{{Short description|Premier of Prince Edward Island}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Rob Lantz | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|MLAPEI|size=100%}} | image = RobLantz2015.jpg | caption = Lantz in 2015 | office = Premier of Prince Edward Island | order = 34th | monarch = Charles III | lieutenant_governor = Wassim Salamoun | deputy = ''Vacant'' | term_start = February 9, 2026 | term_end = | predecessor = Bloyce Thompson | successor = | monarch1 = Charles III | lieutenant_governor1 = Wassim Salamoun | deputy1 = Bloyce Thompson | term_start1 = February 21, 2025 | term_end1 = December 12, 2025 | predecessor1 = Dennis King | successor1 = Bloyce Thompson | office2 = Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island | term_start2 = February 7, 2026 | term_end2 = | predecessor2 = Bloyce Thompson <small>(interim)</small> | successor2 = | term_label3 = Interim leader | term_start3 = February 21, 2025 | term_end3 = December 12, 2025 | predecessor3 = Dennis King | successor3 = Bloyce Thompson <small>(interim)</small> | term_label4 = | term_start4 = February 28, 2015 | term_end4 = September 23, 2015 | predecessor4 = Steven Myers <small>(interim)</small> | successor4 = Jamie Fox <small>(interim)</small> | office5 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for<br/>Charlottetown-Brighton | term_start5 = April 3, 2023 | predecessor5 = Ole Hammarlund | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|55|2025|02|21}}<ref name="sudbury">{{cite news | last=Alam | first=Hina | title=Rob Lantz sworn in as Prince Edward Island's next premier, after Dennis King resigns | work=Sudbury.com |agency=The Canadian Press | date=2025-02-21 | url=https://www.sudbury.com/national/rob-lantz-sworn-in-as-prince-edward-islands-next-premier-after-dennis-king-resigns-10265974 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> | birth_place = | party = Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island | profession = Politician | spouse = Kelly Lantz | children = 2 | relatives = Jeff Lantz (brother) }}
'''Robert Lantz''' (born 1969/1970) is a Canadian politician who has served as the 34th premier of Prince Edward Island since February 9, 2026; he previously held the position from February to December 2025. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island (PC), Lantz has served as the party's leader three times: from February to September 2015, from February to December 2025 as interim leader, and since February 9, 2026.
From 2006 to 2014, Lantz was a member of the Charlottetown City Council.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | title=Rob Lantz won't re-offer in Charlottetown election | website=CBC | date=2014-07-15 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/rob-lantz-won-t-re-offer-in-charlottetown-election-1.2707712 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> He was elected as PC leader for the first time at a leadership election on February 28, 2015.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rob Lantz celebrates Progressive Conservative leadership victory | website=CBC | date=2015-02-28 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/rob-lantz-celebrates-progressive-conservative-leadership-victory-1.2977350 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> After resigning as leader following the 2015 provincial election, Lantz was elected as the MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton in 2023. He served in the Dennis King Cabinet and assumed the premiership following King's resignation; Lantz briefly resigned as interim PC leader to run in the 2026 leadership election, which he won.<ref name="auto"/>
==Political career== Lantz led the PC party in the 2015 provincial election, but fell 24 votes short in his attempt to win his own seat representing the riding of Charlottetown-Brighton in the provincial legislature. The margin was reduced to 22 votes after a recount.<ref>{{cite news|title=PC Leader Rob Lantz says he will 'probably ask for recount' after loss|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/elections/prince-edward-island-votes/pc-leader-rob-lantz-says-he-will-probably-ask-for-recount-after-loss-1.3061038|accessdate=May 5, 2015|work=CBC News|date=May 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rob Lantz loses recount|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/rob-lantz-loses-recount-1.3087543|accessdate=May 26, 2015|work=CBC News|date=May 26, 2015}}</ref> Lantz resigned as PC leader on September 23, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=P.E.I Progressive Conservative Leader Rob Lantz resigns|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-rob-lantz-annoucement-1.3240025|accessdate=September 23, 2015|work=CBC News|date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> Lantz won that seat in the 2023 general election.
Following a commanding victory in the April 3, 2023, provincial election (defeating PEI NDP leader Michelle Neill), Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King unveiled his new cabinet. On October 9, 2024, following the resignation from cabinet of Natalie Jameson, Lantz was appointed the Minister of Education and Early Years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Premier Dennis King announces changes to Cabinet |url=https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/premier-dennis-king-announces-changes-to-cabinet |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=www.princeedwardisland.ca}}</ref> Lantz was previously Minister of Housing, Land and Communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-new-cabinet-2023-1.6810457|title=Veterans out, new faces in as P.E.I. Premier Dennis King unveils cabinet|publisher=CBC News|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=January 13, 2024}}</ref>
On February 21, 2025, Lantz became the province's 34th premier and interim PC leader after the resignation of Dennis King. As premier, he also served as Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hon. Rob Lantz | website=Legislative Assembly | date=2025-02-21 | url=https://www.assembly.pe.ca:443/members/rob-lantz | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> He initially declined to seek the permanent leadership.<ref>{{cite web | last=Thibodeau | first=Wayne | title=Rob Lantz calls on P.E.I. PC party to 'get down to business' and hold leadership convention | website=CBC | date=2025-11-04 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-rob-lantz-calls-on-pc-party-to-hold-leadership-convention-9.6965242 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref><ref name="sudbury"/> During his first tenure, he signed agreements with other provinces to reduce interprovincial trade barriers in the midst of the United States trade war with Canada.<ref>{{cite web | last=Draaisma | first=Muriel | title=Ontario signs deals with Saskatchewan, P.E.I. and Alberta to reduce trade barriers | website=CBC | date=2025-06-01 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-saskatchewan-memorandum-of-understanding-1.7549501 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> On December 11, 2025, he announced his pending resignation from both positions, effective December 12, 2025, to run in the 2026 Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island leadership election. Deputy Premier Bloyce Thompson, also the Minister of Justice, was sworn in as his successor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Devries |first=Marilee |last2=Nguyen |first2=Thinh |date=December 11, 2025 |title=Rob Lantz resigns as P.E.I. premier to run for provincial PC Party's permanent leadership |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-rob-lantz-resigns-premier-pc-leadership-race-9.7011702 |access-date=December 11, 2025 |work=CBC News}}</ref> His opponent, Mark Ledwell, accused Lantz of using the resources of government to help his campaign; Lantz refused these claims. During the campaign, he received endorsements from the majority of PC caucus members.<ref>{{cite web | last=Thibodeau | first=Wayne | title=Land use debate turns into shouting match between PC leadership candidates | website=CBC | date=2026-01-23 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-pc-party-leadership-land-use-montague-9.7057490 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> During debates, he supported building a tunnel from the province to Nova Scotia.<ref>{{cite web | last=McInnis | first=Lucas | title=Lantz floats idea of a tunnel connecting P.E.I. and Nova Scotia | website=CBC | date=2026-01-29 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-rob-lantz-tunnel-nova-scotia-9.7065922 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref> Lantz won the election, defeating Ledwell. He was re-appointed as premier on February 9, 2026.<ref>{{cite web | last=Egan | first=Gwyneth | title=Rob Lantz sworn in as premier of P.E.I. again after winning PC leadership | website=CBC | date=2026-02-09 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-premier-rob-lantz-swearing-in-february-9-9.7080983 | access-date=2026-02-15}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lantz lives in Charlottetown-Brighton with his wife, Kelly, and his two children.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hon. Rob Lantz |url=https://www.assembly.pe.ca/members/rob-lantz |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Legislative Assembly}}</ref> Rob Lantz is the brother of Jeff Lantz, a former Prince Edward Island MLA and current Provincial Court judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Opinion/Editorials/2014-07-17/article-3803714/It%26rsquo%3Bs-time-to-move-on-for-Lantz/1|title=It's time to move on for Lantz|work=The Guardian|date=July 17, 2014|access-date=January 13, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925070557/http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Opinion/Editorials/2014-07-17/article-3803714/It%26rsquo%3Bs-time-to-move-on-for-Lantz/1|archivedate=September 25, 2015}}</ref>
==Election results== ===2026 Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island leadership election=== {| class="wikitable" |+'''Results''' !Candidate ! colspan="1" |First ballot |- !Name !Percentage |- style="text-align:right;background:#6495ED;" |'''Rob Lantz''' | '''2,889 votes<br>53.1%''' |- style="text-align:right;" |Mark Ledwell |2,542 votes<br>46.9% |- |'''Total''' |5,437 votes cast |}
===Charlettown-Brighton===
{{2023 Prince Edward Island provincial election/Charlottetown-Brighton}}
{{CANelec/top|PE|2015|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|PE|Liberal|Jordan Brown|1,056|39.02|−13.44}} {{CANelec|PE|PC|Rob Lantz|1,032|38.14|+8.28}} {{CANelec|PE|Green|Derrick Biso|353|13.05|+2.88}} {{CANelec|PE|NDP|Bob MacLean|265|9.79|+2.27}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|2,706|100.0 }} {{CANelec/hold|PE|Liberal|−10.86}} {{CANelec/note|<small>These results will be subject to a judicial recount.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pc-leader-rob-lantz-says-vote-recount-only-prudent-1.3076145|title=PC Leader Rob Lantz says vote recount 'only prudent'|author=CBC News|publisher=CBC News|date=15 May 2015|accessdate=15 May 2015}}</ref></small>}} {{CANelec/source|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.electionspei.ca/|author=Elections Prince Edward Island|title=Provincial General Election - Unofficial Results 2015-05-04|date=4 May 2015|accessdate=5 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505162132/http://results.electionspei.ca/#|archive-date=2015-05-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{end}}
==References== {{reflist|2}} {{First Ministers of Canada}} {{PEIPremiers}} {{Prince Edward Island MLAs}} {{Prince Edward Island Conservative and Progressive Conservative leaders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lantz, Rob}} Category:1970 births Category:Charlottetown city councillors Category:Members of the Executive Council of Prince Edward Island Category:Premiers of Prince Edward Island Category:Living people Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island leaders Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island MLAs Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island Category:21st-century heads of government in North America