The progressive conservative politician for a long time, Rob Lantz, has sworn as the 34th first Friday of Prince Eduardo, promising to lead the province with “honesty and integrity.”
Friday’s ceremony in FannningBank, the residence of Lieutenant Governor of PEI, occurred less than 24 hours after Dennis King announced that he resigned as prime minister and moved away from politics.
Lieutenant-Gov. Wassim Salamoun confirmed during the ceremony that had asked Lantz, so far the education and the minister of the first years in the King Cabinet, to form a government.
During his comments after having sworn, Lantz talked about his roundabout route to become leader of the province. He was PEI’s progressive conservative leader in 2015, but he could not win his own seat in the provincial elections of that year, won by the liberals of Wade Maclauchlan.
“I never imagined here, but here I am. Life is full of surprises,” Lantz said Friday.
“That experience, although challenging, taught me about the importance of resilience, perseverance and service. Each step on the road has reinforced my commitment to make a true difference for the people of Prince Eduardo’s island.”
Lantz obtained the unanimous support of his companions MLA of PC to become the interim leader of the ruling party and, therefore, the prime minister, after King resigned on Thursday.
At a surprise media conference that day, King said he had decided to leave politics, saying that his family had taken the second bill to his work and felt it was time to deliver the title to someone who could take the provincial government beyond.
He also resigned as the MLA for the Brackley-Hunter River, which means that the provincial legislature has dropped two members after Natalie Jameson’s recent departure to federally run for conservatives. When asked on Thursday if he had federal aspirations, King replied that he never returned to look for an elected position.
King was not at Friday’s swearing ceremony for Lantz. He had told CBC News: Compass Louise Martin presenter in an interview on Thursday that would be in Dieppe, NB, to attend a hockey tournament in which her son played.
King’s resignation occurred a few days before the spring legislative session will begin, with the threat of American tariffs that are coming over the island’s resources -based economy.
It is not yet clear if the spring session will begin on Tuesday as scheduled.
His departure means that the three games with seats in the PEI legislature are now headed by internal leaders.
The official opposition liberals, led by Hal Perry, have a leadership convention scheduled for May 2026. The Greens, now led by Karla Bernard, recently transferred their leadership vote as of June 7 of this year.
According to PEI’s fixed election date system, the next provincial general election is scheduled for Monday, October 4, 2027.
Dennis King announced Thursday that he would resign as PEI’s prime minister and completely moving away from politics. A few hours after the announcement, he joined CBC News: Compass Louise Martin’s presenter to talk about her decision and her plans for the future.
Before his first period in provincial politics, Lantz represented his neighborhood at the City of Charlottetown for two periods between 2006 and 2014.
In the general elections of April 2023, once again it became the MLA for District 13, Charlottetown-Brighton, where he grew up and where he still lives with his wife, Kelly. Since then it has served in the King Cabinet, first as Housing Minister before being appointed for his current role as Minister of Education in October 2024.
The Government is successful when it works hand in hand with the people it serves. People are the heart of this province.– Pei Premier Rob Lantz
The new prime minister was excited when he talked about his family on Friday, saying that he had a paragraph of his written speech about them, but discarded it because he knew he could not overcome it.
“But you know I love you,” he told them.
Lantz promised to work for residents of Prince Eduardo Island, and made reference to a phrase often used from his predecessor.
“The Government succeeds when it works with the people it serves. People are the heart of this province, and Dennis King always said:” These are people, “he said.
“I will listen, learn and lead honestly and integrity. We have a solid base and together we will build on it. We do not intend to jump a rhythm.”
