Month in Review – Prince Edward Island

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ergonomics

Dec 22: The WCB reminded employers of their OHS duties to take steps to protect workers against musculoskeletal injuries hazards, including carrying out an ergonomic assessment of risk factors like workstation design, lighting, work postures, vibration, manual handling tasks, and long periods of sitting or standing.

Action Point: Find out how to implement an Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention and Compliance Game Plan at your workplace.

Industry Challenges

Jan 5: PEI oyster growers and processors can now apply for short-term relief under 2 new government programs. The Oyster Growers Income Stabilization Program will provide interim support enabling growers who’ve experienced significant income losses due to oyster disease manage immediate costs and stay in business. The Oyster Processors Inventory Mitigation Program will provide funding for oyster processors to purchase and hold oysters from fishers and growers to help reduce financial risk if the product doesn’t reach the market.

New Laws

Dec 22: The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program announced that it’s providing over $2.1 million in

repayable federal support for 7 businesses in PEI’s tech sector, including a $675,000 loan to Discovery Garden to support the company’s digital repository product evolution and development.

New Laws

Jan 31: That’s the deadline for PEI businesses to complete a government survey on proposed changes to the province’s export practices to the U.S. in response to the elimination of the so-called de minimis, aka, duty-free rule, under which shipments of under $800 USD had been exempt from U.S. duties, taxes and customs.

New Laws

Nov 19: Bill 104 amending the Prince Edward Island sales tax laws to provide that a purchaser of a “used personal vehicle” is exempt from paying the “provincial portion” of the HST has passed Second Reading and been referred to Committee.

Workers’ Compensation

Feb 28: That’s the final day for PEI employers to submit their workers’ compensation payroll data reports listing their actual 2025 payroll cost figures and projected expenses in 2026 to the WCB to avoid the risk of late fees, interest and penalties.

Action Point: Find out how much each province and territory is charging for workers’ compensation premiums in 2026.

Environmental

Jan 7: PEI reported that it has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions for 3 years in a row. At 1.59 megatonnes, total GHG emissions in the province in 2025 decreased 0.9% year over year. PEI has also reduced fossil fuel demand by over 4.5% during the past 3 years, despite population growth of almost 17% over the period.