Press and Public Galleries Reinstated for the Legislative Assembly

Charlottetown, November 10, 2021 - The Standing Committee on Legislative Assembly Management is charged with policies for the administration of the Legislative Assembly for the efficient and effective operation and management of the Legislative Assembly.

Effective November 16, 2021, the Standing Committee on Legislative Assembly Management has decided that it will reinstate the press and the public galleries for the Legislative Assembly. A mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy will be required prior to entry in the Honourable George Coles Building and security personnel will be verifying everyone’s status.

These new procedures will be in effect with the continuation of the 2nd Session of the 66th General Assembly commencing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Access to the Legislative Chamber will be permitted for the Press Gallery and the general public. Once seated in the Press Gallery in the Legislative Chamber, media may remove their masks as there will be a plexiglass partition between them and the Members. There is no limit for the media personnel in the Press Room of the 1st floor of the Coles Building. 

Masks are mandatory at all times for members of the public gallery. As the public gallery is reduced in size, the Assembly can accommodate approximately 12-15 people.

AV feeds will be located in the Legislative Chamber, Press Room on the 1st floor, and on the ground floor of the Coles Building (media scrum room). All interviews are to be conducted on the ground floor media room or outside of the building. Access to this area will be monitored by security.

There will only be one media room on the ground floor where we will allow for overflow members of the media and a scrum area. All media will be required to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible. It continues to be mandatory to wear masks when moving through the building.

All access to the Coles Building will be through the ground floor. All media will be required to sign in with security. Security personnel will continue to verify all entries for Vax Pass status.

The Assembly will use the accreditation list as approved during this fall 2021 legislative sitting, subject to revisions as may be provided by the Executive of the Press Gallery.

We look forward to working with you to ensure a safe environment at the Legislative Assembly during the fall sitting.