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P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz announces his resignation

Robert Ghiz, premier of Prince Edward Island (R) during a news conference on August 28, 2014. (Reuters)
Robert Ghiz, premier of Prince Edward Island (R) during a news conference on August 28, 2014. (Reuters)

Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz is resigning his post.

In an announcement on Thursday, the 40-year-old two-term Liberal premier said he will step down once his party picks a new leader in the next few months.

"I am proud of our government’s accomplishments in the objectives I set out when first taking office: Building a stronger education system, improving access to health care and helping more young Islanders attend university or college," he said in a statement.

"While there is more work to be done, Prince Edward Island is in a very good position. Renewal is an important part of a healthy democracy and I know our team will continue to build on the progress achieved."

The Guardian newspaper editor Wayne Thibodeau told CTV News that the announcement came as a surprise to everyone. 

"We started off today like any ordinary day. It was supposed to be the first Question Period of the Fall session, Thibodeau told the news network. 

"Just over the lunch hour we received a notification by the Premier's office about an important announcement that was taking place a one o'clock. 

"In fact his own caucus colleagues only found out about fifteen minutes before the rest of the public found out that he was leaving politics."

 

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says he's looking forward to spending more time with his family. (CP)
P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says he's looking forward to spending more time with his family. (CP)

Rumours already abound about a potential federal run for Ghiz, who is very close to federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.  

When asked about that on Thursday, he said that a 2015 run is unlikely but remained coy.

"I am looking forward to taking a break from public office," he said, according to the Globe and Mail.

"But, as you know, I'm a friend of Justin [Trudeau], a fan of Justin."

Thibodeau, however, doubts that we'll see a Ghiz for MP campaign in the next 12 month.  

"I don't anticipate that Mr. Ghiz is going to run. Both him and his wife...since coming into politics they have three very young children," he said.  

"The premier has told me on a number of occasions that while he has an interest in running federally now is not the time. So I don't anticipate you're going to see him on the ballot but I do expect you will see him play a role...he may be  involved as a campaign chair for Atlantic Canada or some involvement."  

In addition to being an ally of Trudeau, Ghiz has some other ties to Parliament Hill. He once served as a Special Assistant to former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps and as a Atlantic advisor to the Chretien PMO.

The son of former premier Joe Ghiz, Robert became leader of the Liberals in 2003 as a 29-year old. He joined that province's legislative assembly later that year and became premier in 2007.

In recent years, he's been outspoken against the Harper government and its approach to healthcare funding, the environment and federal/provincial relations.

While no date has been set for choosing a new leader, it's anticipated that a leadership race will take place early in 2015. The next general election in P.E.I. is set for October 2015.

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