A Conservative MP-elect is resigning to allow party leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a by-election after he lost his seat in Monday’s federal election.
Poilievre failed to win a seat in Ottawa’s Carleton riding where Liberal Party candidate Bruce Fanjoy picked up the win.
Since Monday’s election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault have announced they are stepping down after not winning a seat, but Poilievre stated he will remain as Conservative leader.
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On Friday, the Conservative Party announced that MP-elect Damien Kurek is resigning to allow Poilievre to run in the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot.
“I know we need Pierre fighting in the house of commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account,” Kurek said in a statement released by the Conservative Party. “This is what’s best for Canada, and is what’s best for Battle River-crowfoot.”
Kurek went on to say that it will be hard to temporarily step away from the role, but says that “change is needed.”
Poilievre, who was noticeably absent from social media following the election, returned to accept Kurek’s resignation, and announce his intentions to run in the by-election in hopes of returning to Parliament.
“I will work to earn the trust of the good people of Battle-Crowfoot and I will continue to hold the Liberal minority government to account until the next federal election,” Polievre said in a post on X.
It is with humility and appreciation that I have accepted Damien Kurek’s offer to resign his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot so that I can work to earn the support of citizens there to serve them in Parliament.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) May 2, 2025
Damien’s selfless act to step aside temporarily as a Member of…
Poilievre’s decision to run has garnered mixed reactions amongst Canadians.
“Thank you Damien and thank you Pierre for all you have done,” an X user said.
“It’ll be great to have you in Alberta,” another user said.
Meanwhile, some Canadians are not supporting the move.
“This is madness, you were rejected!,” one X user said.
“Read the room Pierre, you lost, fair and square,” a Bluesky user said.
LEADING WITHOUT A SEAT IS NOT UNUSUAL BUT CAN BE DIFFICULT, EXPERT SAYS
Toronto Metropolitan University Faculty of Arts Instructor and former MP Peggy Nash tells Now Toronto that Poilievre will have “some decisions to make,” as he prepares to lead without a seat.
“He will have to appoint an interim leader in the house, a house leader fairly quickly, because he’s not there to lead off question period and lead the members of Parliament,” Nash said.
However, leading without a seat is not unusual, Nash said, and has been done many times before at both the provincial and federal level. She said while it can make life “difficult” the leader can still have a lot of influence from outside the chamber through news and media conferences..
“So, he can still continue with his social media, alternative media presence, and he can continue to organize. He can continue to hold rallies and try to build his party. And certainly he can be critical and try to hold the government to account outside of the House of Commons,” she said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Friday that he has told Poilievre that he will make sure a by-election happens “as soon as possible,” if the Conservatives wish to trigger one.
“No games, nothing, straight,” he said.
Parliament is set to resume on May 26.
