Former P.E.I. premier Dennis King 'humbled' to be named Canada's ambassador to Ireland

Former P.E.I. premier Dennis King has been appointed as Canada's new ambassador to Ireland, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news release Monday.

"With his years of experience in public service, including as the premier of Prince Edward Island, I am confident that he will serve Canada well and make the strong partnership between our two countries even stronger," Trudeau said in the release. 

King will succeed Nancy Smyth, a career foreign affairs professional who had held the position since 2021. Her LinkedIn profile shows her time in the job ended in August 2024. 

The news comes after King's surprise resignation as the premier of Canada's smallest province less than two weeks ago. At the time, he said he was stepping down following a long conversation with his family, adding that he did not intend to seek election in any jurisdiction ever again. 

Rob Lantz, the MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton, was sworn in as premier in a ceremony the following day. 

'Another one opens'

King said Monday afternoon in an interview with CBC News that this appointment is not why he stepped down as premier. 

"It's one of these things where… when one door closes, another one opens," he said. "If someone would've said to me six years ago [I was] going to be appointed the ambassador to Ireland, I would've thought they were crazy, but here we are." 

In a surprise announcement, Dennis King says he is stepping down as P.E.I.'s premier

11 days ago

Duration 2:20

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King is resigning as the province's 33rd premier after nearly six years in the job. 'I've felt for a while… that I had more runway behind me than I had in front of me,' the Progressive Conservative politician said, adding that the province needs a leader who can be focused on the long term. CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin introduces an excerpt of video from his news conference.

King, P.E.I.'s 33rd premier, entered politics in 2019. He was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island and later became a two-term premier.

His government led the province through major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, two post-tropical storms and the potato wart crisis that disrupted the Island's potato industry.

2nd former P.E.I. premier named to job

With the appointment, King follows in the footsteps of his old boss: P.E.I. Premier Pat Binns, for whom King worked while he was in office.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper named Binns as Canada's ambassador to Ireland, a post he held from August 2007 to September 2010. 

P.E.I. premier talks to CBC News: Compass about his resignation and what's next

11 days ago

Duration 10:36

Dennis King announced Thursday that he was stepping down as P.E.I.'s premier and walking away from politics entirely. A few hours after the announcement, he joined CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin to talk about his decision and his plans for the future.

King said Monday that he is "humbled and flattered" to step into the role Binns once held. 

"[I] always was very proud of him and how he conducted himself, and I tried very hard to emulate him in many ways," he said. "This next journey will be something he's familiar with so I certainly will… be picking his brain and getting the lay of the land."

While there are some logistics to work out, the former premier described accepting the post as "a family endeavour." 

He added: "The pace of ambassador will be busy, I'm sure, but I don't think it will carry with it the same intensity as the job of premier does. We'll certainly need to stay very connected to P.E.I. This is our home, this is the place we love."