Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is headed back to Canada’s Parliament after winning a by-election in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot.
Poilievre secured over 80 per cent of the vote by defeating his closest challenger, independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who garnered only a fraction of his support.
Comeback After Ontario Defeat
The victory marks a return to the House of Commons for Poilievre, who lost his long-held Carleton seat in Ontario to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy in April. Poilievre had represented Carleton since 2015.
Battle River–Crowfoot, a Conservative stronghold spanning over 52,000 square kilometres, was vacated earlier this year after MP Damien Kurek resigned to allow Poilievre to contest.
Advance polling witnessed a higher turnout than the federal election earlier this year, with Elections Canada reporting 14,454 advance voters. The by-election also drew a record 214 candidates, part of a protest by the “Longest Ballot Committee” against Canada’s electoral system.
Facing Off With Prime Minister Carney
Poilievre will return to the Commons when it resumes in mid-September, setting up his first direct parliamentary clash with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Andrew Scheer has been serving as interim Conservative leader in the House since Poilievre’s April defeat. (With HT Inputs)
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