Against the Tide
Lantz and Mitchell both have trust issues
by Paul MacNeill
October 15th, 2025, in The Graphic publications
PEI’s two primary political colours – blue and red – are notoriously partisan and often incapable of seeing the world in anything other than their preferred shade.
Last week when interim Premier Rob Lantz benefitted from unprecedented backroom manipulations to promote his own long-term leadership aspirations, Tories obediently fell in line, giving Lantz a pass for actions that would outrage them if the offender were Liberal.
Tories saw and heard no evil but were ready to pounce on newly elected Liberal leader Robert Mitchell, and his role as Minister of Lands seven years ago when IRAC did not deliver a final report on Buddhist land holdings in the province.
Two interim reports were submitted to IRAC but for some unknown reason the regulatory body did not do its job and produce a final report.
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, the probability is that someone in the former Liberal government intervened to ensure no final report ever saw the light of day.
It is the type of manipulation that can easily end a political career. But the silence of Liberals is deafening while Tories shout ‘ignore us, what they did is far worse.’
Mitchell cruised to the Liberal leadership without offering any specifics of what he will do as premier. His speech to Liberal delegates was void of substance.
When this space questioned how Mitchell will defend his tenure as former minister of both health and land – a question far more politically charged today – Grits chimed back ‘you are being hard on Robert. He is a nice guy.’
Nice has nothing to do with it. Action and record matter if you want to be premier. Mitchell has not explained his role, if any, in keeping the land ownership report from the public. Every question he receives is fair, given the appearance of manipulation at the highest levels.
Last Friday, as Islanders were settling in for a long weekend, Premier Lantz announced former cabinet minister, turned leadership candidate, Cory Deagle was returning to the fold as Minister of Housing. As a bonus for Lantz, Deagle dropped out of the leadership race.
How convenient.
Deagle’s about face will not change his perception as a politician who is too impetuous and young. But make no mistake. Lantz supporters – led by disinterested cabinet minister Gilles Arsenault – put a knife in his back while ratcheting up pressure for him to fall in line.
The premier’s dithering began soon after his being sworn in, when he quietly told people he was open to the permanent job.
Dithering occurred again in June when he acknowledged he was thinking of changing his mind. But once again he made a promise to Islanders not to.
For eight months Rob Lantz should have focussed on affordability, housing, health care, public trust in education and a spiralling provincial deficit. His eye was off the ball. He was distracted and it showed in leadership lacking any urgency to fix the big issues we face.
Lantz is dithering yet again, but he will run for the leadership. His backroom bullies also tried to force Mark Ledwell out, which would make his ascension seamless and easy. But Ledwell says he is still running, and that muddies the water.
The honourable thing would have been to quit and let an interim premier appoint Deagle to cabinet. You cannot be premier and run for the leadership. It creates an unfair leadership contest and raises major ethical questions about promises made in return for support. Lantz is playing partisan politics at a level rarely, if ever, seen in this province.
When I criticized his flip-flop, dithering and manipulation of caucus and party executive, partisan Tories said, ‘Rob’s a nice guy, why don’t you like him?’
The criticism is not personal. He is the premier who said he would not seek the job on a permanent basis. He is accountable for his words and actions.
Both Lantz and Mitchell now move forward with a similar cloud hanging over their head: Can you trust them?
It is not an easy question for either to answer. They will each dodge, obfuscate and make out that the other’s failures are far worse. But both have weakened their own credibility. And it’s on them.
PEI is starved for leadership. Our deficit is likely far higher than the record $189 million estimated. Our province is teetering on the brink, and our elected leaders put themselves ahead of solving the major issues we face.
If it was not so reckless, it would be downright pathetic.
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