Pierre Poilievre expressed his gratitude after Damien Kurek

Pierre Poilievre expressed his gratitude after Damien Kurek offered to resign his seat in Battle River—Crowfoot, allowing Poilievre to pursue a position in Parliament.

"With humility and appreciation, I have accepted Damien Kurek's offer, and I look forward to earning the support of our citizens," Poilievre stated. The leader of the Canadian Conservative Party is gearing up for a byelection after Kurek, who secured an impressive 81.8% of the vote in his riding, announced his resignation on Friday. Kurek highlighted Poilievre's strong national campaign, which achieved the highest vote share for the party since 1988. "An unstoppable movement has developed under his leadership, and we need Pierre actively challenging the Liberal minority government in the House of Commons. This is best for Canada and for Battle River-Crowfoot," Kurek said in a statement. First elected in 2019, Kurek's riding encompasses Eastern Alberta, spanning from Edmonton to south of Calgary and along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, including communities such as Drumheller and Camrose.

Poilievre, who lost his Ottawa seat—held for nearly 21 years—to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy on Monday, was raised in Calgary and attended the University of Calgary. In his resignation statement, Kurek emphasized that stepping down is aimed at facilitating political change in Canada, viewing it as a temporary measure for the current parliamentary session. He assured his constituents that Poilievre would represent them effectively while he continues his local efforts and plans to run again in the next general election. In a post on X, Poilievre reaffirmed his gratitude for Kurek's decision, stating, "I am committed to working hard to earn the support of our citizens in Parliament." Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated during a press conference on Friday that he would call a byelection promptly. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described this turn of events as "a beautiful homecoming moment" for Poilievre, adding that many Albertans who voted for his party would be thrilled to see him return. The Battle River-Crowfoot riding has historically been a staunch Conservative stronghold, with Kurek's predecessor, Kevin Sorenson, often winning overwhelming majorities of 80% or more. In other news, a new provincial bill could enable a citizen-driven constitutional referendum question on the ballot, contingent upon gathering signatures from over 175,000 Albertans based on the 2023 electoral numbers.

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