Former Dawson Creek mayor and longtime Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier was named the new leader of CentreBC on July 18, 2026, in Victoria, marking his return to formal political leadership and giving the fledgling provincial party a high-profile figure from northeastern British Columbia.
The announcement was made outside the BC Legislature, with Bernier succeeding founding leader Karin Kirkpatrick, who stepped down in June. He was appointed by the party’s Executive Council after a leadership search.
Bernier, who was Dawson Creek’s mayor from 2008 to 2013 before serving as Peace River South MLA from 2013 to 2024, said he took the role because neither the governing NDP nor the opposition Conservatives reflect his values. “I am stepping up to this role because, like so many British Columbians, the two parties on offer do not represent my values,” he said, according to a CentreBC news release.
CentreBC, founded in March 2025 by Kirkpatrick after the collapse of BC United’s 2024 campaign, positions itself as a “socially progressive, fiscally responsible” alternative. Bernier promised to build a “broad coalition of builders and doers” and will lead the party as it builds the foundation to compete in the next provincial election.
Bernier’s political resume includes serving as Minister of Education from 2015 to 2017 under Premier Christy Clark. In the 2024 election, he ran as an independent after refusing to join BC United’s controversial decision to suspend its campaign and endorse the BC Conservatives, losing his seat to Conservative Larry Neufeld.
The party holds no seats in the legislature and has about 3% support in recent polling, though nearly half of British Columbians surveyed believe the province needs a centre-right option. Bernier’s appointment could boost CentreBC’s profile in his home region as it prepares for the next provincial election.
