The PEI Nurses’ Union Board of Directors had to make a difficult decision last evening: postponing our 2020 AGM.
This decision was not taken lightly. There were many contributing factors that were considered during the course of our discussion.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. With our province now dealing with its first confirmed case, Premier Dennis King has declared a state of public health emergency.
The provincial government and our chief provincial health officer, Dr Heather Morrison, have officially recommended social distancing strategies to all Islanders. They have also recommended additional guidelines to stem the spread of COVID-19.
The PEINU’s primary concern is the safety of all Islanders, including our members whose work is critical in ensuring an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We simply cannot risk jeopardizing the health of any person through our actions.
Given that we are grappling with an unprecedented situation with no foreseeable end in the near future, we have decided to err on the side of caution and postpone our AGM, which was scheduled for April 30.
We hope this action will help to better protect the health of our members during this pandemic and ensure that nurses are able to care for those affected by this virus.
That said, it’s crucial that all PEINU members are able to participate in the democratic decisions of our union. Once public health authorities no longer consider the virus a public health threat on PEI, the Board of Directors will approve a new date to hold our AGM.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time. Your commitment to caring is critically important for the health and safety of all.
Wishing you well,
Mona O’Shea RN
PEINU President, on behalf of the Board of Directors