History
Two years before the foundation of CentreBC, the British Columbia Liberal Party changed its name to BC United
In the run-up to the 2024 British Columbia general election, many BC United supporters switched to the Conservative Party of British Columbia, and on August 28, 2024, BC United leader Kevin Falcon announced the withdrawal of BC United from the election and his endorsement of the BC Conservatives.
This decision was opposed by many BC United MLAs, including Karin Kirkpatrick of West Vancouver-Capilano, who chose to run, unsuccessfully, as an Independent in the election along with a number of other former BC United candidates.
In February 2025, Kirkpatrick called on Falcon to resign as BC United leader; Falcon refused to do so, saying that the funds needed to hold a leadership election would further sink the now-indebted party into financial ruin.
Kirkpatrick founded CentreBC as a new political party on March 28, 2025, to serve as an option for moderate British Columbian voters who would otherwise have to choose between the BC Conservative Party and the left-leaning New Democratic Party.
Kirkpatrick stepped down as party leader on June 20, 2026.
Mike Bernier, former BC United MLA for Peace River South and former mayor of Dawson Creek, was named the new leader of the party on July 18, 2026.
Bernier would last just two months, becoming the second longest-serving leader of the four leaders in CentreBC's short history. Mike Bernier resigned the leadership on September 18, handing the leadership to Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar. Milobar became party leader, and seven other former BC Conservative MLAs brielfy joined the party.
The leader of the BC Conservative Party, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, resigned on September 20. On September 22nd, when a snap election was called, Milobar rejoined the BC Conservative Party along with the rest of the former Conservative MLAs.
Elenore Sturko was not invited to join them, and became the new CentreBC leader as its only MLA.
CentreBC ran just 35 out of 93 candidates, failed to win any seats in the election, and did not receive more than 10.7% of the vote in any riding. The results left CentreBC without representation in the legislature. The party also failed to meet the minimum standards to qualify for the political party allowance from Elections BC.
