CentreBC
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CentreBC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Mike Bernier |
| President | Mike Wignall |
| Founder | Karin Kirkpatrick |
| Founded | March 28, 2025 |
| Split from | BC United |
| Headquarters | P.O. Box 19178, RPO Fourth Ave. Vancouver, BC V6K 4R8 |
| Ideology | Conservative-liberal Centrism |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| Seats in the Legislative Assembly | 0 / 93
|
| Website | |
| www | |
CentreBC[a] is a provincial political party in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The party was founded by Karin Kirkpatrick, who was the BC United MLA for West Vancouver-Capilano from 2020 to 2024. The party was created in 2025 after BC United leader Kevin Falcon's refusal to resign as leader following his controversial decision to suspend BC United's 2024 election campaign.[2]
History
[edit]Two years before the foundation of CentreBC, the British Columbia Liberal Party changed its name to BC United on April 12, 2023. This was to reflect that the BC Liberals had not been affiliated with the Liberal Party of Canada since 1987 and had occupied the right wing of the British Columbian political spectrum as the primary opponent of the left-leaning New Democratic Party since the 1990s. The name change may also have been motivated in order to further separate the party from the federal Liberals where, according to campaign strategist Allie Blades, 'the B.C. Liberal name confused and turned off voters who did not support the federal Liberals.'[3] However, this rebranding was widely seen as a failure, with support for BC United crashing in the provincial opinion polls, and many of its supporters switching to the Conservative Party of British Columbia under leader John Rustad. By August 14, 2024, BC United was projected to earn just 10% of the popular vote and lose all its seats in the upcoming 2024 British Columbia general election. On August 28, BC United leader Kevin Falcon announced that he had suspended the party's election campaign and would be endorsing the BC Conservatives.[4] This decision was criticized by many BC United MLAs, including Karin Kirkpatrick, who called on Falcon to resign. Kirkpatrick decided to continue running as an independent in the next election along with 16 other former BC United candidates; none of them were elected.
In February 2025, Kirkpatrick called on Falcon to resign again; Falcon refused to do so, claiming that the funds needed to hold a leadership election would further sink the now-indebted party into financial ruin.[5] On March 28, 2025, Kirkpatrick founded CentreBC as a new political party, to serve as an option for moderate British Columbian voters who would otherwise have to choose between the Conservatives and the New Democrats.[6][7][8]
On June 20, 2026, Kirkpatrick stepped down as party leader.[9]
On July 18, 2026, Mike Bernier, former BC United MLA for Peace River South was named the new leader of the party.[10]
Party leaders
[edit]| Leader | Term of office | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karin Kirkpatrick | March 28, 2025 – June 20, 2026 | Founding leader |
| Mike Bernier | July 18, 2026 – present |
Notes
[edit]- ↑ Registered with Elections BC as Centre BC[1]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Registered Political Parties - Information" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Former MLA Karin Kirkpatrick officially launches CentreBC". CentreBC. April 10, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ↑ Meissner, Dirk (August 29, 2024). "B.C. United rebrand went 'spectacularly,' said Kevin Falcon. Yes, this was sarcasm". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ Larsen, Karin (August 28, 2024). "Kevin Falcon ends B.C. United campaign, throws support to Conservatives". CBC News. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ DeRosa, Katie (February 6, 2025). "Calls grow for Kevin Falcon to resign as B.C. United leader, but the party says now's not the time". CBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ↑ Boegman, Anton (10 April 2025). "REGISTRATIONS". The British Columbia Gazette. Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ↑ "Former B.C. MLA launches new 'pragmatic, centrist' party | Globalnews.ca". Global News. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ↑ "CentreBC | Balanced Government for British Columbia". 2025-07-08. Archived from the original on 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
- ↑ "CentreBC Completes Landmark First AGM: New Executive Council Elected, Constitution Adopted, Party Financially Strong". CentreBC. Vancouver. 20 June 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- ↑ Grochowski, Sarah (18 July 2026). "Former cabinet minister Mike Bernier named CentreBC leader, positioning party between NDP and Conservatives". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 18 July 2026.