Mike Pemberton
Mike Pemberton | |
|---|---|
| 11th Premier of Yukon | |
| In office June 27, 2025 – November 22, 2025 | |
| Deputy | Jeanie McLean |
| Commissioner | Adeline Webber |
| Preceded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Succeeded by | Currie Dixon |
| Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62)[citation needed] Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Party | Liberal (federal) Yukon Liberal (territorial) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | Whitehorse, Yukon |
Mike Pemberton (born 1963[citation needed]) is a Canadian businessman and politician who has served as the leader of the Yukon Liberal Party since June 19, 2025. He also served as the 11th premier of Yukon from June to November 2025.
Life and early career
[edit]Pemberton was born in Nova Scotia, and has four children. He previously owned a furniture store in Whitehorse, and served as former premier Ranj Pillai's 2023 leadership campaign spokesperson. He served as chair of both the Whitehorse and Yukon chambers of commerce, Yukon development corporation, and as a board member for Yukon Energy.[1] He also served on the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal and was a long-time President of the Yukon Community Crime Stoppers.[2]
Politically, Pemberton formerly served as chair of the Liberal Party of Canada's Yukon wing, responsible for party organizing in the territory. He was also the vice president of the Yukon Liberal Party.[3] The Yukon Liberal Party itself is not organizationally linked to the federal Liberals in any official manner.
Political career
[edit]After Pillai announced that he would not lead the party into the 2025 Yukon general election on May 7, 2025, Pemberton joined the Yukon Liberal leadership race on May 27.[4][5] On June 19, he won the 2025 Yukon Liberal Party leadership election after narrowly defeating Doris Bill by 13 votes. Bill accused Pemberton of signing up recent immigrants to the territory as party members. He became the premier-designate until officially being sworn in as premier on June 27. As premier, he served as Minister responsible for the Executive Council Office, Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, and Minister of Economic Development. During the Council of Yukon First Nations general assembly, Pemberton made racially insensitive comments, with the party apologizing on his behalf.[6]
All incumbent Cabinet ministers declined to seek re-election in 2025; Speaker Jeremy Harper is the only Liberal MLA seeking re-election.[7] On October 3, Pemberton asked the Commissioner to dissolve the Legislative Assembly for a general territorial election on November 3, 2025.[8] He led the Liberals to a third place finish with one seat, behind the Yukon Party and NDP; it is one of the worst results in party history.[citation needed] Pemberton himself placed third in Whitehorse West, failing to win a seat.
Electoral record
[edit]| 2025 Yukon general election: Whitehorse West | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ** Preliminary results — Not yet official ** | ||||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Yukon Party | Laura Lang | 615 | 55.06 | +17.58 | ||||
| New Democratic | Katherine McCallum | 363 | 32.50 | +9.67 | ||||
| Liberal | Mike Pemberton | 139 | 12.44 | -27.24 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 1,117 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Yukon Party gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.41 | ||||||
Source(s) | ||||||||
| Candidate | First ballot | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| Mike Pemberton | 442 | 50.75 |
| Doris Bill | 429 | 49.25 |
| Valid votes | 871 | 99.77 |
| Invalid votes | 2 | 0.23 |
| Total votes | 873 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout[10] | >1000 | <87.30 |
References
[edit]- ^ MacIntyre, Chris (June 20, 2025). "Mike Pemberton elected Yukon Liberal Party leader". CBC. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ "About Premier Mike Pemberton". yukon.ca. June 27, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
- ^ "Yukon | Liberal Party of Canada". liberal.ca.
- ^ "Whitehorse businessman Mike Pemberton joins race to lead Yukon Liberals". CBC. May 27, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ "Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai announces resignation". CBC News. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ^ https://thewalrus.ca/the-yukon-liberals-are-coming-apart-at-the-worst-possible-time/
- ^ Joannou, Ashley (September 11, 2025). "No current Yukon ministers are seeking re-election in upcoming vote". The Canadian Press. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
- ^ https://www.yukon-news.com/news/breaking-premier-pemberton-calls-elections-yukon-heads-to-polls-nov-3-8279394
- ^ "BREAKING: Yukon Liberals select Mike Pemberton as their new leader and the territory's next premier". Yukon News. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ "Yukon Liberals". Yukon Liberals. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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