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Rare by-election path ahead for Poilievre
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre will have another chance to become a Member of Parliament when Conservative MP Damien Kurek steps aside to allow a by-election in his riding in Alberta. Mr. Poilievre lost his Carlton seat in the recent general election and must wait until Mr. Kurek is able to resign, and a by-election is called. Then Mr. Poilievre must campaign in that Alberta riding. The earliest date that a by-election could be held is July 31, 2025.
Under Mr. Poilievre’s leadership, the Conservative Party won 144 seats in the 2025 election. This is an increase of 24 seats from the previous term. Conservatives also captured 41.3% of the popular voteand the party formed the Official Opposition. Despite these achievements, Mr. Poilievre lost his own seat in the riding of Carleton, near Ottawa.
Although it is quite common for an MP to give up his/her seat for a new leader, it is very uncommon for an MP to give up a seat for the leader who has lost in his seat in his own riding. This seems to be a rare case.
In 1983, Brian Mulroney was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. MP Elmer MacKay gave up his seat in order for Mr. Mulroney to gain a seat in the House of Commons. However, it wasn’t because Mr. Mulroney lost his seat, he just didn’t have one.
In 1990, Jean Chrétien was chosen as the leader of the Liberal Party. MP Fernand Robichaud gave up his seat in order for Mr. Chrétien to gain a seat in the House of Commons. And in 2000, Rt Hon Joe Clark was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. MP Scott Brison gave up his seat in order for Mr. Clark to gain a seat in the House of Commons. Again, it wasn’t because either of them lost their seats.
It is hard to find an example which is exactly the same as Mr. Poilievre’s circumstances. It will be an interesting election in the Alberta by-election even though the last Conservative MP in that riding won with 82% of the vote.
The next interesting question is where Mr. Poilievre will run in the approaching “general” election if he is successful in the by-election in Alberta. It is now a minority government and as such, a “general election” could come any time. He was defeated in his Carleton riding where he lives and in the next election there will already be an incumbent who will oppose him in the Carleton riding.
Another interesting aspect of this political situation comes from the 2014 “Reform Act.” At the beginning of each parliament, the “Reform Act” stipulates that caucus members of each party are to have a vote to decide whether the provisions of the Reform Act will apply to that caucus for that parliament.
The “Reform Act” allows party caucuses to vote on adopting internal procedures including:
Under Mr. Poilievre’s leadership, the Conservative Party won 144 seats in the 2025 election. This is an increase of 24 seats from the previous term. Conservatives also captured 41.3% of the popular voteand the party formed the Official Opposition. Despite these achievements, Mr. Poilievre lost his own seat in the riding of Carleton, near Ottawa.
Although it is quite common for an MP to give up his/her seat for a new leader, it is very uncommon for an MP to give up a seat for the leader who has lost in his seat in his own riding. This seems to be a rare case.
In 1983, Brian Mulroney was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. MP Elmer MacKay gave up his seat in order for Mr. Mulroney to gain a seat in the House of Commons. However, it wasn’t because Mr. Mulroney lost his seat, he just didn’t have one.
In 1990, Jean Chrétien was chosen as the leader of the Liberal Party. MP Fernand Robichaud gave up his seat in order for Mr. Chrétien to gain a seat in the House of Commons. And in 2000, Rt Hon Joe Clark was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. MP Scott Brison gave up his seat in order for Mr. Clark to gain a seat in the House of Commons. Again, it wasn’t because either of them lost their seats.
It is hard to find an example which is exactly the same as Mr. Poilievre’s circumstances. It will be an interesting election in the Alberta by-election even though the last Conservative MP in that riding won with 82% of the vote.
The next interesting question is where Mr. Poilievre will run in the approaching “general” election if he is successful in the by-election in Alberta. It is now a minority government and as such, a “general election” could come any time. He was defeated in his Carleton riding where he lives and in the next election there will already be an incumbent who will oppose him in the Carleton riding.
Another interesting aspect of this political situation comes from the 2014 “Reform Act.” At the beginning of each parliament, the “Reform Act” stipulates that caucus members of each party are to have a vote to decide whether the provisions of the Reform Act will apply to that caucus for that parliament.
The “Reform Act” allows party caucuses to vote on adopting internal procedures including:
- Leadership Reviews
- Election and removal of caucus chairs
- Expulsion of Caucus members
- Election of interim leaders
If the caucus members vote in favour of implementing the “Reform Act,” one of the provisions of the “Reform Act” is the option for caucus to call for a leadership review. Now, if only 20% of the members of the Conservative caucus sign a petition calling for a leadership vote, there will be a secret ballot vote on Mr. Poilievre’s leadership.
If a majority of the Conservative members then vote for a leadership change, Mr. Poilievre would then be dismissed as leader. I find it interesting that the Conservative members of caucus voted in favour of implementing the “Reform Act.”
In February 2022, the leadership removal provisions were invoked for the first time by the Conservative caucus following the2021 Election. This triggered a leadership review which went against leader Erin O’Toole and resulted in his removal as leader.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Caucus members of their caucus voted against implementing the “Reform Act.” There will not be any leadership votes in the Liberal caucus because of the “Reform Act.”
This all gives Mr. Poilievre another challenge or two to think about. Who said Canadian politics is boring?
If a majority of the Conservative members then vote for a leadership change, Mr. Poilievre would then be dismissed as leader. I find it interesting that the Conservative members of caucus voted in favour of implementing the “Reform Act.”
In February 2022, the leadership removal provisions were invoked for the first time by the Conservative caucus following the2021 Election. This triggered a leadership review which went against leader Erin O’Toole and resulted in his removal as leader.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Caucus members of their caucus voted against implementing the “Reform Act.” There will not be any leadership votes in the Liberal caucus because of the “Reform Act.”
This all gives Mr. Poilievre another challenge or two to think about. Who said Canadian politics is boring?