By David MacDonald
david@peicanada.com

A litany of topics were covered on Tuesday night as the five candidates for the Progressive Conservative Party of PEI took part in a town hall forum in Pooles Corner.
The topics of discussion included economic and rural development issues, and the candidates, including Olive Crane, Peter Llewellyn, Jamie Ballem, Jamie Fox and Fred McCardle, were asked questions on various issues including tourism, the Wood Islands/Caribou ferry, the Ghiz government’s early years initiative, electricity prices, agriculture and much more.
All five candidates supported the continuation of the Wood Islands ferry, saying it was integral to Eastern PEI, but Jamie Fox went one step further and suggested the ferries need to be operated year-round. Mr Fox said a year-round service would allow tourism operators to extend their season, while it would save on trucking costs for companies that use the ferries during the summer and would otherwise have to use the Confederation Bridge during the months the ferries aren’t in service.
Olive Crane said she wasn’t sure if the ferries were really in jeopardy, but that Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay “likes to create a sort of crisis.” She said the federal government has ensured the ferries would remain.
The high cost of electricity also generated many comments from the candidates. Peter Llewellyn said Maritime Electric has no incentive to reduce prices as it enjoys a monopoly, and that the company “needs to be brought to task.” He suggested that either the company be forced to seek better pricing for electricty or that the government should go about “disbanding” the company and taking away the monopoly.
Mr Fox said Maritime Electric never should have been sold to an off-Island company. He gave an example of his own situation as a gas station owner where he pays $7,000 a month at his Borden gas station but pays only a third of that at a slightly larger gas station he owns in New Brunswick.
The candidates also discussed strategies on how to better promote the Island to tourists, saying that the current government isn’t doing a good job in promoting what the province has to offer. Jamie Ballem said many people who visit the Island want to learn more about their heritage and the government should target that particular demographic.
Ms Crane said the $250,000 the current government spends on events such as the Cavendish Music Festival and other events that attract off-Island entertainers should be reinvested to promote Island cultural events.

Main photo: Peter Llewellyn, middle, speaks as candidates Jamie Fox, left, and Fred McCardle look on.

Second photo: PC Party candidate Olive Crane.

Third photo: PC Party candidates Jamie Ballem and Olive Crane.