Bernier ran for the Conservative Party leadership in the 2017 leadership election, and came in a close second with over 49% of the vote in the 13th round, after leading the eventual winner, Andrew Scheer, in the first 12 rounds. Fifteen months later, in August 2018, Bernier resigned from the Conservative Party to create his own party, citing disagreements with Scheer's leadership. His new party was named the People's Party of Canada in September 2018. He lost his seat in the 2019 election to Conservative Richard Lehoux, ending all parliamentary representation of the Party. Bernier later ran in the by-election for York Centre in October 2020, but lost the race to Ya'ara Saks, having only gained 3.56% of the vote.