Mike Bernier

Mike Bernier (born 1968) is a Canadian politician who has served as the leader of CentreBC since 2026. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA), representing the electoral district of Peace River South from 2013 to 2024.

Political career He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election. He represented the electoral district of Peace River South as a member of the BC United. In December 2014, he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Literacy and the Environment for the Minister of Environment. On July 30, 2015, he was chosen to be Minister of Education in British Columbia. As Minister of Education, Bernier mandated the SOGI 123 (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) created by the ARC Foundation into all schools in the province.

On October 17, 2016, Bernier fired the Vancouver School Board for failing to pass a balanced budget.

On May 9, 2017, Bernier was re-elected in his rural riding of Peace River South with 75.63% of the vote, the highest a BC Liberal has ever been elected with in provincial history and the eleventh highest across all parties in BC history when the Conservative Party of British Columbia did not run a candidate in the riding.

Bernier was reappointed Minister of Education on June 12, 2017. Bernier sought the BC Liberal Party leadership after Christy Clark's resignation in August 2017, but dropped out of the race after two weeks.

In opposition, he has served as the opposition critic for housing and for finance.

Before being elected provincially, he served as a city councillor (2005–2008) and then the mayor (2008–2013) of Dawson Creek, BC. Before entering politics, he worked for 20 years in the natural gas industry.

In the 2024 British Columbia general election, he ran as an independent candidate but was unseated by Conservative Party of British Columbia candidate Larry Neufeld.

On July 18, 2026, Bernier was named the new leader of CentreBC.

Electoral record