Pierre Poilievre eyes Alberta riding after losing his seat, but must wait 30 days before MP Damien Kurek can formally resign under Canadian election law.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, having lost his Ottawa-area seat in the recent federal election, is planning a political return through one of Alberta’s strongest Tory strongholds: Battle River–Crowfoot. But there’s a legal catch.
While Damien Kurek, the current MP for the riding, announced his intention on Friday to step aside and make room for Poilievre, Canada’s election laws require a waiting period of at least 30 days before any resignation can be formalized.
The Legal Clock Is Ticking
According to the Parliament of Canada Act, MPs cannot resign until 30 days after the official results of the election are published in the Canada Gazette. This stipulation exists to allow for any contestations of the election outcome.
The timeline? Based on previous elections, official results typically take a month to be published, meaning Poilievre likely won’t be able to initiate a return to Parliament until the fall session at the earliest.
Once the resignation is legally valid, the Speaker of the House will notify the Chief Electoral Officer, prompting the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to set a byelection date—which can range from 11 to 180 days later.
A Strategic Resignation for Party Unity
In his Friday statement, Kurek emphasized the urgency of having Poilievre back in the House to confront the Liberal government, saying:
“An unstoppable movement has grown under [Poilievre’s] leadership, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons.”
Poilievre returned the sentiment, calling Kurek’s decision “selfless” and met with his family and supporters in the riding on Monday—sharing a video message in which he said:
“When you get knocked down, you get up and get going.”
Historical Precedents of Leaders Switching Ridings
This isn’t the first time an MP has made way for a party leader:
- In 1983, Elmer MacKay vacated his seat for Brian Mulroney, who later led the PCs to a 1984 landslide.
- In 1990, Fernand Robichaud did the same for Jean Chrétien, enabling the Liberal leader’s return via byelection before a major national win.
Both MPs were rewarded with cabinet posts after resuming their own political careers.
Kurek, who won 82% of the vote in his riding this year, has already confirmed his intention to run again in the next general election, signaling a strong chance he’ll follow a similar path.
Poilievre’s Path Back to Parliament
While losing his Carleton seat to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy by over 4,000 votes was a blow, Poilievre remains the face of the Conservative Party. His return to Parliament through Alberta—a province where his support remains ironclad—could restore momentum and reassert his role as Leader of the Opposition ahead of future debates.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged not to delay the byelection process:
“I will ensure that it happens as soon as possible. No games, nothing,” he stated.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for continued updates on Canada’s shifting political landscape, leadership transitions, and what comes next for the federal opposition.
