Conservative MP for Battle River-Crowfoot Damien Kurek rises during question period in Ottawa in this December 2023 file photo. Kurek has agreed to step down as an MP to make way for leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection.--CP FILE PHOTO
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Conservative MP Damien Kurek is set to step aside to allow party leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding, just next door to Medicine Hat’s electoral district.
The CPC boosted its total votes and seats during the General Election that concluded Monday, but failed to prevent a Liberal minority government, and Poilievre lost his own Carleton seat in the Ottawa area.
A release from the party Friday morning states that Kurek, who was re-elected in his eastern Alberta riding by a 46,000-vote margin, will resign to make way for the CPC leader to earn a seat and return to the House of Commons.
“Damien’s selfless act to step aside temporarily as a Member of Parliament shows his commitment to change and restoring Canada’s promise,” Poilievre said in a statement on social media.
“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.
At a press conference earlier in the day, Prime Minister Mark Carney said there would be no delays in calling a byelection, should it be needed.
“No games,” he said.
There is no immediate timetable for such a byelection, which would typically involve a four- to six-week campaign period. The House of Commons will be recalled May 26.
The news of having the Conservative leader running in her riding excited Cynty Kolkman who runs Baker’s Dozen in Oyen.
She said it’s “wonderful” despite her being a big fan of Kurek.
“It’s a small town and I think most are conservatives,” she said. “(Poilievre) needs to be in parliament to be more effective and wherever he would run, I’d wish him a lot of luck.”
Lloyd Fraser, the owner of Pat’s Kitchen in Acadia Valley, told the News that customers were just starting to hear the news in the afternoon, but there’s excitement.
“Damien does a good job and Poilievre would likely do the same,” Fraser said, noting the area needs to be promoted. “Any benefit would be good.”
The move was also supported by local conservatives in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding, which is located south of the sprawling Battle River-Crowfoot constituency that includes the Special Areas, Oyen and Acadia Valley.
Poilievre drew 600 people to a fundraising dinner in Medicine Hat in April 2022 while he was seeking the party leadership.
Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz was en route to Ottawa on Friday and unavailable for an interview.
Poilievre grew up in south Calgary, but represented the riding of Carleton since 2004. Kurek was first elected in 2019 after winning the nomination to replace longtime MP Kevin Sorenson.
Those two Conservative candidates have never failed to win more than 70 per cent of the votes in the riding. Kurek was re-elected this week with 82 per cent of ballots.
The Battle River-Crowfoot district also includes Drumheller, Stettler, Camrose and Wainwright in the area south of the Yellowhead Highway between Edmonton and Lloydminster.
It is bordered to the south by Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner at the Cypress County Line.
The Red Deer River separates it from the riding of Bow River, which includes Brooks, Taber and Strathmore.
Premier Danielle Smith, whose provincial riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat borders the federal riding, said this week she supports Poilievre staying on as leader and hinted that an Alberta seat could be the avenue to win his way back into the House of Commons.
On Friday she thanked Kurek and “welcomed” Poilievre to the province.
“I’m sure the more than 1 million Albertans who voted for his party are excited to welcome him back to home,” she wrote.
Kurek, a resident of Camrose, said in a statement that it was hard to resign the seat but felt it was the right thing to do, and intends to run locally in the next election.
The riding “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,” he wrote.
The earliest a byelection could be called is 11 days after Kurek’s resignation, which can’t happen until he is sworn in as an MP. And 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.
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.
— with files from The Canadian Press
