Ministerial Mandate Letter - Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy

Dear Premier,

Please accept this letter as the response of the Department of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Energy to your mandate letter to Ministers dated March 3, 2026.

The Department of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Energy plays a central role in supporting the safe movement of people and goods, the stewardship of public infrastructure and the long-term reliability of Prince Edward Island’s energy system.  Through these responsibilities, the Department will contribute to the Government’s priorities by advancing work to strengthen electricity reliability, support manageable costs for Islanders and improve the resilience of the province grid; ensuring infrastructure investments are carefully planned and delivered to provide long-term value and support affordability; working collaboratively with partners to align transportation and infrastructure planning with responsible land use and sustainable community growth; and, supporting the planning and delivery of modern public infrastructure including maintaining critical bridge and road networks. 

This mandate letter aligns with the Government of Prince Edward Island’s coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach and advances the priorities outlined in the Speech from the Throne.  In our work, we will underscore collaboration with government partners, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and the private sector, while maintaining strong fiscal discipline and a clear focus on outcomes that improve mobility, connectivity, and quality of life for Islanders.

Specific Actions for the Next 12–18 Months

• Advance work on a modern electricity regulatory framework, including consideration for performance-based regulation and strengthened representation of ratepayer interests.
• Advance priority actions identified through the province’s Energy Strategy with a focus on actions which will strengthen reliability, support manageable costs and improve the resilience of the provincial grid. 
• Strengthen electricity system reliability and resilience through planning related to import capacity, on-Island supply options and energy storage opportunities.
• Advance demand-side management and peak-period preparedness initiatives to better manage electricity demand and support long-term system stability. 
• Advance analysis and planning for future electricity generation and storage needs to ensure the province can meet growing electricity demand.
• Develop energy performance best practices for provincially constructed buildings to improve efficiency and reduce long-term operating costs.
• Update provincial building design standards to streamline project delivery, standardize requirements and improve cost predictability for public infrastructure projects. 
• Modernize the Expropriation Act to ensure it is transparent, fair, timely, and aligned with current best practices in public infrastructure delivery and property rights protection.
• Complete a strategic review of government office accommodations to improve space utilization, manage long‑term accommodation costs, and inform future capital and leasing decisions.
• Support other government departments and agencies in the planning and delivery of capital projects by providing centralized expertise in project management, procurement, and infrastructure delivery.

In addition to these specific actions, the Department will engage with the review of IRAC by providing information and policy analysis to support the work of the review commissioner.

In conducting our work, the Department will remain committed to strong fiscal management and transparent decision-making.  The Department looks forward to working collaboratively with colleagues across Government to advance these priorities and deliver practical results for Islanders. 

Sincerely,

Ernie Hudson

Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy