EXCLUSIVE: Carney set to call mid-August Alberta byelection, clearing Poilievre's path to a new seat
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call a byelection on Monday in the Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be looking to regain a seat, the National Post has learned.
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Voters will be called to elect their new MP on either August 11 or 18, according to a source familiar with the prime minister's thinking who was speaking on background because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
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'The prime minister will be honouring his commitment of calling it quickly with 'no games' so that the byelection is complete well ahead of the House of Commons coming back in mid-September, rather than drawing it out in any way until December or January,' said the source.
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The source added that the election dates in August will ensure that the byelection happens 'as soon as possible' without interfering with Alberta Heritage Day, which is the first Monday of the month.
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Poilievre has been without a seat in the House of Commons since he was defeated in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton during the federal election on April 28. The member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot, Damien Kurek, stepped down earlier this month to pave the way for his leader in a byelection.
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Kurek was re-elected in April with more than 82 per cent of the vote, making the Alberta riding one of the safest Conservative seats in the country.
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In his first press conference after the election, Carney said he would ensure that the byelection happens 'as soon as possible… no games, nothing, straight.' He said he conveyed his decision to Poilievre directly during a conversation.
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The Liberal Party did not respond immediately when asked if the party would be presenting a candidate in the riding.
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EXCLUSIVE: Carney set to call mid-August Alberta byelection, clearing Poilievre's path to a new seat
Poilievre has been without a seat in the House since he was defeated in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks to supporters at a campaign rally in Calgary on Friday, April 25, 2025. Photo by Dean Pilling/Postmedia OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call a byelection on Monday in the Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be looking to regain a seat, the National Post has learned. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Voters will be called to elect their new MP on either August 11 or 18, according to a source familiar with the prime minister's thinking who was speaking on background because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. 'The prime minister will be honouring his commitment of calling it quickly with 'no games' so that the byelection is complete well ahead of the House of Commons coming back in mid-September, rather than drawing it out in any way until December or January,' said the source. The source added that the election dates in August will ensure that the byelection happens 'as soon as possible' without interfering with Alberta Heritage Day, which is the first Monday of the month. Poilievre has been without a seat in the House of Commons since he was defeated in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton during the federal election on April 28. The member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot, Damien Kurek, stepped down earlier this month to pave the way for his leader in a byelection. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kurek was re-elected in April with more than 82 per cent of the vote, making the Alberta riding one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. In his first press conference after the election, Carney said he would ensure that the byelection happens 'as soon as possible… no games, nothing, straight.' He said he conveyed his decision to Poilievre directly during a conversation. A spokesperson for the Liberal Party of Canada, Matteo Rossi, said the party is 'being approached by many talented community leaders' when asked if it would be presenting a candidate in the riding, adding that 'the nomination process will continue moving forward in accordance with the party's nomination rules.' The Conservative Party of Canada did not respond to a request for comment on Sunday. National Post calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here.
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