Dennis King shuffles cabinet as he fills vacant education post

P.E.I. has a new minister of education and early years after a Wednesday morning cabinet shuffle by Premier Dennis King, and other top departments have new bosses too.

King announced on Tuesday evening that he would be making the shuffle. The need for it became apparent when Natalie Jameson announced early Wednesday she would be leaving cabinet to seek the federal nomination for the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Charlottetown, now held by Liberal Sean Casey.

The new education and early years minister is Rob Lantz. 

This is the first cabinet shuffle since King's Progressive Conservatives were returned to government in April of last year.

Zack Bell, who has represented Charlottetown-Winsloe since 2020, was given his first cabinet position. He is now minister of fisheries, tourism, sport and culture.

The rest of the shuffle was characterized by moving around existing members of cabinet.

Cory Deagle, who had been in fisheries, tourism, sport and culture, moves to economic development, innovation and trade.

'Hit the ground running,' P.E.I. Premier Dennis King tells his reshuffled cabinet

2 months ago

Duration 2:08

After making changes to his cabinet Wednesday morning, in part to deal with the departure of Natalie Jameson as education minister, Premier Dennis King addressed his new executive council by offering them congratulations and asking them to get to work right away.

That portfolio had been held by Gilles Arsenault, who moves to environment, energy and climate action.

Meet the P.E.I. government's (slightly) new cabinet

2 months ago

Duration 3:07

Several cabinet ministers had their portfolios shuffled around after PC MLA Natalie Jameson announced she's stepping down to seek the federal Conservative nomination in Charlottetown. A lot of the faces are the same, with Zack Bell joining as the only new cabinet minister.

Steven Myers, who had been holding that portfolio, takes over Rob Lantz's previous file in housing, land and communities.

Jenn Redmond will continue as minister of workforce, advanced learning and population, while also picking up status of women responsibilities from Jameson.

'Much more to do'

"While we have made significant progress we know that there is still much more to do," said King.

"And to continue that progress, we must be willing to adapt, to innovate, and to have fresh perspectives and fresh ideas, and that's what today is all about."

The remainder of the cabinet is unchanged.

• Bloyce Thompson: Minister of agriculture, minister of justice and public safety and attorney general, deputy premier.
• Jill Burridge: Minister of finance.
• Ernie Hudson: Minister of transportation and infrastructure.
• Mark McLane: Minister of health and wellness.
• Barb Ramsay: Minister of social development and seniors.

King also made some changes in house leadership.

Bell had been government whip. He is replaced by former cabinet minister Brad Trivers.

Matthew MacKay is out as government house leader, replaced by Susie Dillon. Dillon, the MLA for Charlottetown-Belvedere, was first elected in 2023.

'Steep learning curve'

University of Prince Edward Island political scientist Don Desserud said he was expecting a cabinet shuffle after the end of the spring session or early in the summer.

Making the move now does not give cabinet ministers much time before the fall session of the legislature starts, he pointed out.

"Three weeks, they'll be able to get through the briefing books, they'll be able to have some responses to questions, but it's going to be a steep learning curve," he said.

Shuffling cabinets periodically is good governance, Desserud added, saying it allows both ministers and departments to be re-energized.