The idea of wasted time and money commuting is alone reason to spread the work away from our Capitol city. Communities, not commuting! Government for the people, by the people’s homes.

While you might make some valid points, having a Charlottetown centric mindset is part of the job I was elected to do. And there’s no arguing that what’s good for Summerside and Montague in this case, is bad for Charlottetown.

Why not concentrate on creating new employment outside the capital? This move creates zero net economic impact for Prince Edward Island, or perhaps less than zero if you figure the cost of this move.

I was struck by this CBC report that says 25 employees are moving early because these are people who “live in West Prince and East Prince who travel to Charlottetown”. We know there are 120 who are moving, and if only 25 live in Prince County, that means another 95 will now be traveling the other way from Queens and Kings County. There’s a lot of assumptions in there, but a new “commuter class” doesn’t seem like a stretch to me.

I personally don’t think this makes sense on a number of levels, but for Charlottetown it’s a losing proposition whichever way you look at it. So as a councillor, I think it’s my duty to speak up about it. I don’t expect to have any influence on the issue, but I thinks it’s better than quietly accepting it.

Thanks for the comments. Good to know someone is reading!!

I love Charlottetown too, give Summerside and Montague some Charlottetownishness (except for that monopolistic streak).

It is also the same principle that led Ottawa to put VAC & CRA in PEI, we live by decentralization – it is half of our economy in PEI at Ottawa’s discretion.

Finally, it is like rep by pop; rather jobs by taxes. Summerside provincial taxpayers deserve provincial employment in their area. As a bonus, the singular mindset of a city will not dominate provincial beautacracies.