Is Pierre Poilievre soon to become the new Member of Parliament for Battle River-Crowfoot?
On Friday, May 2, local MP Damien Kurek announced, just days after getting nearly 82 per cent of the local vote in the latest Federal election, that he is giving up his seat.
The move will allow Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre to run locally in a byelection to become the new MP and remain in the House of Commons.
Kurek was first elected in the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot in 2019 and has been re-elected twice.
In an upset, Poilievre lost his seat in the Carleton constituency in Ontario during Monday’s federal election.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he’d be ready to call a by-election “as soon as possible” to allow Poilievre to run in the local riding, which would likely gain him a seat in the House, with the riding being historically a Conservative stronghold.
Damien Kurek, Conservative MP-elect for Battle River-Crowfoot released the following statement on his decision to resign his seat to allow Conservative Party of Canada Leader, Pierre Poilievre, to run in a forthcoming by-election.
“It has been a tremendous honour to serve the good people of Battle River-Crowfoot as their Member of Parliament since 2019. Their support and commitment to the Conservative movement and our mission to bring back hope and prosperity to this country has been unmatched. Which is why, after much discussion with my wife Danielle, and I have decided to step aside for this Parliamentary session to allow our Conservative Party Leader to run here in a by-election.
“Pierre Poilievre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988. An unstoppable movement has grown under his leadership, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account. This is what’s best for Canada, and is what’s best for Battle River-Crowfoot.
“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. I started my political career talking about the need for government to be held to account and to ensure that rural Canada wasn’t forgotten about, this is a key way to ensure that happens.
“The people of Battle River—Crowfoot will be represented well by Pierre for the remainder of this Parliamentary session, and I will keep working with our incredible local team to do everything I can to remain the strong voice for you as I support him in the process, and then run again here in Battle River—Crowfoot in the next general election. We need to build on the momentum that we have with that strong united vision that will restore the Canadian promise.
