Mike Dawson (born October 20, 1976) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 2025 Canadian federal election for Miramichi—Grand Lake. Prior to his election, he served as Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick MLA for Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin, and later Miramichi West, from 2022 to 2025.
Personal life and career Dawson was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick, to Mike and Darlene Dawson, both of whom are also drywallers and house painters. He is the eldest of four siblings and was raised in the rural community of Chelmsford. He is also related to Paul Dawson, who served as the MLA for Miramichi-Newcastle from 1982 to 1987, and as a city councillor and deputy mayor of Miramichi. He graduated from James M. Hill Memorial High School. He is married to Kathy, and they have two sons: Mikey and Dylan. Prior to entering politics, Dawson was a general contractor and operated Dawson’s Painting and Drywall.
At the time of the 2025 Canadian federal election, he lived in South Nelson, New Brunswick.
Political career Provincial politics Dawson made the jump to provincial politics in 2022, when he was first elected in a by-election to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick, following the resignation of Jake Stewart. On June 27, 2023, he was named Chief Government Whip by Premier Blaine Higgs following a cabinet shuffle that saw his direct predecessor as whip, Richard Ames, named as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. In the 2024 New Brunswick general election, he was re-elected as an MLA, this time in the newly-created riding of Miramichi West.
Dawson resigned his seat on March 25, 2025; the by-election to replace him was held on October 6, 2025, which was won by Miramichi River Valley mayor Kevin Russell. He endorsed Daniel Allain in the 2026 Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick leadership election.
Federal politics On March 24, 2025, it was announced that he had been nominated as the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Miramichi—Grand Lake. Dawson would go on to win the 2025 Canadian federal election, narrowly defeating Liberal candidate and former Miramichi Bay-Neguac MLA Lisa Harris.
On February 10, 2026, Dawson sent a letter to Eric Janse, the Clerk of the House of Commons, stating that he intended to "refuse" the scheduled increase to his parliamentary salary on April 1, 2026. In August 2026, Janse filed an affidavit in Federal Court that all Canadian members of Parliament must be paid the salaries set by legislation, and that any deviations would be illegal.
Electoral record Federal
Provincial
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