Rob Lantz resigns as P.E.I. premier to run for provincial PC Party's permanent leadership
CBC
Rob Lantz officially resigned as Prince Edward Island's 34th premier Thursday night and announced his bid for the permanent leadership of the province’s Progressive Conservative Party.
“It’s been the honour of my life to serve Islanders as premier,” Lantz said during the announcement in Charlottetown.
“This province has given me every opportunity I’ve ever had. That’s why I care so much about it’s future.”
Lantz made the announcement in front of a group of supporters 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 Feb. 7 at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.
Under the PC Party constitution, Lantz had to resign as interim leader of the party within 10 days of the leadership convention announcement in order to run.
Lantz had been the interim leader of the PC Party and premier since February, when former premier Dennis King resigned.
CBC News has been told P.E.I.’s 35th premier will be sworn in Friday afternoon, and that it will be Deputy Premier Bloyce Thompson, who is also currently the minister of justice and public safety and minister of agriculture. He will become the province’s third premier in a single year.
Earlier Thursday, a media advisory sent by “Team Lantz” said he would make a “special announcement” at 7 p.m. at the Delta Prince Edward this evening, with “key members of the PC Party” present.
With Lantz throwing his hat in the ring, there will now be two candidates in the leadership race. The other is lawyer Mark Ledwell, who put his name forward in May.
CBC News has learned that most of the current PC MLAs will back Lantz, while many politicians from from former premier Pat Binns’ era, are supporting Ledwell. That includes Binns himself, former environment minister Jamie Ballem and the party's former interim leader Jamie Fox.
The deadline for candidates to enter the leadership contest is Dec. 24. Party officials have said they expect a “competitive race.”
The party plans three public forums, one in each county, beginning in mid-January.
Since becoming premier and interim leader of the PC Party in February, Lantz’s political future has made headlines.
First, he said he did not intend to seek the permanent leadership, but also said this:
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