Dan Kutcher - Summerside

How many canaries are left in the coal mine?

Like many of you, I read Dr. Austin’s Facebook post and accompanying letters to Provincial Government and Health PEI officials.

I spoke with Dr. Austin today to thank her and her family for their contributions to our city — and for speaking up.

Dr. Austin is my family doctor. She is my family’s doctor. She delivered my daughter and has cared for all of us. She is also a friend and a pillar of our community. Dr. Austin is, in my opinion, the epitome of all that a community can ask for in a family doctor, and in a person. I am sad that she is leaving, but thankful for all she has given to our family and our city.

None of the concerns outlined in Dr. Austin’s letters should be news to anyone who received them. It’s time to stop pretending that news like this is a surprise. It’s not.

I fear we have all been numbed by a health-care system that is simply not working. Numbed into thinking there is an easy fix if the chairs are shuffled around, or the bricks and mortar dry faster. Numbed into thinking that if we keep trying to treat the symptoms and put on another bandage, the disease will go away. Numbed into thinking that some of our strengths — access to politicians, personal relationships, geography, and size — aren’t also some of our weaknesses.

Providing appropriate and timely health care is the full responsibility of the Provincial Government. But what happens in our hospitals and health centres has a big impact on our city and the well-being of the people we share it with. So here I am, stepping outside my lane to speak out again.

As Mayor of a city whose residents stood up to save our hospital a couple of years ago — and as a guy who is married to a doctor, brother to one, brother-in-law to another, all in our little city — I have a unique front-row seat.

Dr. Austin did something many doctors don’t do — she lifted the veil. I hope her courage — and the courage shown recently by the PEI College of Family Physicians and MSPEI — changes the discourse to one of openness, respect, and transparency. The system that we all need to work, and we all want to work, can only get better if people work together.

It’s time to open up, encourage criticism and advice, get past the politics, distribute decision-making to where it is needed, and work together shoulder to shoulder with the people — the nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, custodians, administrative staff — the team holding it together every single day.

I don’t know what the solutions are, but people on the ground do. Until we all accept that everything isn’t all right — but that we can make it better — the only important KPI will be the number of canaries at the bottom of the cage.

Thank you, Heather. I wish you and your family all the very best.

Please see the attached open letter to patients.

Welcome.

This is happening tonight. I hope you can join us, because your experience, perspective and ideas matter. There is no sugar coating the interconnected issues of crime, addictions, mental health services and housing. Across Canada communities are facing new challenges with limited resources. While we have made strides policing support and housing - we can and must do better. We also need the Provincial and Federal governments to do better too, and build off what they have done.

Tonight is a piece of our puzzle in Summerside, where this committee and our city are tasked with creating a safer city today, and for tomorrow. The work we, as a community do, is part of a bigger puzzle still.
We can't solve our biggest challenges alone. And we can't ignore them and wish them away, or be satisfied that we have done all we can. We can all be relentless in our pursuit to always do better, and that's how we get big things done.

We also don't find solutions in isolation. Our committee is strong and experienced, but they have been mandates to listen with intent and engage meaningfully with residents. Tonight is part of this process. It is another piece of our puzzle. I hope you can join us, and if not, share your concerns, perspective and solutions. Tell us what we can do, and ask yourself what you can do. We are in this together.

Small things can make a big difference.

As part of the 2025-2026 Capital Budget, the City of Summerside is making important investments in our parks and recreation spaces to ensure they are safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone in our community. Here's what’s on deck:

✅ Remediation of the Boardwalk – $355,000

✅ New Playground Equipment, including Installation of an Accessible Swing – $95,000

✅ Handrails at Credit Union Place – $25,000

These investments are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Summerside.

Our investments: sside.ca/Annual-Budget

Canada Day 2025 In Sside is going to be awesome! Call out for vendors etc here.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 📝

The City of Summerside is now accepting applications for its Canada Day Celebrations for the following services:

▪️Video Production Services
▪️Vendors, Performers, Media Accreditation.

Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/Summerside-Tenders