“The Commission has decided to hold public hearings in order to give interested parties an opportunity to present their views on issues set out in the Commission’s Terms of Reference,” said Commission Chair Ralph Thompson. “The Commission believes that the briefs presented and the resulting discussions during the public hearings will provide a true picture of where individuals, municipalities and other interested groups stand, and will assist the Commission to develop strong, practical and relevant recommendations.”

The Terms of Reference are available on the Commission’s website: www.gov.pe.ca/landandlocalgovernance.

Interested parties wishing to present written briefs at these hearings are required to send a copy of their brief to the Commission at least seven days in advance of the hearing date. The hearings will be recorded, and submissions filed with the Commission may be posted on the website.

The deadline for filing written submissions, whether in relation to public hearings or otherwise, is June 30, 2009.

The hearing schedule is as follows:

Date: Monday, June 1, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m

Location: Westisle Composite High School (Cafeteria), Elmsdale

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: École Évangéline, Abram-Village (This will be a bilingual hearing with simultaneous interpretation available)

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Three Oaks Senior High School (Cafeteria), Summerside

Date: Monday, June 8, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Bluefield High School (Cafeteria), Hampshire

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Souris Regional High School (Cafeteria), Souris

Date: Monday, June 15, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Cardigan Consolidated School (Gymnasium), Cardigan

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Charlottetown Rural High School, Charlottetown