Mike Bernier named CentreBC party leader with pitch to B.C.’s 'politically homeless' | Daily Hive

Mike Bernier becomes CentreBC's new party leader with pitch to B.C.'s 'politically homeless'

Mike Bernier during the press conference on July 18, 2026, announcing his appointment as CentreBC's new party leader. (CentreBC)

Former B.C. education minister Mike Bernier is returning to provincial politics as the new leader of CentreBC, with the new party aiming to establish itself as a centrist alternative to the left-wing BC NDP and right-wing Conservative Party of B.C.

During a press conference today at Victoria Inner Harbour, Bernier was introduced as leader by CentreBC founder Karin Kirkpatrick — a former West Vancouver-Capilano MLA who had led the party since its launch about 15 months ago.

Kirkpatrick acknowledged the difficulty of establishing the party’s organization, but said CentreBC now has an elected executive, an approved constitution, riding associations, and has held its first annual general meeting.

“We are a real political party that is going to be a part of the future of politics of British Columbia,” Kirkpatrick said.

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The party is now working to further establish its organization and recruit MLA candidates ahead of the next provincial election.

Bernier previously represented the riding of Peace River South in the B.C. legislature for three terms after first being elected in 2013. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2020, and served as education minister under Christy Clark’s administration.

He also held the role of parliamentary secretary for energy literacy and the environment and later served in opposition critic positions covering housing and finance.

He finished second in the 2024 provincial election, running as an independent following the collapse of BC United (former BC Liberals) campaign. Bernier lost his Peace River South seat to BC Conservative candidate Larry Neufeld, who received 7,182 votes to Bernier’s 2,525.

Before entering provincial politics, Bernier served as a Dawson Creek city councillor from 2005 to 2008, and as the city’s mayor from 2008 until 2013. He has also worked in the oil and gas industry for more than two decades and continues to live in Dawson Creek.

Bernier thanked Kirkpatrick for her work establishing the party and said he had not initially planned to return to political life.

“I honestly wasn’t looking to get back into politics. I was enjoying the last 18 months, travelling, spending time with my family and with my grandkids,” he said.

“But after talking with my wife, I said, you know, we can’t sit back and just watch the chaos that’s happening right now in our province continue to unfold. And you have to sometimes put action, not just words, into play.”

In his first speech as CentreBC leader, Bernier repeatedly framed the party as a movement intended to put residents and communities ahead of political organizations and partisan interests.

He said his previous work in public office had allowed him to travel across B.C. and hear from residents who remain proud of the province but believe the provincial government is no longer listening to them.

“It’s really about putting people first and not parties,” said Bernier. “It should be about solutions, not division, that we’re seeing so much right now in the province of British Columbia within other political parties.”

CentreBC will seek support from voters who fall on both sides of the political centre, said Bernier. He described the party as fiscally conservative while maintaining a social conscience.

The new party leader said CentreBC is speaking with current and former members and supporters of other parties, although he did not identify anyone who could join the organization.

“This isn’t about the NDP or the Conservatives because as Centre BC, we’re inviting everybody who believes in a moderate, fiscally strong party that has a social conscience to try to help grow the province of British Columbia in a respectful way, which we’re not seeing right now,” he said, before adding that this is “why we have people from the NDP and from the BC Conservatives who are now looking at our party.”

Bernier asserts that some voters felt abandoned during the previous provincial election because they did not believe either of the two major parties represented them.

A recent survey by polling firm Research Co. found that nearly half (47 per cent) of B.C. voters want an alternative centrist party to the BC NDP and BC Conservatives. Furthermore, 41 per cent said they support the revival of the BC Liberals (now the inactive BC United party).

“There’s a lot of people that feel politically homeless, and they’re starting to join our party because of that,” said Bernier.

Bernier also said people have expressed interest in running as CentreBC candidates, while riding associations are being established and donations are coming in. He expects the party will have roughly two years to prepare for the next provincial election, assuming Premier David Eby’s NDP government does not call an early vote.

“We’re actually going to be a strong contender in the next election,” he asserted.

Bernier said he intends to seek a seat in the legislature at the first available opportunity. He did not specify whether that could involve a by-election or waiting until the next provincial general election.

The party has not yet released a detailed platform. Bernier said its policies are under development and will be introduced closer to the election after further consultation.

He identified health care and affordability for younger residents as two major challenges, arguing that the drastically increased health-care spending in recent years has not produced adequate results, and that many families cannot afford the down payment required to purchase a home.

Bernier rejected concerns that a third competitive party could divide the vote and influence whether the BCNDP or BC Conservatives form government.

“The only people that talk about vote split are the people that are afraid of losing votes. It’s about giving people options,” he asserted.

“It’s about people giving them the right to go to the ballot and vote for somebody that they feel represents their values and course. We’re not worried about vote split. We’re worried about giving people an opportunity and a party that they can support.”

He also used his first appearance as leader to defend the introduction of sexual orientation and gender identity policies in B.C. schools during his time as education minister. Bernier accused other political parties of using the issue to create fear and division, maintaining that the policy was intended to ensure every student felt safe at school.

“I will never apologise for trying to make our schools safe for children,” said Bernier. “That, first and foremost, is what we were doing when we brought in the anti-bullying policies with SOGI in our school systems around the province.”

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