What's Up PEI

🚗 COULD YOU GO ONE WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING ON PEI?

Think about your normal week.

Getting to work. Groceries. School drop-offs. Appointments. Sports. Visiting family. Maybe a quick run into town because you forgot the one thing you actually went grocery shopping for. 😂

Now imagine doing all of it without getting behind the wheel.

From October 1–8, Spinal Cord Injury PEI is inviting Islanders to take part in Week Without Driving, a challenge designed to help people experience some of the transportation barriers faced by people who can't drive or don't have regular access to a vehicle.

Participants can try the full week, or even just a day or two, using other ways of getting around instead.

And on PEI, where you live could make a HUGE difference.

Someone living in Charlottetown may have access to public transit, sidewalks and nearby services. In many rural Island communities, going without a vehicle could be a very different experience.

💬👇 WHAT'S UP PEI — LET'S TALK

Could YOU realistically go an entire week without driving on PEI?

If the answer is no, what's the biggest transportation barrier where you live?

🚲 WAIT... WHAT THE HECK IS A BIKE BUS?

If you see a group of kids and adults travelling together on bikes around Charlottetown before or after school, you may have just spotted the Bike Bus.

And yes, it works a lot like the name suggests.

Instead of a big yellow bus, students and adult volunteers bike to and from school safely together as a group.

🚲 WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THEM

The Bike Bus is back for the 2026-27 school year, with groups travelling in:

➡️ Brighton, including Fitzroy Street and Longworth Avenue
➡️ Sherwood

The program will be running until late October.

Normally, cyclists aren't permitted to ride on Charlottetown sidewalks. However, students and volunteers travelling with the Bike Bus are permitted to cautiously use sidewalks to avoid riding on specific major streets. The City says the exemption was made in collaboration with Charlottetown Police Services for participant safety.

Motorists are being asked to slow down and watch for groups of young cyclists before and after school.

And the City may have given us the best description of the program:

“School buses run on gas or electricity; bike buses run on joy!” ❤🚲

💬👇 WHAT'S UP PEI — LET'S TALK

Had you heard of a Bike Bus before?

💬 IF YOU COULD BRING BACK ONE THING PEI USED TO HAVE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Maybe it’s a restaurant you still think about.

A store everyone seemed to shop at.

An old attraction, festival or event.

A building that’s gone.

A favourite menu item that disappeared.

Or something about Island life that just isn’t quite the same anymore.

If you could wave a magic wand and bring back ONE thing from PEI’s past, what are you choosing? 👇

Bonus points if you tell us what community it was in and roughly what year you remember it from. 👀

📊 PEI’S POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 182,989

New population estimates are out, giving us an updated snapshot of how many people are living on Prince Edward Island.

Statistics Canada estimates PEI’s population was 182,989 as of July 1, 2026.

That’s an increase of 289 people from the April 1 estimate of 182,700, representing quarterly growth of about 0.2%.

👥 A LOOK AT PEI’S POPULATION

The latest estimates also show:

• 13.8% of Islanders are age 14 or younger
• 21.5% are age 65 or older
• PEI’s median age is 41.3
• The average age is 42.7

Compared with July 1, 2025, when PEI’s estimated population was 181,594, the Island has grown by 1,395 people, or about 0.8%.

These are population estimates rather than a census count, and the July 1, 2026 figure is considered preliminary.

💬👇 WHAT’S UP PEI — LET’S TALK

Where do you notice PEI’s changing population the most in everyday Island life?

🎣 NEW INTERACTIVE MAP HELPS PEI ANGLERS PLAN WHERE TO FISH

Island anglers have a new online tool to help explore fishing opportunities across PEI.

The province’s interactive fishing map brings together useful information about fishing locations across the Island in one place.

🗺️ WHAT CAN YOU FIND ON THE MAP?

Anglers can use the interactive map to:

🎣 See what types of fish can be found in different areas
📍 Locate fishing access points
🔎 Filter locations using different criteria
⚠️ Identify contaminated-water zones

The map is designed to make it easier to explore potential fishing locations and find information before heading out.

📱 HOW TO FIND IT

Go to the Government of PEI website and search:

🔎 “Angling Resources and Information Centre”

Once you open that page, look for the interactive fishing map.

Fishing seasons, limits and other regulations can vary by species, location and time of year, so anglers should still check the current rules that apply before heading out.

🏠 PEI’S 2027 ALLOWABLE RENT INCREASE SET AT 2.1%

PEI’s Director of Residential Tenancy has set the allowable annual rent increase for 2027 at 2.1%.

The new rate takes effect January 1, 2027 and applies to all rental units, heated or unheated, including mobile home sites.

🔑 WHAT DOES 2.1% ACTUALLY MEAN?

It does not mean every tenant’s rent automatically increases by 2.1% on January 1.

If a landlord chooses to apply the allowable increase:

• Rent can only be increased once within a 12-month period
• The tenant must receive at least three months’ written notice
• The landlord must use the approved Form 8

PEI’s rent rules also follow the rental unit rather than the individual tenant. A landlord cannot automatically increase the rent simply because one tenant moves out and another moves in.

📊 HOW WAS 2.1% DECIDED?

The Director considered PEI inflation data along with written submissions from landlords and tenants.

A total of 85 submissions were received: 25 from landlords and 60 from tenants.

Landlords raised concerns including increasing operating and maintenance costs, while tenants raised concerns about affordability and the cost of living.

The allowable increase for 2026 is 2%. For 2027, it will be 2.1%.

Landlords can apply for an increase above the annual allowable amount, but an additional increase requires approval from the Residential Tenancy Office before it can be charged.

💬👇 WHAT’S UP PEI — LET’S TALK

What do you think Islanders should know about PEI’s rent increase rules?

⛽ PEI TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS PROVINCIAL GAS AND DIESEL TAX

Island drivers are getting a temporary break at the pumps after the PEI government suspended the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel.

The change took effect Saturday, September 26, and is scheduled to remain fully in place until January 31, 2027.

⛽ WHAT CHANGED?

For the next several months, PEI's provincial fuel tax has been reduced to zero.

That temporarily removes:

• 8.47¢ per litre from gasoline
• 14.15¢ per litre from diesel

The suspension applies to the provincial fuel tax specifically. Other components that make up the retail price of fuel remain in place.

📅 WHAT HAPPENS AFTER JANUARY?

The province has laid out a gradual return:

➡️ Until January 31, 2027: Provincial fuel tax remains at 0¢/L

➡️ February 1 to March 31, 2027: Half of the provincial fuel tax will return

➡️ April 1, 2027: The full provincial fuel tax is scheduled to return

The province says the temporary measure is intended to provide short-term cost-of-living relief for Islanders.

💬👇 WHAT’S UP PEI — LET’S TALK

Have you noticed a difference at the pumps since the change took effect?