CHARLOTTETOWN — Rob Lantz was sworn in on Friday as the 34th premier of Prince Edward Island, taking over from Dennis King, who resigned earlier in the day after leading the province since 2019.
Lantz, 55, had been education minister in King's Progressive Conservative government. He served briefly as party leader in 2015 but resigned after failing to win the election that year; he was first elected to the legislature in 2023.
Speaking after his swearing-in ceremony, Lantz said his role is to serve not only as a leader but also as a listener and problem solver.
"Public service is never easy, believe me, folks, it is not," he said at the official residence of Lt.-Gov. Dr. Wassim Salamoun. "But it always matters, and we do our best every day."
The new premier became emotional as he thanked his family. "I had a full paragraph here, of my family, he said as his voice cracked. "I cut it out, because I'll never get through it. But you know, I love you."
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Lantz hinted that he may not be premier for very long. While the Progressive Conservative caucus chose him to be interim leader — and therefore premier — Lantz said he had no intention of running to be permanent Tory leader.
"I may very much enjoy doing this job and regret that I don't put myself forward for that permanent leadership, but that's my decision," he said.
The Tory party has not released details on when it will choose a permanent leader, who will become premier. Prince Edward Island's fixed election date is scheduled for Oct. 4, 2027.
In his resignation announcement on Thursday, King said the public nature of the job and a steady stream of crises that affected the Island had taken a toll. During King's tenure the province was hit with two post-tropical storms — Dorian and Fiona — the COVID-19 pandemic, and the outbreak of potato wart in 2021 that halted shipments of the lucrative crop to the United States for several months.
Now there is a threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, which if imposed will result in economic disruption. Lantz acknowledged that the road ahead has many challenges. "Our province is growing, but everything we've accomplished is under threat," Lantz said in his swearing-in speech. "Despite that, our communities are coming together in ways that inspire hope and optimism."
After the Tories under King won the 2019 election, they were re-elected in 2023, forming a majority and currently holding 20 of the 27 seats in the legislature.
The legislative assembly was to begin its spring sitting next week, but Lantz told reporters he would instead prorogue it for four weeks. The 30-day pause will give him time to prepare and see whether United States President Donald Trump goes ahead with tariffs next month, he told reporters after his swearing-in ceremony. The legislature is now scheduled to reconvene March 25, with the throne speech.
"We are putting the final touches on our budget," he said. "There may be some serious considerations about what we need to do with that budget when we discover what happens with these tariffs."
"We may need to re-prioritize some of the things that we advance in government just based on world events and things that are affecting this country and this province. So, I think a four-week pause at a time of transition like this, and at a time of uncertainty … this is a good time for us to take a little break, come back with a fresh start."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Lantz and thanked King for his service to the province over the last six years.
“We will work together to protect our workers, create good-paying jobs, grow the economy, and put Canadians at the forefront of every opportunity," Trudeau said in a statement about the new premier. "This includes breaking down barriers between provinces and territories and making progress on other priorities of Islanders and all Canadians — from health care, to affordability, to climate action."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2025.
— By Hina Alam in Fredericton.
The Canadian Press
