P.E.I. premier hopes to continue positive relationship with next PM — whoever that may be
Shane Ross | CBC News | Posted: January 7, 2025 12:47 AM | Last Updated: January 7
Dennis King says he got to see Justin Trudeau 'in a different light'
Dennis King knows that when about 50 per cent of your province's funding comes from federal transfer payments and programs, it's important to be on Ottawa's good side.
"You've heard me say it time and again that the most important relationship for the premier of Prince Edward Island to have is with the prime minister of Canada," King said on Monday, reflecting on Justin Trudeau's decision to resign as prime minister and leader of the federal Liberal Party.
"I think successful premiers in the past have had good, positive working relationships with the prime minister of the day. And I think I would count myself in that."
King, whose Progressive Conservatives hold a majority government on P.E.I., hopes to have that same positive relationship with Trudeau's successor, as well as the federal Conservative leader, whose party has a 24-point lead over the Liberals in the latest polling.
"We have been working, of course, with the ultimate understanding that there will be an election in 2025, and that is very, very highly likely to result in Pierre Poilievre becoming our prime minister. And so we're transitioning our government to be ready for that," King said.
But on Monday, the premier took time to give Trudeau his due.
He said he got to know the prime minister on a personal level during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic when they spoke almost daily. When King's mother died in 2022, Trudeau called to offer his condolences.
"I probably got to see him in a different light than many others would have had in the past," he said.
"Each and every day that I worked with him, I could see his love for Canada. I could see his desire to try to do his best to unite us and to deliver results for Canadians."
Trudeau said he will stay on as prime minister until a new Liberal leader is chosen, likely in March.
In the meantime, King said he will reach out to Trudeau in the coming days to express his gratitude for all he's done for P.E.I. in his nine years as prime minister.
Oh, and one more thing while he's got him on the line.
"I would still like to get the Confederation Bridge tolls reduced," King said. "Maybe we could have a good negotiation and get something... on that before he leaves."