| The Honourable Robert Ghiz MLA BA |
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|---|---|
| 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 12, 2007 |
|
| Lieutenant Governor | Barbara Oliver Hagerman H. Frank Lewis |
| Preceded by | Pat Binns |
| MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 12, 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | New District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Watson Joseph Ghiz January 21, 1974 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island[1] |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Kate Ellis |
Robert Watson Joseph Ghiz, MLA (born January 21, 1974) is a Canadian politician who has been the 31st Premier of Prince Edward Island[1] since 2007. He is the son of former Premier Joe Ghiz, and at age 38, he is also the youngest of the current Canadian premiers.[2]
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Ghiz was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the son of Rose Ellen (McGowan) and Premier Joe Ghiz. He served in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserves, while attending high school in the early 1990s. He attended Bishop's University where he earned a Bachelor's degree in political science; his father spoke at Ghiz's graduation.
Ghiz moved to Ottawa following his father's death from cancer and worked as a political aide for Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps before joining the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1998. In 2001 Ghiz joined the office of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien where he served as Atlantic Canada advisor before leaving to run for leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party in 2003.[1]
In 2003, Ghiz narrowly defeated former provincial Health Minister Alan Buchanan for the leadership of the party and went on to win a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in the 2003 provincial election.[3] The MLA for Charlottetown-Rochford Square (now Charlottetown-Brighton) served as Leader of the Official Opposition in the provincial legislature from 2003-2007.
Ghiz faced a difficult controversy during the lead-up to the 2007 provincial election when he personally intervened in the nominating procedure in a rural electoral district northeast of Charlottetown. Ghiz refused to sign his party's nominating papers for the winning candidate who had made a controversial speech endorsing patronage.[4]
Ghiz led his party to power in the general election held on May 28, 2007, defeating Pat Binns after 11 years of Progressive Conservative government. Ghiz won 23 of the 27 seats, reversing the standings in the legislature at the time of dissolution. Ghiz and his 11-member cabinet were sworn in on June 12, 2007. A 24th member was elected in October in a by-election held after the resignation of Pat Binns.[1]
Ghiz's election resulted in the second time in the history of Prince Edward Island that a father-son team both became premier; the other pair (also Liberal) being Thane Campbell (1936–1943) and his son Alexander B. Campbell (1966–1978).[5]
| Preceded by Ron MacKinley (interim) |
PEI Liberal Leader 2003–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Jeff Lantz, Progressive Conservative |
MLA for Charlottetown-Rochford Square 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Riding abolished |
| Preceded by Riding created |
MLA for Charlottetown-Brighton 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Ron MacKinley (interim) |
Leader of the Opposition 2003-2007 |
Succeeded by Pat Binns |
| Preceded by Pat Binns |
Premier of Prince Edward Island 2007–present |
Incumbent |
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