Thursday December 11, 2025 | CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI [Posted from VICTORIA, BC at 7:44 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
PEI Premier Rob Lantz has officially resigned.
He further announced his bid for the permanent leadership of the province’s Progressive Conservative Party. He has been serving as interim leader of the party, a role he also stepped away from.
Lantz has been serving this year at the Chair of the Council of the Federation (Canada’s Premiers).
No word yet on how that will unfold, but if the COF Vice-Chair automatically moves up that will see Northwest Territories Premier RJ Simpson take over the lead of that organization.
Lantz became COF Chair after a year of Ontario Premier Doug Ford carrying that role in a very high-profile manner — in particular around the trade war brought on by the United States. He never seemed to seek a high profile for that role.
Another Atlantic region premier quit earlier this year — Andrew Furey quit as the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador after serving five years in that role; he cited frustration of Canada having to deal with Trump.
Lantz as COF chair did not seem to have made a priority of dealing with the Canada-USA trade issues in recent months.
PEI provincial leadership:
Lantz made the announcement in front of a group of supporters and flanked by the PC caucus at the Delta Prince Edward, one day after the P.E.I. PC Party announced the date for its leadership convention, which will be held February 7 at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.
Under the PC Party constitution, Lantz had to resign as interim leader within 10 days of the leadership convention announcement in order to be eligible to run.
Parting words:
“It’s been the honour of my life to serve Islanders as premier,” Lantz said during the announcement in Charlottetown. He has been PEI’s 34th premier.
“This province has given me every opportunity I’ve ever had. That’s why I care so much about its future,” said Lantz.
Third PEI premier this year:
PEI’s 35th premier will be current deputy premier Bloyce Thompson, who will be sworn in Friday afternoon. Thompson is also the minister of justice and public safety and minister of agriculture.
He will become the province’s third premier in a year. Former PEI Premier Dennis King (who served in the role for five years) resigned in February 2025, with Rob Lantz becoming premier on February 21, 2025.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: COUNCIL of the FEDERATION | TARIFFS & TRADE