You won't believe what's happening with our government internships

Good morning from the Atlantic — three provinces, five communities, and the stories that cross every border.

Now look, I heard the news that the P.E.I. government is pausing its internship program for recent graduates, and some shocking frustration just bubbled up. We're a small province, right? We're always talking about keeping our young folks here, encouraging them to build their lives on the Island instead of heading across the Confederation Bridge to Halifax or even further west. This program was supposed to be a stepping stone, a way to get a foot in the door with good, stable work right here in Charlottetown.

### Why This Matters for the Island

I mean, honestly, what kind of message does this send? We need to be investing in our local talent, helping them find those opportunities to contribute to our communities. These are the folks who know the Island best, who understand our unique challenges and our incredible potential. To just press pause on something that helps graduates gain experience in places like the Province House or the various government offices around the city, it feels like we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

* It stops a clear pathway for new grads to enter public service.

* It might push more young people off-Island for work experience.

* It makes it harder to fill future labour gaps with local talent.

This isn't just about a few internships; it's about the future of our workforce and keeping our bright minds right here on Prince Edward Island. We're not a postcard, we're a region with real problems and real solutions, and keeping our graduates employed is a big part of that.

Bridget Chicken-MacPhail, Charlottetown.

My buddies at the morning show are definitely going to be talking about this one – catch their take live at mornings.live.