P.E.I.'s $78M capital budget passes with little debate

The P.E.I. government's $78-million capital budget passed after only four minutes of debate in the P.E.I. Legislature on Thursday night, leaving MLAs on all sides confused and surprised.

Green Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker was able to ask two questions but saidhe thought he'd have the opportunity to ask more.

"I imagined that we were going to go through the whole document line-by-line, but we didn't get past the first page. So I was sort of taken by surprise," he said.

"I had lots more questions I would have asked had I not realized that that was going to be the end of the debate once we reached the bottom of the first page."

• P.E.I. capital budget unveiled at $78M

MLAs from the Opposition Tories and from the Liberal party had the opportunity to ask questions, but none did.

A procedural error?

Progressive Conservative House Leader James Aylward said there may have been a mistake.

"Well, it's not that the Opposition doesn't have questions. It appears to us right now that there could have possibly been a procedural error that took place this evening," said Aylward.

"I mean at this point in time, as Opposition House leader, I'm going to have to go back and sit down with the government House leader and the leader of the third party to review it, as well as with the speaker's office just to see exactly what did take place tonight."

Aylward said the Opposition would still like to have the opportunity to ask questions on the budget.

For his part, Finance Minister Allen Roach said he was surprised debate wrapped up so quickly.

But he dismissed suggestions the budget should be brought back to the floor for debate, saying the budget has been passed and it's time to move on.

The minister said he'll meet one-on-one with any members who have questions.