Mike Farnworth


Michael C. "Mike" Farnworth is a New Democratic Party politician from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. He has served as the MLA for the riding of Port Coquitlam and its predecessors for all but one term since 1991. He is currently Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia and Government House Leader.
Farnworth was originally elected in 1991 for Port Coquitlam, after serving three terms on Port Coquitlam City Council. He was re-elected in 1996 in the redistributed riding of Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, but lost in the party's province-wide wipeout of 2001. Between 1997 and 2001, He served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors, and Minister of Social Development and Economic Security.
In 2005 B.C. general election, Farnworth sought to take back his old seat. He won the riding with 11,844 votes. In 2009, Farnworth was re-elected to his fourth term in the recreated riding of Port Coquitlam with 54.64% of valid votes. Farnworth won again in the 2013 B.C. general election by a large margin, and again in the 2017 B.C. general election with his largest ever margin of victory.
Prior to entering elected office, Farnworth worked at CP Rail and Mt. Isa Mining.
In 2011, Farnworth ran in the NDP leadership election to replace retiring leader Carole James. He was narrowly defeated by Adrian Dix.
Farnworth has publicly acknowledged that he is gay. He has had a relationship with his partner, Doug, for over twenty five years.

Electoral record