The Conservative Party of Canada has officially announced that Pierre Poilievre will not be contesting the Battle River-Crowfoot riding in the upcoming federal election. Following his defeat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy in the Carleton riding during April’s federal election, the party confirmed on Tuesday that Damien Kurek, the former holder of the Battle River-Crowfoot seat, will be running in the constituency again in the next election.
Kurek had relinquished his seat last year to accommodate Poilievre’s candidacy in a byelection. When asked by Radio-Canada about Poilievre’s potential riding in the next election, the CPC chose not to respond to the inquiry. Additionally, the party verified via email that Kurek’s nomination is assured, as the CPC’s National Council has approved a motion exempting him from the formal nomination process.
Historically, Battle River-Crowfoot has been a stronghold for conservative candidates, encompassing municipalities such as Camrose, Drumheller, and Wainwright. Poilievre emerged victorious in a byelection with over 80 percent of the vote, underscoring the region’s conservative leanings. Notably, the previous year’s byelection featured a record-breaking 214 candidates, marking the highest number of candidates on a federal ballot in Canadian history.