The spring sitting of the P.E.I. legislature will be delayed so members can attend the funeral for Mark McLane, a cabinet minister who died this week at the age of 56.

Progressive Conservative Premier Rob Lantz says all three parties in the 27-member legislature have agreed to the delay.

First elected in 2021, McLane was the Progressive Conservative member for the Cornwall-Meadowbank district in central P.E.I.

The provincial government said he died Tuesday after a serious illness.

To honour McLane, the province has placed books of condolences at various locations including the legislature, which the public can sign until March 24.

The provincial legislature will open the following day, on March 25.

“Prince Edward Island has a small legislature, and while we may come to the (legislature) with different political stripes, there is a shared respect among members that is especially evident in moments like this,” Lantz said in a statement. “This is a time to come together, to pay our respects and to honour Mark’s service to the people of this province.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2024.

The Canadian Press