Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island

1 Location and Size
2 Topography
3 Climate
4 Plants and Animals
5 Environmental Protection
6 Population
7 Ethnic Groups
8 Languages
9 Religions
10 Transportation
11 History
12 Provincial Government
13 Political Parties
14 Local Government
15 Judicial System
16 Migration
17 Economy
18 Income
19 Industry
20 Labor
21 Agriculture
22 Domesticated Animals
23 Fishing
24 Forestry
25 Mining
26 Energy and Power
27 Commerce
28 Public Finance
29 Taxation
30 Health
31 Housing
32 Education
33 Arts
34 Libraries and Museums
35 Communications
36 Press
37 Tourism, Travel, and Recreation
38 Sports
39 Famous Prince Edward Islanders
40 Bibliography

ORIGIN OF PROVINCE NAME: Prince Edward Island was originally called Abegweit ("lying down flat," or "cradled by the waves") by the Micmac Indians. Europeans called it the Island of Saint John in 1763; in 1799 the island was renamed Prince Edward Island, in honor of Prince Edward of England.

NICKNAME : The Garden Province, The Million Acre Farm, or Spud Island. Called by most residents simply "The Island."

CAPITAL: Charlottetown.

ENTERED CONFEDERATION: 1 July 1873.

SONG: "The Island Hymn."

MOTTO: Parva sub ingenti (The small under the protection of the great).

COAT OF ARMS: In 2002 elements were added to surround a shield with a lion in the upper third and a large oak tree (representing Canada) and three smaller oak trees (representing the three counties of Prince Edward Island) in the lower two-thirds. Added were a blue jay (the provincial bird) atop a helmet, and two silver foxes flanking the shield. One fox wears a garland of potato blossoms and the other a length of fishing net. Together they represent ranched fur, agriculture, and fishing industries. The provincial motto appears on a scroll beneath.

FLAG: The design of the flag is similar to that of the shield in the coat of arms, with the addition of a fringe of alternating red and white.

FLORAL EMBLEM: Lady's slipper.

TARTAN: Reddish-brown, green, white, and yellow.

BIRD: Blue jay.

TREE: Northern red oak.

TIME: 8 AM AST = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Prince Edward Island (PEI), one of Canada's four Maritime Provinces, is the smallest of the ten provinces in both size and population. The island is crescent shaped, measures 139 miles (224 kilometers) from tip to tip, is 4 to 40 miles (6 to 64 kilometers) wide. Its total area is 2,185 square miles (5,660 square kilometers). It is situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Northumberland Strait.

2 Topography

The province has numerous lakes and rivers, most of which are quite small, and is known for its red soil, sand dunes and 500 miles (800 kilometers) of beaches. The highest point is 499 feet (152 meters) above sea level at Springton, Queen's County.

3 Climate

The climate is generally temperate, with chilly winters and mild summers. The most precipitation occurs between November and January. Average temperatures for Charlottetown are 19°f (−7°c) in January and 64°f (18°c) in July. The highest recorded temperature on PEI was 98°f (36.7°c) on 19 August 1935 at Charlottetown, while the lowest recorded temperature was −35°f (−37.2°c) on 26 January 1884 at Kilmahumaig.

4 Plants and Animals

The temperate maritime climate is hospitable for a wide variety of native and imported European plants. Many species of clams, snails, and seaweeds are found along the coast, as well as seals, seagulls, and various migratory bird species. In 2006, there were two bird species listed as endangered (Eskimo curlew and piping plover) and one species of fish listed as threatened (striped bass). The passenger pigeon has become extinct. The Gulf of St, Lawrence aster was the only threatened plant.

Prince Edward Island: Population Profile

Estimated 2006 population	135,851
Population change, 2001–2006	0.4%
Percent Urban/Rural populations, 2001
Urban	44.8%
Rural	55.2%
Foreign born population	3.1%
Population by ethnicity
Canadian	60,000
Scottish	50,700
English	38,330
Irish	37,170
French	28,410
German	5,400
Dutch (Netherlands)	4,130
Acadian	3,020
North American Indian	2,360
Welsh	1,440
American (USA)	640
Métis	245
Inuit	120

Population by Age Group

Major Cities by Population

City	Population, 2006
Charlottetown	32,174
Summerside	14,500

5 Environmental Protection

As in New Brunswick, the drift of air pollution from industrial centers in central Canada and New England over PEI is a prominent environmental problem. The Island Waste Management Corporation is the provincial Crown corporation that administers and provides solid waste management services throughout PEI. As of 2004, the corporation was aiming to divert 65% of its solid waste through its extensive recycling program. Water usage per person is the lowest in Canada. Emissions of air pollution are minimal; annual carbon dioxide equivalent releases are about 428,000 tons.

6 Population

As of 1 April 2006, Prince Edward Island's population was estimated at 135,851. The province's population is fairly evenly divided between urban and rural dwellers. The median age of the population increased from 32.8 years in 1991 to 37.7 in 2001, or just above the national average. Charlottetown, the largest city, had a 2006 population of 32,174. Summerside, 2006 population 14,500, is the second largest municipality.

7 Ethnic Groups

Approximately 68% of the population is of British ancestry (English, Scottish, and Welsh), and about 21.3% is of French descent. In 2001, 2,360 people had Aboriginal ancestry. The island's population also includes small numbers of Arabs, Chinese, and blacks.

8 Languages

As of 2001, English was the first language of 93.8% of the island's residents, while 4.2% claimed French as their mother tongue and 1.6% had other first languages (0.4% had two native languages).

9 Religions

Roman Catholics comprise 47.4% of the population, or approximately 63,265 people. About 42.8% of the population, or 57,080 people, are Protestant, the majority of whom are members of the United Church of Canada, but with Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Lutherans also represented. The province also has less than 250 each of the following: people of Eastern Orthodox faith, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews. About 8,950 provincial residents profess no religious affiliation.

10 Transportation

The movement of goods to and from the province is carried out largely by truck, since rail service to PEI was discontinued in 1989. The province's highway system is comprised of some 2,360 miles (3,798 kilometers) of paved highways and over 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) of unpaved or clay roads. In 2005, PEI had 81,888 registered road motor vehicles, with 60 buses, 1,622 motorcycles and mopeds, and 1,810 off road, construction, and farm vehicles. There were 9,629 trailers registered. SMT Limited operates bus service between Charlottetown, Summerside, and Moncton, New Brunswick, for connection with Via Rail passenger train services and other bus services.

On 1 June 1997, the 8-mile (12.9 kilometer) Confederation Bridge opened, spanning the Northumberland Strait to link PEI with the mainland. The bridge connects Borden-Carleton, PEI to Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick and replaces the ferry service between the two towns. The c$840 million bridge is the longest of its kind in the world over ice-covered marine waters. In 2005, annual bridge traffic amounted to 1,511,109 two-way crossings.

Two ferry services still operate. One line operates between Woods Island, PEI, and Caribou, Nova Scotia and the other links Souris, PEI with Grindstone in the Magdalen Islands of Québec. In 2004, a total of 501,301 passengers used these ferry services. In 2005, there were four ports handling a combined total of 491,326 metric tons (541,594 tons) of cargo.

Air travel is provided by Air Canada Jazz, WestJet, and Northwest Airlines. Prince Edward Air provides daily scheduled service to Halifax from Summerside and Charlottetown. Atlantic Island Airways provides daily scheduled service to Toronto and Ottawa. In 2005, a total of 189,547 passengers traveled to and from PEI.

11 History

European Settlement

Prince Edward Island is located off the coast of New Brunswick in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There is evidence that the ancestors of the Micmac Indians lived on the island 10,000 years ago, when a land bridge extended across what is now the Northumberland Strait. The Europeans discovered the island when French explorer Jacques Cartier landed there in 1534; he described it as "the most beautiful stretch of land imaginable." In spite of his enthusiastic description, it was a long time before the island was settled. No permanent colony existed until the French established a very small one in 1719.

The population of the island (then known as the Island of Saint John) remained low—at only 700 people—until the British deported the uncooperative Acadians (who denied all allegiance to the British Crown) from Nova Scotia in 1755. Within three years, the population rose to 5,000.

In 1766, Captain Samuel Holland prepared a topographic map of the island (meaning the map reflected the various levels of land elevation and other natural features of the region). He divided it into 67 sections and distributed those sections, known as parcels, among groups of British landowners. Many of these landowners overcharged their tenants for the use of the land. This created bad feelings between the British Crown and the daring settlers who had ventured into Canada to begin a new life.

In 1769 the Island of Saint John became a separate colony, and 30 years later, in 1799, it was given its present name in honor of Prince Edward of England. Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, was the site of the conference that set Canadian Confederation in motion.

Agriculture, Fishing, and Furs

Up until the late 19th century, Prince Edward Island had a farming economy. The province's climate and its light, sandy soil made it an ideal location for potato production. Because the Islanders did not have the money to invest in boats and other fishing equipment, they were unable to profit from the many fish that swam in its surrounding waters. American fishers, however, took full advantage of the plentiful cod and mackerel that populated the rich fishing waters, positioning their fleets along the coast of Prince Edward Island in the first half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, the Reciprocity Treaty gave the United States the right to fish anywhere along the Island's coast and to hold property in the colony. American investments in the island aided in the establishment of a native Island fishery.

In the 1890s an economic depression, or slowdown, hit the province hard, and many of Prince Edward Island's residents moved to the United States, where employment opportunities were more plentiful. Boston, Massachusetts, was the destination for most people who left the Island during this period. In 1896, Charles Dalton and Robert Oulton began to breed silver-black foxes on the Island. This quickly became an important industry, and as breeding spread and fur prices rose, some of the local fox ranchers became very wealthy. But the Great Depression of the 1930s brought the industry to a grinding halt.

Like the United States, all of Canada suffered during the Great Depression, a period of severe economic slowdown that began in 1929. Droughts, frequent crop failures, and low grain prices devastated the national economy, which still relied heavily on farming. As a result, social welfare programs expanded rapidly during the 1930s. The Depression continued until World War II broke out in 1939.

In the 1940s, consumer spending and immigration to Canada increased significantly. There was some economic development on Prince Edward Island at this time, but it was slower than in many of the other Canadian provinces. Agriculture was still the basis of the Island's economy, but by the 1950s tourism was becoming increasingly important. Advancements in transportation helped spark growth in this industry. Up until the middle of the 20th century, it was difficult for tourists to even get to Prince Edward Island. From the mainland, travelers had to cross the Northumberland Strait by ferry, but there was just one ferry and it made only a few crossings to the Island each day. After arriving on Prince Edward Island, tourists then had to deal with a slow railroad and poor roads that were nearly impossible to navigate. Paving became common in the 1950s, and the resulting increase in mobility boosted tourism considerably. One of the PEI's main attractions was the home of Anne of Green Gables author Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Other improvements to the province followed. For instance, a national park had been established in the province in 1937, but it wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that it was really developed. The Confederation Centre of the Arts was established in Charlottetown in 1964. A showcase for visual and performing arts in Canada, the site is a memorial to the Fathers of Confederation who met at Province House in Charlottetown in 1864 to discuss the creation of Canada. The 1960s also marked the beginning of the tradition of lobster dinners on Prince Edward Island. Up until this point in history, lobster was used largely as a fertilizer on the Island. However, as the seafood began to gain popularity, church and community groups used it as the focus of their fundraising dinners, a tradition that continues today.

On 17 December 1992 Canada joined the United States and Mexico in signing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was built upon the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA, which was implemented in 1994, created a single market of 370 million people.

The Québec Question

Canada's unity has been threatened by the possibility of Québec's secession, or separation, from the rest of the country. Québec is a French-speaking area that places high value on the preservation of its French culture. The Meech Lake Accord (1987) and the Charlottetown Accord (1992) both proposed the recognition of Québec as a "distinct society" within the nation. The Canadian government had hoped that these accords would alleviate Québec's fears of cultural loss and discrimination while maintaining a unified Canada. However, Québec's separation issue remains unresolved. If Québec does eventually break away from Canada, the fate of the traditionally poorer Maritime Provinces, including Prince Edward Island, would also be uncertain. It is thought that one or more of these provinces might explore the possibility of admission to the United States.

Industry Branches Out

In 1993, Catherine Callbeck of the Liberal Party became Premier of Prince Edward Island. She was the first woman to hold this office anywhere in Canada. In May of 1997, the Confederation Bridge opened, linking Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, and Borden-Carlton of Prince Edward Island. At 12.9 kilometers (almost 8 miles), the concrete bridge is reported to be the longest continuous marine span in the world. A car traveling at normal highway speed takes about 10 minutes to travel its length. Although construction of the bridge was not without controversy—some Islanders did not want to see their homeland linked with Canada's mainland—there is no doubt that it has encouraged tourism, the second biggest money-making industry in the province (behind agriculture).

In recent years, the government has sought to expand Prince Edward Island's economy beyond its traditional activities. Consequently, manufacturing and processing are becoming more important, as are aviation and aerospace indus-tries. Although potatoes remain the region's most important cash crop, new crops such as ginseng and hemp have been added to Prince Edward Island's farms. In addition, emu farming was established in 1992.

The Progressive Conservatives have been in power on Prince Edward Island since 1996. Under the leadership of Premier Patrick Binns, the party won a landslide victory in the general election of 2000, taking all but one of the 27 available seats. In September 2003, Binns won reelection, with his party retaining majority status in the provincial legislature.

On 8 July 2005, the attorney general of Prince Edward Island, Mildred Dover, announced that the province would legalize same-sex marriage. On 19 August 2005, the province issued its first license to a same-sex couple from California. The next day federal law C-38 legalizing same-sex marriage officially became law of the land.

12 Provincial Government

Three different levels of government exist on PEI—federal, provincial, and municipal. The provincial parliament is known as the Legislative Assembly and consists of 27 members (in 1893, the Legislative Council and the Assembly were merged). At the federal level, the island is represented by four Members of Parliament in the House of Commons and four Senators in the Senate of Canada. As part of a constitutional monarchy, the province also has a lieutenant governor who is the Queen's provincial representative.

Premiers of Prince Edward Island

TERM	PREMIER	PARTY
1873	James Colledge Pope	Conservative
1873–76	Lemuel Cambridge Owen	Conservative
1876–79	Louis Henry Davies	Liberal
1879–89	William Wilfred Sullivan	Conservative
1889–91	Neil McLeod	Conservative
1891–97	Frederick Peters	Liberal
1897–98	Alexander Bannerman Warburton	Liberal
1898–1901	Donald Farquharson	Liberal
1901–08	Arthur Peters	Liberal
1908–11	Francis Longworth Haszard	Liberal
1911	Herbert James Palmer	Liberal
1911–17	John Alexander Mathieson	Conservative
1917–19	Aubin-Edmond Arsenault	Conservative
1919–23	John Howatt Bell	Liberal
1923–27	James David Stewart	Conservative
1927–30	Albert Charles Saunders	Liberal
1930–31	Walter Maxfield Lea	Liberal
1931–33	James Davis Stewart	Conservative
1933–35	William Parnell MacMillan	Conservative
1935–36	Walter Maxfield Lea	Liberal
1936–43	Thane Alexander Campbell	Liberal
1943–53	John Walter Jones	Liberal
1953–59	Alexander Wallace Matheson	Liberal
1959–66	Walter Russell Shaw	Conservative
1966–78	Alexander Bradshaw Campbell	Liberal
1978–79	William Bennett Campbell	Liberal
1979–81	John Angus McLean	Conservative
1981–86	James Matthew Lee	Conservative
1986–93	Joseph Atallah Ghiz	Liberal
1993–96	Catherine Sophia Callbeck	Liberal
1996–	Patrick G. Binns	Conservative

13 Political Parties

From 1769 to the early 1800s, the informal political groups of PEI concentrated on settling land disputes and rivalries within the government, church, and militia. By 1870 however, labor union and church problems had proven so divisive that there were no stable political parties on the island. Since the development of local political parties was immature when PEI entered the confederation in 1873, the evolution of provincial political parties on the island closely resembled that of the federal parties. As a result, third parties have never played a serious role in Island politics.

The general election held on 29 September 2003 gave power to 23 Progressive Conservatives, 4 Liberals, and 0 New Democrats.

14 Local Government

Charlottetown (the capital) and Summerside are the province's only incorporated cities. PEI also has 7 towns and 66 municipalities. There is no minimum population requirement for the incorporation of a municipality.

15 Judicial System

The Canadian Constitution grants provincial jurisdiction over the administration of justice, and allows each province to organize its own court system and police forces. The federal government has exclusive domain over cases involving trade and commerce, banking, bankruptcy, and criminal law. The Federal Court of Canada has both trial and appellate divisions for federal cases. The nine-judge Supreme Court of Canada is an appellate court that determines the constitutionality of both federal and provincial statutes. The Tax Court of Canada hears appeals of taxpayers against assessments by Revenue Canada.

There are three levels of courts in PEI: the Youth Court, the Provincial Court, and the Supreme Court of PEI. The Supreme Court of PEI has two divisions, the Trial Division and the Appeal Division. The Trial Division hears trials in general civil matters, criminal proceedings, family matters, small claims, and estate or probate matters. The Appeals Division hears appeals from the Provincial Court and the Trial Division.

No more than one homicide per year occurs on the island, which gives PEI a rate of 0.7 homicides per 100,000 persons. In 2005, there were 762 violent crimes and 3,468 property crimes per 100,000 persons.

16 Migration

In 2001, of the 4,140 immigrants living in PEI, 31.6% had come from the United States, and 25.4% from the United Kingdom. About 18.2% came from Northern and Western European countries other than the United Kingdom (mostly from the Netherlands and Germany), and 6.2% from Southern Europe.

While Ontario is the leading province of origin for internal migration into PEI, Nova Scotia is the leading province of destination for those leaving the island to live elsewhere in Canada. In the period 1996–2001, Prince Edward Island had a net gain of 135 people or 0.1%.

17 Economy

The PEI economy is more diverse than is often realized, and today the largest and fastest-growing sectors in terms of employment are in the service sector. The traditional sectors of agriculture and fishing dominate goods production, while food processing dominates manufacturing. Tourism is also an important contributor to the local economy.

In 2005, Prince Edward Island's gross domestic product (GDP) totaled c$4.142 billion, up from c$4.023 billion the year before.

18 Income

Average family income in the province was c$51,300 in 2004. As of 2005, average weekly earnings in the province amounted to c$562.33.

19 Industry

Most of PEI's industrial activity involves the processing of agricultural and fisheries products. In recent years, technology-intensive industry has become more important, especially in the medical, electronics, and agricultural fields. Specialized manufacturing industries have been established in the province producing goods such as diagnostic medical kits, optical frames, and steel and aluminum cookware. PEI also has a growing number of firms in the aerospace industry. In 2005, the shipment value of all manufactured products was c$1.289 billion, of which food products accounted for 61% or c$793 million, followed by transportation equipment at c$205.5 million, and chemicals at c$80.9 million.

A total of 6,800 people were employed in the province's manufacturing sector in 2005, or nearly 10% of all those actively employed.

20 Labor

There were 76,800 people in the labor force in 2006. About 68,400 people were employed and 8,400 people unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 10.9%, the second-highest rate among the provinces (after Newfoundland and Labrador). The hourly minimum wage as of January 2004 was c$6.50. In 2005, the average hourly wage among all industries was c$14.65 (the lowest among the provinces). Average weekly pay was c$562.33 (also the lowest among the provinces).

The sectors with the largest numbers of employed persons in 2005 were trade, 9,500; health care and social services, 7,800; public administration, 6,800; manufacturing, 6,800; accommodation and food services, 5,600; educational services, 5,000; construction, 4,700; agriculture, 3,400; other services, 3,100; information, culture, and recreation, 2,800; business and other support services, 2,800; forestry, fishing, mining, and oil and gas, 2,500; professional, scientific, and technical services, 2,400; transportation and warehousing, 2,400; finance, insurance, and real estate and leasing, 2,200; and utilities, 400.

21 Agriculture

Prince Edward Island's rich red soil and temperate climate make it an ideal location for mixed farming. Almost half of the total land area is devoted to agriculture. In fact, the island is often called the "Million Acre Farm," or "the Garden Province." In 2001, of the 646,148 acres (261,482 hectares) devoted to agriculture, 433,648 acres (175,488 hectares) were in crops. There were 1,845 farms operating in 2001, with an average size of 351 acres (142 hectares). There were 23 farms producing certified organic products in 2001.

Potatoes are the major source of farm income, contributing an average of more than 30% of the total farm cash receipts; much of the annual potato harvest is shipped to the populous areas of Ontario. There were about 1.2 million tons of potatoes produced in 2004. The primary field crops in 2005 included 5.9 million bushels of barley and 1.5 million bushels of wheat. About 340,000 bushels of soybeans and 630,000 bushels of oats were also produced. The top fruit crops of 2005 included 8.3 million pounds (3.7 million kilograms) of blueberries and 776,000 pounds (351,987 kilograms) of strawberries. Field-grown vegetable crops in 2005 included 3.7 million pounds (1.6 million kilograms) of cauliflower and 2.3 million pounds (1 million kilograms) of cabbage.

In 2005, total farm cash receipts were over c$363 million.

22 Domesticated Animals

As of 2006, the province had 84,500 head of cattle, with 15,000 milk cows. The same year there were 126,065 pigs and 4,400 sheep and lambs. The poultry population in 2003 was 138,837. There were 7 chicken producers and 19 egg producers that year. Cash receipts from livestock and products in 2003 were c$126.4 million. In 2005, milk and cream production was estimated at 25.3 million gallons (96 million liters) valued at c$61.6 million. Egg production in 2005 was estimated at c$3.6 million. About 55,000 pounds (24,947 kilograms) of honey were produced the same year. In 2004, fur farms produced 34,300 mink pelts and 1,100 fox pelts.

23 Fishing

Fishing and related industries are of major importance to the PEI economy. Lobster fishing accounts for two-thirds to three-quarters of the annual fishing income. In 2004, a total of 43,173 metric tons of fish and shellfish were caught in waters off the coast of PEI, for a value of c$138.6 million.

Although lobster is the primary species caught off PEI, about 30 other fish and seafood species are caught, notably cultivated "Island Blue" mussels, snow crab, groundfish, herring, mackerel, the giant bluefin tuna, and the renowned Malpeque oysters. Irish moss, a sea plant, is widely harvested for its extract, carrageenan, which is used heavily in the food industry.

There are approximately 5,300 professional fishermen and helpers working from some 1,500 fishing vessels. More than 2,500 Islanders are employed in the fish processing industry, working at factories and facilities around the province.

In 2000, there were 8,617 residents actively engaged in sport fishing within the province.

24 Forestry

There are some 716,600 acres (290,000 hectares) of forested land on PEI, covering about 51% of the land area. Though timber quality has suffered from poor harvesting in the past, soil and site potential for forest production is excellent.

In 2004, industrial roundwood production totaled around 24,721,200 cubic feet (700,000 cubic meters). The value of forestry exports in 2005 was c$21.9 million, with softwood lumber accounting for 71.1%. The island had some 20 logging establishments in 2001, along with 15 wood processing and 5 paper manufacturing establishments. The forestry industry directly employed some 600 persons in 2002.

25 Mining

Mining on PEI is limited to mostly sand and gravel. The value of production in 2005 was estimated at c$3 million.

26 Energy and Power

Although Canada's first offshore oil well was drilled off the coast of Prince Edward Island (PEI) in 1943, as of 2004, there were no producing crude oil or natural gas wells. However, exploration activities have identified the existence of potential reservoirs. The province is known to have only trace deposits of coal.

PEI relied upon the mainland to provide nearly all of its electricity, generating only a small portion of the electrical power it consumed. Of the electrical power the province does generate, the majority came from thermal sources (steam, and combustion turbine). In 2004, the province's installed power generating capacity stood at 121,110 kilowatts, of which thermal power generation accounted for 107,550 kilowatts. Of that total, steam power accounted for 67,100 kilowatts, and combustion turbine accounted for 40,450 kilowatts of installed capacity. Wind/tidal generation accounted for 13,560 kilowatts of installed capacity. Electric power output in 2004 totaled 47,528 megawatt hours, of which wind/tidal sources accounted for 34,703 megawatt hours, with thermal sources accounting for 12,825 megawatt hours. As of that same year, the province had no nuclear, or hydroelectric generating capacity. In 2004, PEI received 1.254 million megawatt hours of power from other provinces.

27 Commerce

In 2005, international exports by Prince Edward Island (PEI) amounted to c$810.1 million, while imports that same year totaled c$53.9 million. The United States was the largest consumer of PEI's exports at nearly c$645 million, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. The United States was also the leading source of imports to the province that same year at c$35.18 million, followed by Egypt, Russia, and the United Kingdom. In 2005, general merchandise store sales amounted to over c$153 million. Total retail trade that year amounted to over c$1.4 billion.

Due to its small population and isolation, retail trade on PEI relies on tourism and local recreation.

28 Public Finance

The fiscal year runs from 1 April to 31 March. For fiscal year 2006, total revenues were c$1.196 billion, while total expenditures came to c$1.213 billion, for a deficit of c$16 million. The largest expenditure areas were health, education, debt charges, resource conservation and industrial development, social services, and transportation and communications. As of 31 March 2004, the province's total net direct debt amounted to c$1.178 billion.

29 Taxation

In 2005, the provincial personal income tax system was set in three brackets with rates ranging from 9.8% to 16.7%. The retail sales tax was 10%. Excise (consumption) taxes included a gasoline tax of c$.115 per liter and a cigarette tax of c$34.90 per carton (in addition to a federal tax of c$15.85 per carton). A 25% tax was added to the retail purchase of alcoholic beverages (in addition to the general sales tax). Corporate income taxes in 2005 were levied at rates of 16% for large businesses and 6.5% for small businesses. General property taxes are levied at both the provincial and municipal levels. Regional school boards may also impose a tax on property within its jurisdiction.

The average family of four (two parents and two children) in 2003 earned c$61,876, the lowest amount among the provinces. Such a family paid c$26,813 in taxes.

In 2005/06, it was estimated that the province collected c$177 million in personal income tax, c$18 million in corporate income tax, and c$179 million in general sales tax.

30 Health

In 2005, there were an estimated 1,409 live births in PEI, a decrease of 7 from 2004. There were 1,259 deaths in 2005, a decrease of 1 from 2004. Life expectancy for men in 2001 was 75.3 years, and 82.6 years for women. Reported cases of selected diseases in 2002 included campylobacteriosis, 45; salmonellosis, 13; and giardiasis, 7. From November 1985 to June 2003, 609 residents (includes Nova Scotia) had become infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

31 Housing

PEI had 50,795 households in 2001, of which 36,895 occupied single-detached houses, 30 occupied apartments in buildings with five or more stories, 2,225 occupied mobile homes, and 11,650 occupied other dwellings, including row houses and apartments in buildings with fewer than five stories. The average household size was 2.6 persons. In 2002, c$199 million was invested in residential housing construction. From 2001 to 2005, there were 4,045 new housing starts in the province.

32 Education

The public school system in the province provides free education for students from grades 1 to 12. In 2003/04, there were 22,239 students enrolled in the provincial public elementary and secondary schools. Provincial public schools are organized into five regional administrative units with elected school boards. Approximately 2% of the students receive their education in the French language, while an additional 15% are enrolled in French immersion programs. In 2003/04, there were 1,530 educators working in the province's public elementary and secondary schools. Spending by the province on its public elementary and secondary schools totaled c$167.5 million for the 2003/04 school year.

As of September 2003, there was one public, and two community college or university campuses in Prince Edward Island. A total of 3,855 students were enrolled in the province's colleges and universities in 2003/04, of which 3,250 were full-time and 605 were part-time students.

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) offers undergraduate programs in arts, science, education, music, business administration, and nursing. There is also a professional program in veterinary medicine. The primary purpose of Holland College is to provide training for students seeking employment at semipro-fessional levels in business, applied arts, technology, and vocational areas.

33 Arts

The Victoria Playhouse near Charlottetown and the Britannia Hall Theatre in Tyne Valley feature concerts and plays. Dinner theater is also popular in Charlottetown, Summerside, and Mont-Carmel. PEI's performing arts companies give 600 performances before a total attendance of over 120,000 each year. Per capita provincial spending on the arts in PEI was c$80 in 2000/01, higher than the national average of c$68.

34 Libraries and Museums

The Provincial Library System is under the management of the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs. The Confederation Centre Public Library in Charlottetown serves the province, with 22 branch libraries around the island. The Robertson Library of the University of Prince Edward Island is the main academic library. Other special libraries in Charlottetown include the Government Services Library, the PEI Provincial Library, and the Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales Law Library.

In 2006, there were about 41 museums in the province. The Prince Edward Island Museum & Heritage Foundation operates five historic museums across the province. The Confederation Centre Art Gallery & Museum in Charlottetown features 15,000 pieces with a special focus on the development of Canadian art over the past two centuries. Local interest museums include the Irish Moss Interpretive Centre in Miminegash and the Prince Edward Island Potato Museum in O'Leary.

35 Communications

There are 2 AM and 5 FM radio stations operating in the province as of 2004. CBC provides television and FM radio services from a studio in Charlottetown, while television programs of the CTV network are fed to the province via a repeater station. Atlantic Television (ITV) and EastLink Community Television are other television systems on the island. Cable and pay television service is provided to approximately 29,000 (69%) of the island's households. Radio-Canada offers French FM radio and UHF-TV from Moncton through repeater stations situated on the island. Telephones and telecommunications services are provided to 72,346 subscribers by the Island Telephone Co. Ltd., a member of Stentor. Cellular telephone service is available. As of 2005, about 52.2% of the population had home access to the Internet.

36 Press

In 2005, there were two daily newspapers: the Guardian of Charlottetown and the Journal-Pioneer of Summerside. There were three weeklies: The Eastern Graphic (Montaque), West Prince Graphic, and the French-language La Voix Acadienne (Summerside).

37 Tourism, Travel, and Recreation

Tourism is extremely important to the economy of PEI. In 2002, expenditures from tourists amounted to c$353 million. There were approximately 1.18 million visitors to PEI during the 2000 tourism season.

Prince Edward Island offers a number of activities relating to history, culture, cuisine, sport, and recreation. PEI offers visitors scenic hiking trails, great golf courses, lobster suppers, live theater, historic properties, and picturesque landscapes. Green Gables, a house situated in Prince Edward Island National Park, was the inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables. Finally, the island's 500 miles (800 kilometers) of beaches attract more than 665,000 visitors yearly for relaxation and water sports, including bluefin tuna fishing.

38 Sports

Golf and hiking are popular warm-weather activities, while skiing and hockey are prominent winter sports. The PEI Rocket is a team affiliated with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a development league for the National Hockey League. The Summerside Western Capitals and the Charlottetown Abbies are affiliated with the Maritme Junior A Hockey League, a division of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League. Harness racing draws spectators year-round.

39 Famous Prince Edward Islanders

George H. Coles (1810–1875), one of the fathers of confederation, was born in PEI and, as its premier, initially delayed the province's joining the confederation until 1873. The most renowned PEI author was novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874–1942), who made the island internationally famous in Anne of Green Gables and other related stories. PEI's sports heroes include George Godfrey (1852–1901), American Black Heavyweight Champion and one of the leading heavyweight boxers of the 1880s; Michael Thomas (1883–1954), a Micmac Indian who was one of Canada's best long-distance runners; and Joe O'Brien (1917–1984), considered one of harness racing's best drivers ever.

40 Bibliography

BOOKS

Gillis, Jennifer Blizin. Life in New France. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2003.

LeVert, Suzanne. Prince Edward Island. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2001.

Rogers, Barbara Radcliffe, and Stillman Rogers. Adventure Guide to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Edison, NJ: Hunter Travel Guides, 2002.

Walsh, Kieran. Canada. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing Co., 2005.

WEB SITES

Prince Edward Island. www.gov.pe.ca (accessed on March 28, 2007).

Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada. www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/pe/pei-ipe/index_E.asp (accessed on March 28, 2007).

Statistics Canada. www.statcan.ca/start.html (accessed on March 28, 2007).