Liberals Support Volunteers 

Prince Edward Island, April 9  –  It’s National Volunteer Week and the Liberal Party recognizes that volunteers are an integral part of the fabric that holds our communities together, says Liberal Leader Wade MacLauchlan. 

“In partnership with government, community organizations are reaching Islanders and meeting a variety of needs across our province, and we couldn’t do that without the help and support of volunteers,” MacLauchlan said.

The Liberal Party is proposing a new, $2 million Community Grants and Poverty Action Fund for non-governmental organizations that seek to assist Islanders in need.

This new fund will provide community support in addition to advancing objectives outlined in the province’s first Poverty Reduction Action plan, which was released in November of 2018.

“The Liberal Party understands and values the contributions made by the community sector and its volunteers here on PEI, and is proud of the close collaboration that has been fostered between this sector and government. Input from community organizations and volunteers was essential in shaping recent Liberal government initiatives such as the Poverty Reduction Action Plan, the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy and the Housing Action Plan. For this reason, we are committed to continuing to work with and support the community sector in the important work it does.”

The Liberal Party is also proposing a $250,000 Volunteer Enhancement Program that will help fund organizations that are engaging community members in their local areas on activities that support community connection.

To further support volunteer firefighters across the province, the Liberal Party is also proposing to enhance the community Medical First Responder (MFR) program for volunteer fire departments through $100,000 in new supports including training, equipment and supplies.

 “As we continue to address the complex needs of Islanders, it is very important for us to get this right,” MacLauchlan said. “For that reason, we must tap into the wealth of knowledge available from the front-line workers in the community sector and its volunteers. By listening closely to their perspectives and learning from their experiences, we can develop effective policies that work for Islanders.”

Over the past number of years, Prince Edward Island has made significant investments in core funding and special grants to community sector organizations. These investments, coupled with close collaboration on policy and program development, enable government and community to work together to meet the needs of Islanders.

“Islanders have been doing their part as volunteers in their communities, rinks, schools and hospitals – and we will continue to support these efforts,” MacLauchlan said. “The Liberal Party believes that investments in the community sector are smart investments that produce effective and important outcomes.”

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Media Contact:
Mary Moszynski
media@liberalpei.ca
Phone: 902-393.8534
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