Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, is projected to win a by-election in Alberta, which would grant him a new seat in Parliament after his loss in the previous general election. Preliminary results from Canada’s electoral commission indicate that he is leading in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding with 80.4% of the votes, although final ballots are still being counted.
In his remarks to supporters, Poilievre expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the community. His anticipated victory follows a setback four months prior when his party was defeated by the Liberals, led by Mark Carney, and he lost his Ottawa-area seat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy after holding it for two decades.
This by-election featured an unusually high number of candidates—214—many of whom are associated with a protest group advocating for electoral reform. This marks the second effort by this group to challenge Poilievre in an election. Due to the record number of candidates, voters were instructed to use write-in ballots.
If elected, Poilievre will return to the House of Commons for the autumn session, following his defeat in April. The election was called in June after former Conservative MP Damian Kurek stepped down to allow Poilievre to run. In his victory speech, Poilievre acknowledged Kurek’s decision.
Alberta has historically leaned Conservative; Kurek previously won the seat with 83% of the vote, consistent with past strong performances by Conservative candidates in the region. However, Poilievre has faced criticism from some local voices, including independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who suggested his motives for running were more strategic. In response, Poilievre emphasized his commitment to earning the trust of voters through diligent campaigning.
Additionally, Poilievre is scheduled to undergo a leadership review in January, where Conservative party members will decide on his continued leadership at the upcoming national convention.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l6jz8xlplo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss