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OTTAWA — Conservative MP Damien Kurek is set to step aside to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection in the Battle River—Crowfoot riding in Alberta.
Kurek said he is stepping aside “temporarily” as MP for the riding, which he has held since 2019.
The Conservative party confirmed that Poilievre will run in the Battle River—Crowfoot byelection once it’s called.
Poilievre said that he accepts Kurek’s impending resignation with “humility and appreciation” in a post on the social media site X. “Damien’s selfless act to step aside temporarily as a member of Parliament shows his commitment to change and restoring Canada’s promise,” Poilievre wrote.
This is Poilievre’s first public comment since he lost his riding early Tuesday morning.
A party spokesperson said Kurek will need to be sworn in as a MP before he resigns his seat.
Kurek said he plans to seek re-election in the riding in the next general election.
“Although it will be hard to temporarily step away from this role, in this region I love and have always called home, the mandate given to me is one that clearly states that change is needed. Offering this seat to our party leader is an important step in that process,” Kurek said in a media statement.
Just before Kurek’s announcement, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would call a byelection “as soon as possible” once the Conservatives have a member resign their seat so that Poilievre can run again.
Poilievre lost the Carleton riding to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy in the general election. He was first elected in 2004 and has won in the suburban Ottawa riding six subsequent times over the last 21 years.
The earliest a byelection could be called is 11 days after Kurek’s resignation. The campaign period needs to be at least 36 days.
This means Poilievre could return to the House of Commons on the first day of the fall sitting, set for Sept. 15.
Kurek won the riding with nearly 82 per cent of the vote, one of the largest margins of victory for any riding in the country.
Who might be party leader in the meantime, however, remains to be seen.
Conservative MP Andrew Scheer confirmed on Friday to CBC News the party will have a caucus meeting on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2025.
David Baxter, The Canadian Press
