CHARLOTTETOWN — Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King bid an emotional farewell to his colleagues Thursday as he announced his resignation, saying his nearly six years in the job have taken a heavy toll.
He said his decision, effective Friday at noon, was in the best interests of his family, the government and the people of P.E.I., and that he never intended to be a "lifer" in politics.
"This is the most difficult job a person can do because of the public nature of it, and the full public responsibility that lands with it every day," he told reporters as members of his caucus stood behind him.
"If you could ever get 75 per cent support, it's an amazing number. If you help 75 per cent of the people, it's an amazing feat. But there's 25 per cent that don't get helped. And in P.E.I. you know who they are."
King, the Island's 33rd premier, has held the role since May 2019, after his party was elected to form the first minority government in the province since 1890. The Tories were re-elected in 2023, forming a majority and currently holding 20 of the 27 seats in the legislature.
Rob Lantz, the current education minister, will succeed King as premier and interim Tory leader after being chosen unanimously by his caucus Thursday. Plans for the selection of a permanent leader were unclear, but government house leader Susie Dillon said in a statement that Lantz would lead the government "in the days, weeks, and months ahead."
King said he feels he is leaving on a high note, and that the Progressive Conservatives would win "quite handily" if another election were to be held today. He listed health-care improvements and tax reform among a list of achievements of which he is particularly proud.
However, he said the province was hit with many challenges throughout his tenure, including the COVID-19 pandemic, post-Tropical Storm Fiona and an outbreak of potato wart in 2021 that halted shipments of the lucrative crop to the United States for several months.
"I really wish we didn't have to go through all of the crap that we went through as a province," King said when asked if he had any regrets. "But you play the hand you're dealt." He was frank about mental health challenges he faced while leading the province.
"There were days where, like many Islanders, I found it hard to get out of bed because I was tired and stressed and not feeling worthy of these things," he said.
The threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, with the resulting economic disruption, also influenced his decision to step down. "This is not going to be easy times," King said. "This is not a time to be three-quarters of the way in. You've got to be all in."
Don Desserud, a political science professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, said King's departure is sudden but "he's leaving on his own terms" while his popularity is high.
The decision speaks to the toll the job takes not just on the office-holder but also their loved ones, he said, noting that King faced a particularly eventful tenure, beginning with the devastation of post-Tropical Storm Dorian months after he was sworn in.
"As much as he had great ideas ... the legacy that he's able to leave is that he actually got the Island through all these crises," Desserud said. "But basically, every time he started something, something else had to be dealt with."
King ruled out running for office again. His voice cracked repeatedly as he thanked his wife and three children for standing by him through his six years in politics.
"This position is very hard and challenging for families," he said. "My wife and kids have lost almost every faceoff to the demands of this job."
King had a message for his successor. "To that person, I would say this: the job of premier is a very special job," he said. "It's a position that Islanders hold very dear, they keep a very close eye on you. And it's a job that carries with it a heavy burden of responsibility."
Matt MacFarlane, interim leader of the province's Green Party, noted that with King leaving, all three parties in the legislature will have interim leaders as the province heads for potentially turbulent times.
"It's not an ideal time to be leaderless in this province without having a premier in place," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2025.
By Sarah Smellie in St. John's, N.L., with files from Hina Alam in Fredericton
The Canadian Press