Damien Kurek has represented Battle River-Crowfoot since 2019
A recently re-elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Alberta is resigning his seat in a show of support for party leader Pierre Poilievre.
Damien Kurek, who has represented the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot since 2019 and won with almost 82 per cent of the vote on April 28, announced his decision on May 2.
Poilievre lost his Ontario seat in Carleton on election night, meaning as an unelected MP he couldn’t be in the House of Commons and fulfill his duties as opposition leader.
And though the Conservatives didn’t win the election, the results under Poilievre’s leadership show he’s needed in Ottawa, Kurek says.
“Pierre Poilievre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988,” Kurek said in his statement. “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.”
Kurek’s statement adds he will step aside during this Parliamentary session and run in his home riding again in the next federal election.
Kurek’s resignation means Poilievre must win a by-election in the Alberta riding to secure his spot in the House of Commons.
The governor general determines the date of the by-election.
Prime Minister Carney indicated one would occur in a timely manner.
“I’ve already indicated to Mr. Poilievre that if it’s the decision of him and the Conservative Party to trigger, if I can put it that way, a byelection, I will ensure that it happens as soon as possible,” Carney told reporters on Friday.
Recent history suggests a by-election may not happen for months.
The most recent federal by-election occurred in the Quebec riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun.
Voters cast a ballot on Sept. 16, 2024, after Liberal MP David Lametti announced his resignation on Jan. 25, 2024.
That’s 235 days from Lametti’s announcement to voting day.
That same length of time from today’s date would put the by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot on Dec. 23 of this year.