Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has confirmed that party leader Pierre Poilievre will not contest the Battle River-Crowfoot riding in the next federal election.
Poilievre had previously represented the Ontario riding of Carleton for several years but lost the seat in April’s federal election to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy. Following that defeat, he entered Parliament through a byelection in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot constituency.
On Tuesday, the CPC announced that former MP Damien Kurek will once again run as the Conservative candidate in Battle River-Crowfoot. Kurek had vacated the seat last year to allow Poilievre to contest the byelection.
In a statement to Radio-Canada, the party declined to clarify where Poilievre may seek election next, leaving questions about his future electoral plans unanswered.
The party further confirmed that Kurek’s nomination has been formally secured. The CPC’s National Council passed a motion exempting him from undergoing a standard nomination process, ensuring his candidacy for the riding.
Battle River-Crowfoot is considered a long-standing Conservative stronghold, encompassing municipalities such as Camrose, Drumheller and Wainwright. Poilievre had won the seat decisively in the byelection, securing just over 80 per cent of the vote.
That byelection also made history due to an unusually large ballot, featuring 214 candidates — the highest number ever recorded in a Canadian federal election.
