P.E.I. Liberals move their leadership convention up to October 2025
Party originally intended to hold its leadership conference in May 2026
The Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island has moved up the date for the event where they'll pick a new permanent leader.
The Official Opposition party had originally intended to hold a leadership conference in 2026, but they will now choose their next leader on Oct. 4 of this year, party president Katie Morello said in a news release Monday.
"P.E.I. Liberals are taking the next step in our renewal process and building a party that can best reflect the concerns of Islanders and is ready to govern," Morello is quoted as saying in the release.
"At a time when Islanders are expecting stability and better decision-making, we have taken a measured, well-planned approach which will culminate on Oct. 4th."
The Liberals have been without a permanent leader since Sharon Cameron failed to win a seat in the 2023 provincial election.
Tignish-Palmer Road MLA Hal Perry has served as interim leader since that time. He has previously said he will not seek the permanent leadership when a convention is held.
The Liberals and Greens each hold three seats in the legislative assembly. The Liberals remain the Official Opposition because they were incumbents at the time the Greens won a byelection last year to even up the two parties' number of MLAs.
The Greens, who are also helmed by an interim leader in Karla Bernard, recently moved up their leadership convention date to June 7.
The balance in the legislature could shift further before the Liberals select their new leader. Byelections will be held to fill the seats vacated by two Progressive Conservative members — former premier Dennis King in Brackley-Hunter River and Natalie Jameson in Charlottetown-Hillsborough Park.
P.E.I.'s Election Act requires an byelection to be called within six months of the seat being vacated, but Premier Rob Lantz has not picked a date for either yet.
The PCs are also in need of a permanent leader. Lantz became the party's interim leader after King's surprise resignation on Feb. 20. The party has not yet named a date for its leadership convention.
Leadership ground rules
Liberal leadership candidates must declare their intention to run by July 4. Applications will open May 9.
Hopefuls will have to raise $7,500 to join the race, and an additional $15,000 over the course of the campaign, 50 per cent of which is reimbursable as campaign expenses.
The convention will be held at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown, with advance polling being held throughout September.
Under the terms of the party's constitution, the cut-off date to become a member of the Liberals and be eligible to vote in the leadership race will be Sept. 27.
The fixed date for the next provincial general election is Oct. 4, 2027, but Morello told CBC News last week that she expects the election to be triggered sooner than that.