Month in Review – Prince Edward Island

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Infectious Illness

Feb 1: Newly effective Public Health Act regulations establish health and safety requirements for PEI personal service operators, including hair, nail, esthetic, and tattoo businesses, which previously were subject to only voluntary guidelines. The new regulations standardize infection-control practices, including equipment sterilization and record-keeping, and require businesses to register once every three years.

Action Point: Find out how to use the OHSI Infection Exposure Control Plan to protect workers from infectious illness.

Industry Challenges

Jan 9: PEI company Atlantic Beef Products Inc. will receive up to $2,256,786 from the Kosher and Halal Investment Program, which helps federally regulated beef and veal processing establishments adopt technologies and processing equipment to increase efficiency and profitability of kosher and/or halal production. ABPI will use the money to implement advanced technologies and packaging processes at its Albany facility.

Mental Stress

Jan 23: The WCB issued new guidance explaining workers' comp psychological injury coverage and claims filing rules. In PEI, as in most provinces, such injuries are deemed work-related, and thus compensable, if they're diagnosed by a psychologist or psychiatrist and caused by either traumatic events or work-related harassment.

Action Point: Find out about workers' compensation coverage of gradual onset and traumatic mental stress across Canada.

Training

Jan 13: Under a newly renewed 4-year funding agreement, PEI's Mi'kmaq Confederacy will receive $1.67 million for training and mentorship via 2 SkillsPEI programs: i. The project-based program providing personalized mentorship to develop transferable skills using hands-on experience through social enterprises; and ii. The Workforce Essential Skills program supporting adult learners within Lennox Island First Nation. 

Workers' Compensation

Feb 28: February 28 is the deadline 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.