Island Edition!

COMMUNITY CORNER

📚 Don’t miss the annual Friends of Summerside Rotary Library book sale this Thursday, July 6 from 10AM-4PM. Browse the selection of available books on the outdoor library plaza. Rain date: July 7. Gently used books are currently being accepted.

🖼️ Join the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, Canadian Heritage, and the City of Charlottetown at Beaconsfield House (2 Kent Street, Charlottetown) for the Prince Edward Island 150th Anniversary Exhibit. Celebrate PEI's rich history as it marks 150 years since joining Confederation. The free public launch event takes place on Monday, July 10th at 2:00 pm.

🥫 Volunteers are needed to help out at the soup kitchen in Charlottetown for Sunday mornings (10AM - 12:30PM) and weekday supper shifts (3:00PM - 5:30PM). Contact the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry for more information: [email protected] or call 902-892-1995.

Send a quick message if your organization would like to publish a PSA. There's no charge for these. Max three per-issue.

WEATHER

Wednesday

🌦️ H 23°C 🌡️ L 16°C 
💨 NNW 7 km/h, gusting 22

Thursday

🌤️ H 25°C 🌡️ L 17°C
💨 WNW 9 km/h, gusting 28

Looking Ahead

👀 It's looking like we'll get a few days to dry off after a very soggy start to summer.

SUPPORT ISLAND EDITION

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THANKS FOR READING!