We Must Support Success of Island Business Women

April 29, 2022/Michelle Neill

It was disappointing to hear this week that Jana Hemphill felt compelled to withdraw her application for an ACOA, federally administered, business grant due to misplaced insinuations that her husband, Premier Dennis King, had any connection with it.

Ms. Hemphill is a talented Island woman with a successful career earlier as a journalist, and now as a private business person who owns and operates Storybook Adventures, a 24-acre farm that offers horse-riding lessons and boarding facilities. Hemphill is also director of the registered charity, Sadie’s Place, which aids unwanted and neglected horses. She applied for the federal business grant, and apparently, was successful on the basis of her proven business acumen.

This is the kind of federal initiative that amplifies the success of businesses, with increased employment, provision of local goods and services, and adds to our Island economy while increasing our tax base.

Jana Hemphill serves as an example for other Island women making their way through the many hurdles faced by her sisters across our province and country. Her efforts and success, as that of all Island women entrepreneurs, should be recognized and celebrated, not denigrated by misguided slurs, suggesting that their success may only result from the position of a male partner.

With regard to Premier Dennis King, plenty of Island issues could be fair game for political opponents to praise, or level criticism toward throughout the year. However, a personal attack on the Premier for the success of his wife in earning acceptance of a federal investment in her independent business is clearly out of bounds.

We MUST do better!

Michelle Neill
Leader, Island New Democrats

902-218-1590

Michelle.Neill@ndppei.ca

Posted in Michelle Neill, Leader, Legislature, Women

Michelle Neill

Michelle comes from an almost 30 year career in the federal public service. She’s held various roles including team leader and assistant manager. Shortly after starting her career, she quickly involved herself in her union as a local representative.

Locally, she involves herself in community organizations including Wings on Ice Skating Club, the Charlottetown Figure Skating Club, North Star Minor Hockey Association, Skate PEI, and Hockey PEI, and most recently with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Central PEI.

She calls herself very fortunate to have an extremely supportive family, where her husband of 29 years, Robbie, and children, Keila (pronounced Kayla) and Taylor, have always supported her passion to help others even though it often meant time away from the family to gain specialized training.

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