Prince Edward Island’s legislature won’t be considering changes to its conflict of interest law after all.

The Progressive Conservatives have abandoned a much-criticized bill that would have allowed a lobster fisher to serve in cabinet.

Provincial rules prohibit cabinet ministers from managing a business, forcing them to put their interests in a blind trust.

But federal Fisheries Department regulations require fishers to be physically on their boat when it’s out on the water, prohibiting them to hire a third party to run the operation.

Sidney MacEwen was forced to resign as transportation minister after he was unable to get an exemption to the federal rule.

Backbencher Brendan Curran, who had introduced amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act, says he pulled his bill but will continue to consider the issue.

“I still believe that fishers should be afforded the ability to serve on executive council,” Curran told The Canadian Press.

“I think this is something that should be fixed.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.

— By Eli Ridder in Fredericton

The Canadian Press