Statement by Premier Lantz on the passing of Minister Mark McLane

Hon. Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, issued the following statement:

“Prince Edward Island lost a great Islander today—but far more importantly, a family lost a great husband and father, and so many Islanders lost a truly great friend.

Mark McLane was the kind of person people gravitated toward. He was someone you could always count on for a laugh when you needed it, for thoughtful advice when things got complicated, and for his presence when it mattered most. He always showed up; whether it was for his community, for his colleagues, for his friends—and most importantly for his family.

Whether you met Mark once, worked with him every day, or were having a sociable with him around a kitchen table, or if you were unlucky enough to square up to take a faceoff against him on the ice—you walked away with the same feeling: you always wanted him on your side. He was always committed to the task at hand, and he never stopped until the job was done. Mark brought the same approach to everything he did: he worked hard, he played hard, and he left it all on the ice, in the boardroom, or on the floor of the Legislative Assembly; he always gave it his all, which made him one of a kind.

Mark never just worried about himself. He always recognized he was part of a team and wanted to help and support those around him. Even when there was a difficult discussion to be had—or a tough decision to make—Mark could always find common ground with anyone he dealt with. His steady presence and genuine empathy made people feel heard, valued, and supported. Mark approached every challenge with humility and optimism, reminding those around him that collaboration and kindness could overcome even the toughest moments or the most challenging tasks.

Mark was never someone to worry about credit for the important work he did. And when credit was given, he was always quick to recognize the team that worked with him every day who made important work happen. Mark’s contributions to our province will be felt well into the future. We honour his service, we remember his leadership, and we are profoundly grateful for his dedication to the people of Prince Edward Island.

On behalf of the Government of PEI, and our entire Island community, I want to extend my sympathies to Margie, Katherine, Bethany and Maria, his father Dave, his sister Kristina, and all who were lucky enough to call Mark a friend. He will be missed."

Media contact:

Emily Blue
Office of the Premier 
emilyblue@gov.pe.ca