Cory Deagle ends bid for P.E.I. PC leadership, returns to provincial cabinet as housing minister

PEICory Deagle is closing the door on a run for P.E.I.’s Progressive Conservative leadership. Instead, the MLA for Montague-Kilmuir has returned to provincial cabinet as the new minister of housing, land and communities. Deagle says he has asked Premier Lantz to “reconsider” running for PC leadershipJenna Banfield · CBC News · Posted: Oct 10, 2025 2:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoCory Deagle was sworn in as P.E.I.’s new minister of housing Friday. (Rob LeClair/CBC)Cory Deagle is closing the door on a run for P.E.I.’s Progressive Conservative leadership.Instead, the MLA for Montague-Kilmuir has returned to provincial cabinet as the new minister of housing, land and communities, after that portfolio was left empty by the resignation of Steven Myers on Oct. 3. Deagle was sworn in Friday during a ceremony at Government House.“I know he’ll bring energy, good perspective and a real commitment to his role and to the team as a whole, we’re better off with him at the cabinet table,” Premier Rob Lantz said of Deagle at the ceremony.Deagle resigned as minister of economic development, innovation and trade in February to run for leadership of the PC party, which he says he no longer intends to do — in fact, Deagle said he asked Lantz to “reconsider his decision not to run” for the PC leadership.’At some point the party will deal with leadership, and at that point I’ll determine whether it’s something I want to consider or not,’ Lantz told CBC News, regarding the possibility of seeking permanent leadership of P.E.I.’s Progressive Conservative Party. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)Lantz, who took over as premier in February following Dennis King’s surprise resignation, originally said he would not run for leadership. He then suggested in May that he was reconsidering, before issuing a statement in June saying he would not seek the position.He told CBC News on Friday that it’s still on the table. “People approach me every single day, the general public, members of the party, our caucus members, but I don’t want to get into that until it’s an actual reality. At some point the party will deal with leadership, and at that point I’ll determine whether it’s something I want to consider or not,” Lantz said.This is Deagle’s fourth cabinet portfolio in the last three years. “I think at this time we have a trade war with the U.S., a lot of uncertainty, just with the number of issues in the province. I think right now we need stable leadership,” Deagle said. “I’m happy to offer my experience at the cabinet table and I think that’s a role that I can best help the province move forward in right now.”With Deagle now out of the PC leadership contest, there is just one official candidate in the race: lawyer Mark Ledwell. No date for the PC leadership convention has been set.Meanwhile, the P.E.I. Legislature’s fall sitting is slated to begin Nov. 4.ABOUT THE AUTHORJenna Banfield is an associate producer for CBC Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at jenna.banfield@cbc.caWith files from Cody MacKay