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P.E.I. Liberal leader steps down after byelection loss

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • July 15, 2026

Prince Edward Island's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

CHARLOTTETOWN -- The leader of Prince Edward Island's Liberals has stepped down after another unsuccessful bid to win a seat in the legislature.

Robert Mitchell placed second behind the Green Party's Tayte Willows in a byelection on Monday in the riding of Cornwall-Meadowbank.

Mitchell became party leader last October and narrowly lost to a Progressive Conservative candidate in a byelection two months later.

Hal Perry has been named interim Liberal leader while the party executive works to plan a leadership convention.

With Monday's byelection result, the Greens are now tied with the Opposition Liberals at four seats apiece.

The governing Tories hold 18 seats and there's one Independent.

This report by was first published July 15, 2026.