Premier asks Conflict of Interest Commissioner to investigate ministerial decision on permitting issue
Premier Rob Lantz today referred former minister Gilles Arsenault’s handling of a permitting issue during his time as Minister of Energy and Climate Action to the Conflict of Interest Commissioner of the Legislative Assembly. Arsenault has been suspended from caucus pending the outcome of the investigation.
“On March 12, 2026, the Deputy Ministers of Environment and Land and of Justice contacted my office with concerns about Mr. Arsenault’s handling of environmental permits at the Summerside Golf Club. On Feb. 27, the Department of Environment and Land placed a stop work order on redevelopment project at the golf course due to concerns that proper approvals had not been given for work in a wetland area and departmental policies had not been followed. Subsequent investigation revealed the developer believed he made a donation to a community non-profit organization in exchange for Mr. Arsenault’s approval of the work.
On March 13, I instructed the Department of Justice to engage outside legal counsel to review the matter and provide our Government with an analysis of the situation. Murray Murphy of Stewart McKelvey was subsequently engaged. A draft report was delivered to the Department on March 24 with the final report delivered to the Deputy Minister of Land and Environment on March 27.
The report indicates that Mr. Arsenault granted an amendment to a wetland alteration permit for the golf course without proper evaluation by department staff or complete compliance with provincial policies and processes. The issue of whether a donation made to an established nonprofit organization was contingent to the Minister’s approval of an amended permit remains in question.
Elected leaders need not only be free of conflict of interest. They must also be free of the perception of conflict of interest. For this reason, I decided yesterday that Mr. Arsenault must be removed from Cabinet.
Further, I have asked Judy Burke, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner of the Legislative Assembly, to investigate this matter. Mr. Arsenault has been suspended from caucus pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Media contact:
Emily Blue
Office of the Premier
emilyblue@gov.pe.ca