PEI·NewP.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz says it’s time to get down to business and elect a permanent leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party. Green Party leader wants Islanders to decide, by calling an election Wayne Thibodeau · CBC News · Posted: Nov 04, 2025 5:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 30 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesRob Lantz, interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and P.E.I. Premier says it’s time to elect a permanent leader of the PC party. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz says it’s time to get down to business and elect a permanent leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party. Lantz became interim leader and premier more than eight months ago on Feb. 21, following Dennis King’s sudden resignation.King went on to accept a federal appointment as Canada’s ambassador to Ireland. But it’s still not known if Lantz will run for the party’s top job whenever it finally calls that leadership vote. “I think what we need to realize is there’s never going to be a perfect time, and get down to business and get our leadership question taken care of,” Lantz said in an interview with CBC News. “At this time, I guess we’ve only got one declared candidate. I think we’d like to see a race. I know there’s people in our caucus that have considered it. When it comes time, I hope that won’t be too far in the future, when it comes time for me to consider that, I will.”There were two candidates in the running. Cory Deagle resigned as minister of economic development, innovation and trade in February to run for leadership.But last month, Deagle ended his bid after Rob Lantz named him minister of housing, land and communities, a job left vacant by the resignation of Steven Myers on Oct. 3.With Deagle out, there is now only one declared candidate, Charlottetown lawyer Mark Ledwell.Ledwell announced in May he wanted to become the next leader of the party, and premier. Opposition parties say Islanders deserve a permanent premier. Liberal leader Robert Mitchell was recently elected to the position, on Oct. 4, 2025. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)Liberal Leader Robert Mitchell said Islanders are concerned about the lack of clarity on who is leading the province. “Having a leader or premier at an interim level causes a bit of concern and angst when you’re talking to Islanders,” said Mitchell. “They would prefer to have a permanent, full-time leader, [a] permanent, full-time premier in place.” Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane said Islanders should have a say on who the premier is. He wants an election.“In 2023, Islanders, at that time, wanted the government that they voted for and that’s not a Premier Lantz government. That’s what we have now,” said MacFarlane.“I don’t think, until we go to the polls again, we don’t have that mandate from the people for the current government to operate so I think we should be going to the polls and I think that Premier Lantz should get that mandate to hold his position.” Matt MacFarlane, leader of the P.E.I. Green Party, says he would like to see an election, so Islanders can choose their next premier. (Wayne Thibodeau/CBC)This will be both Mitchell and MacFarlane’s first session as leaders.Mitchell was elected in October. But he doesn’t have a seat in the P.E.I. legislature so he’ll be watching the proceedings from the sidelines.Green party members elected MacFarlane as leader in June. UPEI Political Science Professor Don Desserud said it’s unusual for a party in power to take this long to pick a leader. “Their job right now is to determine who is the premier of the province at an incredibly crucial time for this province, for all provinces, in this country,” said Desserud. “So the sooner they figure that out, and move beyond just sort of the internal dynamics and whose feelings are getting hurt or not getting hurt, the better the province will be.” While there is no official date, people in the party have been told to circle Jan. 24 for a possible leadership convention at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. Lantz said he believes he does have a mandate to lead the province, even as an interim premier.“Interim leader of the governing party becomes the premier,” said Lantz“I have said from day one that I will take this job seriously, the role that I’ve been placed in unexpectedly. I am doing the best job I can everyday. I think that’s the mandate I’ve got, is to represent Islanders. We’ll get through this leadership and have a permanent leader here at some point very soon, I hope.”ABOUT THE AUTHORWayne Thibodeau is a video journalist with CBC Prince Edward Island. He has spent the last two decades working in various newsroom roles. In addition to being a multi-platform journalist, Wayne can be heard reading the news on The World This Hour, anchoring the breaking news desk on CBC News Network, hosting Island Morning and Mainstreet and reporting for CBC News: Compass. You can reach Wayne at Wayne.Thibodeau@cbc.caFollow @JWayneCBC on X
Rob Lantz calls on P.E.I. PC party to get down to business and hold leadership convention
