CHARLOTTETOWN — An Independent Commission has been established to review the mandate, operations, and structure of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC), and its work is now formally underway. Commissioner Rory Francis confirmed today that the Commission is in place, with engagement opportunities for Island residents, stakeholders, and those who interact with IRAC to be announced in the coming weeks. 

Established under the Public Inquiries Act, the Commission has been asked to examine the mandate, performance, public-facing transparency and structure of IRAC and to bring forward recommendations that will position the institution to serve Islanders effectively for the decades ahead. 

“IRAC touches the daily lives of Island residents, through the cost of electricity, decisions about land, and the appeals that shape how people, businesses, and governments interact,” says Commissioner Rory Francis. “Bodies like this play a vital role, and that is precisely why it is worth asking whether the way IRAC is set up today still fits the time we live in and the one we are building for tomorrow.” 

The Commission will operate independently from government, and its findings and recommendations will be its own. Information about the review progress and processes will be made publicly available throughout, and every Island resident, organization, and stakeholder with something to contribute will have a meaningful opportunity to be heard.  

Commissioner Francis emphasized that engagement will be central to the Commission’s approach. 

“Hearing directly from Island residents, stakeholders, and those who interact with and rely on the work of IRAC is vital to this process,” says Commissioner Francis. “Opportunities for written submissions and direct presentations will be made available in the weeks ahead, and anyone who wishes to take part is welcome to do so. Every perspective will add to what we are able to recommend.” 

Over the coming weeks, the Commission will announce details of its public engagement program. This will include a formal call for written submissions from individuals, organizations, and subject-matter experts, along with public engagement sessions held in communities across Prince Edward Island so that Islanders can share their views directly with the Commission. Targeted meetings will also be held with municipal governments, Indigenous communities, utilities, the business community, legal and regulatory experts, and others with direct experience of IRAC’s work. 

The Commission’s website now available at www.IRACReview.ca will serve as the central source for information, including dates, locations, submission guidelines, and updates on the work as it progresses. Islanders are encouraged to visit the site and sign up to receive notifications as opportunities to participate are confirmed. 

The Commission is required to provide its final report by November 1, 2026. 

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For media inquiries:  

Dawn Binns, Executive Director  

Email: Dbinns@iracreview.ca