Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz dismissed a petition from 120 Progressive Conservative members seeking a special meeting on his leadership as a distraction meant to reverse February's convention result. Speaking after question period, Lantz said a small group never accepted his 53-to-47 win over Mark Ledwell and noted the party constitution lets 75 of 7,200 members force a meeting. Party president Robert Larsen said the executive is validating signatures and consulting lawyers on whether a leadership vote can proceed. Petitioners cite weak polls and the deficit. Lantz said he will focus on governing while the party sorts it out.
More than 120 members of P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative Party have signed a petition calling for a special meeting within 15 days to vote on Premier Rob Lantz's leadership. Member Martie Murphy said members are discouraged by weak polling, and the resolution cites the province's growing deficit and concerns about transparency. Lantz, who won the leadership in February, said the party's constitution requires only 75 signatures, calling it a low bar and a distraction. He suggested a small group never accepted his win. Party president Robert Larsen confirmed receiving the petition and said the party is consulting lawyers about next steps.
Amir Zuccolo will be the next mayor of Charlottetown after defeating incumbent Philip Brown in Monday's municipal elections held across Prince Edward Island. Unofficial results show Zuccolo won more than 5,000 votes, about 1,500 ahead of Brown, who was seeking a third term. She becomes the first woman to hold the job since Dorothy Corrigan in the early 1970s. Zuccolo said voters wanted change, and named housing, homelessness, city planning and municipal finances as her priorities. Summerside and Three Rivers also elected new mayors, with Cory Snow defeating longtime Summerside mayor Basil Stewart, who had served thirty-three years in total.
