Mike Pemberton
Mike Pemberton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 11th Premier of Yukon | |
| Assumed office June 27, 2025 | |
| Deputy | Jeanie McLean |
| Commissioner | Adeline Webber |
| Preceded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office June 19, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal (federal) Yukon Liberal (territorial) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | Whitehorse, Yukon |
Mike Pemberton (born 1963) is a Canadian businessman and politician who has been the 11th premier of Yukon since June 27, 2025, and the leader of the Yukon Liberal Party since June 19, 2025.
Life and early career
[edit]Pemberton is 62 as of 2025, and has four children. He originates from Nova Scotia. 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 the Whitehorse and Yukon chambers of commerce, Chair of the 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.
Premier of Yukon (2025–present)
[edit]Pemberton joined the Yukon Liberal leadership race on May 27 after Pillai announced he would not lead the party into the 2025 Yukon general election, on May 7.[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. During the Council of Yukon First Nations general assembly, Pemberton made racially insensitive comments, with the party apologizing on his behalf.[6] All incumbent Liberal 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, scheduled for November 3, 2025.[8]
Electoral record
[edit]| 2025 Yukon general election: Whitehorse West | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Mike Pemberton | |||||||
| Yukon Party | Laura Lang | |||||||
| New Democratic | Katherine McCallum | |||||||
| Total valid votes | ||||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
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.
