Pierre Poilievre was defeated in his own riding during Monday's election

In a surprising turn of events, Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, was defeated in his own riding during Monday's election, marking a significant collapse for his party. The Liberal Party, previously struggling in the polls, made a remarkable comeback to claim victory.

Poilievre, who contested against Mark Carney and the incumbent Liberals, lost his rural Ottawa seat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, as reported by national broadcaster CBC. After holding the seat since 2004, Poilievre faced a significant shift in voter sentiment in Carleton. Nonetheless, he indicated to supporters on Tuesday that he intended to remain as the leader of the Conservatives, despite the impending announcement of his defeat by CBC. "It will be an honor to continue to fight for you and champion your cause as we move forward," he expressed. At the end of 2024, Poilievre was expected to emerge as Canada's next leader, holding a substantial lead over then-unpopular Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by 25 points. However, the election cycle was heavily influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and contentious statements about integrating Canada as the 51st state, followed by Trudeau's resignation and the swift rise of Carney, leading to a dramatic shift in political fortunes. Poilievre had previously adopted several Trump-inspired policies, including cuts to foreign aid and defunding state media, which the Liberals used to frame him as aligned with the controversial U.S. leader. This election marks the first time since 1993 that a major party leader has been ousted from their seat, reminiscent of then-Prime Minister Kim Campbell of the Progressive Conservatives losing hers in a sweeping electoral defeat. During Carney's victory speech, a supporter called out "Bruce," to which the new prime minister responded, expressing eagerness to collaborate with Bruce Fanjoy.