Changes to open Health PEI meetings 'fantastic first step,' says MLA

Opposition health critic Sidney MacEwen is pleased with Health PEI's new guide outlining how the public can take part in board meetings.

MacEwen said he was met with "confusion" when he attended a board meeting in January that was said to be open to the public.

MacEwen suggested there should be changes to make it easier for Islanders to take part.

The new guide explains how people can observe or make presentations at board meetings. The new plan includes a 10-minute period at the end of board meetings for people to ask questions.

"I give them credit, the public consultation committee they went back, they looked at other places and they've come back with this pamphlet to describe how it could be done," MacEwen said.

"This is a fantastic first step and I give credit to the board for listening to myself and listening to Islanders because now this is going to be opened up. People can go, people can present, and people can now ask questions too. I think it's fantastic."

MacEwen said he hopes more than 10 minutes for questions will be available if the topic is important. He would also like the board meetings to be available online or on Facebook.

'Some good new measures'

Health Minister Robert Mitchell is pleased with the new arrangements, and is looking forward to what comes out of the discussions.

"I think it's going to be very productive," Mitchell said.

"I think people are going to come in there saying, I think we should look at this, this, and this, and there's going to be some good new measures that can come out of this.... We'll see how it goes. We'll evaluate over time, but I'm really pleased about it."

The next meeting is May 1 at the Health PEI offices on Garfield Street in Charlottetown.

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