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Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz shook up his executive council a bit Wednesday afternoon at Government House in Charlottetown.
The Progressive Conservative government’s cabinet was sworn in during a ceremony at the lieutenant-governor’s residence.
With the changes announced Wednesday, the executive council is now:
- Bloyce Thompson, minister of transportation and infrastructure, justice and public safety and attorney general.
- Darlene Compton, minister of land and environment.
- Ernie Hudson, minister of fisheries, rural development and tourism.
- Cory Deagle, minister of health and wellness.
- Jill Burridge, minister of finance and affordability, minister of energy.
- Barb Ramsay, minister of social development and seniors.
- Jenn Redmond, minister of workforce and advanced learning, minister responsible for the status of women.
- Zack Bell, minister of economic development, trade and artificial intelligence, minister responsible for Acadian and francophone affairs.
- Robin Croucher, minister of education and early years.
- Kent Dollar, minister of housing and communities.
- Hilton MacLennan, minister of agriculture.
The main change is the addition of MacLennan, rounding up cabinet from 11 to 12 members.
“Hilton has spent much of his life connected to agriculture and to rural Prince Edward Island. He’s worked on his family farm, he knows the industry and the people behind it,” Lantz said.
“He understands the importance in the role of agriculture in our economy and in our communities.”
MacLennan takes over the agriculture portfolio from Bloyce Thompson, while Thompson now has responsibility for the transportation and infrastructure portfolio. That ministry shaved off responsibility for energy and handed it to Jill Burridge.
“Our government has been focused on the things that matter most to Islanders: making life more affordable, improving health care, strengthening our economy and making sure Prince Edward Island is ready for the future,” Lantz said after the ministers were duly sworn in.
“We’ve made real progress on that work.”
Lantz cited tax cuts and increased supports for families as well as recruitment of health-care professionals as some of his government’s accomplishments.
Lantz said the cabinet has “important work ahead of us” and that there is “uncertainty in the world around us.” He said his government will build a stronger economy and create more opportunities.
“The global economy is changing. Our trading relationship with the United States has become less predictable,” he said.
“President Trump’s unjustified tariffs are creating uncertainty for businesses, workers and families all across this country, just as they are here. We didn’t ask for this trade war. But we have been preparing for it.”
“We’re going to make sure that when circumstances change as they are bound to do, as they have and they continue to do, Prince Edward Island is ready to respond,” he said.
No ‘meaningful change’: Greens
In a statement, P.E.I. Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane took aim at the government implementing another change to executive council, and said Islanders need someone who will look at the trade war as “an opportunity to build the province we want.”
“Right now, Islanders and Canadians want stability and action from their leaders — not more chaos,” he said.
“Shuffling a cabinet will not provide the meaningful change Islanders are looking for…. I am calling on Premier Lantz to stop rearranging the deck chairs, call a general election, and let Islanders have a say in their province’s future.”
