Rob Lantz sworn in as new P.E.I. premier, 1 day after King's surprise resignation
Newly minted 34th premier says legislature won't sit again until March 25
Longtime Progressive Conservative politician Rob Lantz was \sworn in as Prince Edward Island's 34th premier Friday, pledging to lead the province with "honesty and integrity."
His first order of business was to meet with cabinet, which passed a resolution to prorogue the legislature until March 25, when the government will present its priorities "in the face of tariffs and uncertain economic times," the new premier said in a late-afternoon statement.
Friday's ceremony at Fanningbank, the residence of P.E.I.'s lieutenant-governor, came less than 24 hours after Dennis King announced he was resigning as premier and stepping away from politics.
Lt.-Gov. Wassim Salamoun confirmed during the ceremony that he had asked Lantz, until now the education and early years minister in King's cabinet, to form a government.
During his remarks after being sworn in, Lantz talked about his roundabout route to becoming leader of the province. He was the P.E.I. Progressive Conservative leader in 2015, but failed to win his own seat in that year's provincial election, which was won by Wade MacLauchlan's Liberals.
"I never imagined myself back here, but here I am. Life is full of surprises," Lantz said Friday.
"That experience, while challenging, taught me about the importance of resilience, perseverance and service. Every step along the way has reinforced my commitment to making a real difference for the people of Prince Edward Island."
Lantz earned the unanimous support of his fellow PC MLAs to become the governing party's interim leader, and thus premier, after King resigned Thursday.
At a surprise media conference that day, King said he had decided to leave politics, saying his family had long taken second billing to his job and he felt it was time to hand the title to someone who could take the provincial government further.
Lantz said he "found out when everyone else did" about King's resignation.
"I'd say it was a shock, but not so much a surprise," he said. "[King has] been very honest with me, and he has been public about the fact that he wouldn't stick around forever, and he often mentioned that to me."
King also resigned as the MLA for Brackley-Hunter River, meaning the provincial legislature is down two members after the recent departure of Natalie Jameson to run federally for the Conservatives. Asked Thursday whether he had federal aspirations himself, King replied that he was never seeking elected office again.
King was not at Friday's swearing-in ceremony for Lantz. He had told CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin in an interview Thursday that he would be in Dieppe, N.B., to attend a hockey tournament in which his son was playing.
Tariffs looming
King's resignation came just days before the spring legislative sitting was due to begin, with the threat of 25 per cent American tariffs looming over the Island's resource-based economy.
Lantz told reporters that delaying the sitting will give him time to connect with other Canadian premiers, and allow the province to plan what actions it will take if U.S. President Donald Trump does introduce the 25 per cent tariffs.
"We are putting the final touches on our budget. There may be some serious discussions about what to do with that budget when we discover what happens with these tariffs," he said. "We may need to reprioritize some of the things that we advance in government just based on world events."
King's departure means that all three parties with seats in the P.E.I. Legislature now find themselves headed by interim leaders.
The Official Opposition Liberals, helmed by Hal Perry, have a leadership convention scheduled for May 2026. The Greens, led for now by Karla Bernard, recently moved up their leadership vote to June 7 of this year.
Under P.E.I.'s fixed election date system, the next provincial general election is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 4, 2027.
Before his first stint in provincial politics, Lantz represented his ward on Charlottetown city council for two terms between 2006 and 2014.
In the April 2023 general election, he once again became the MLA for District 13, Charlottetown-Brighton, where he grew up and where he still lives with his wife, Kelly. He has since served in King's cabinet, first as housing minister before being appointed to his current role as education minister in October 2024.
Staying education minister for now
Lantz said he's retaining the education portfolio for the time being, and will likely name his replacement — and potentially shuffle some other members of his cabinet — sometime next week.
He also said that he did not intend to seek the permanent leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.
"Ten years is a long time. I've had a lot of personal challenges in that time — different priorities, different interests," he said. "I really enjoy being a minister."
That said, he added: "I may very much enjoy doing this job and regret that I don't put myself forward for that permanent leadership."
Government succeeds when it works hand in hand with the people it serves. People are the heart of this province.— P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz
The new premier became emotional when speaking of his family on Friday, saying he had a paragraph of his speech written about them but scrapped it because he knew he wouldn't be able to get through it.
"But you know I love you," he told his wife Kelly, sons Brodie and Ronan, and parents Charlotte and Dr. Brodie Lantz.
Lantz also pledged to work for Prince Edward Island residents, and referenced a often-used phrase of his predecessor.
"Government succeeds when it works hand in hand with the people it serves. People are the heart of this province, and Dennis King always said: 'It's about people,'" he said.
"I'll listen, I'll learn and I will lead with honesty and integrity. We have a strong foundation and together we'll build on it. We don't intend to skip a beat."
Statement from prime minister
Shortly after Friday's ceremony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement welcoming Lantz, and wishing King well.
"I congratulate Rob Lantz on becoming interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island and being sworn in as the province's new premier," Trudeau was quoted as saying.
"I thank Dennis King for his service to Prince Edward Island as Premier and for his valuable partnership over the last six years."