PEI Premier ousts minister over golf club's disputed wetland permit

Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz has taken swift action against a former cabinet member over a permitting controversy. Gilles Arsenault, once the minister of energy and climate action, was removed from cabinet and suspended from caucus after an investigation revealed policy breaches in a wetland permit amendment for Summerside Golf Club. The issue began when the province's environment department ordered the golf club to halt work on 27 February. Officials raised concerns about how the project had been approved under Arsenault's oversight.

A third-party review later confirmed that Arsenault had failed to follow provincial policies when granting the permit change. The findings prompted Premier Lantz to remove him from cabinet on Saturday—one day before announcing the investigation publicly. Lantz has now referred the matter to the province's conflict of interest commissioner for further examination. Arsenault remains suspended from the governing caucus while the review continues.

The suspension and investigation follow clear violations of provincial rules in the golf club's permit process. Arsenault's future in government now depends on the conflict commissioner's findings. The premier's office has not yet indicated a timeline for the review's completion.