Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addressed supporters in Ottawa on April 29, 2025, following his defeat in the federal election. Getty Images
Voters in Battle River–Crowfoot head to the polls again on Monday. The federal by-election comes only four months after the April general election. This vote carries extra weight, as it could mark the return of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to Parliament.
Poilievre lost his long-held Ottawa-area seat in April. That defeat shocked many inside his party, which had expected stronger results after months of leading the Liberals in polls.
Why Alberta?
Damien Kurek, the long-time MP in Battle River–Crowfoot, stepped aside to give Poilievre a chance to run. Kurek won nearly 83 per cent of the vote in April, making the riding one of the safest Conservative seats in the country.
Kurek spent much of the campaign with Poilievre, urging voters to support him. He called his resignation temporary and plans to seek the seat again in the next general election.
Stakes for Poilievre
A win would allow Poilievre to rejoin Parliament for the fall sitting on September 15. After the spring election, he watched from the sidelines while Andrew Scheer led the Conservative caucus in the Commons against Prime Minister Mark Carney. Poilievre held press conferences, but his absence from debates raised questions inside and outside the party.
The result will also carry weight beyond Monday. In January, Conservative members will review Poilievre’s leadership. His share of the vote in this by-election could shape how the party views his future.
Asked recently if the by-election outcome could decide his fate as leader, Poilievre did not respond directly.
A Crowded Ballot
This by-election stands out for another reason. More than 200 names appear on the ballot. Many belong to the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest movement that wants election law taken out of the hands of politicians. Members argue a non-partisan group should oversee changes instead.
Their protest mirrors earlier efforts in Poilievre’s Ottawa riding and other by-elections. Poilievre dismissed the campaign, calling it “a scam.”
Because of the crowded field, Elections Canada introduced a write-in ballot for the first time.
Voices of Opposition
Not everyone welcomes Poilievre’s run in Alberta. Critics call him a parachute candidate with no real ties to the riding.
Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, an army veteran, put it bluntly: “We deserve representation. By taking a chunk of the vote share, I will tell him and the Conservative Party that we’re not impressed with this stunt.”
Other Parties in the Race
The Liberals, who finished second here in April, have nominated oil and gas executive Darcy Spady. The NDP candidate is Katherine Swampy, who hopes to improve on the party’s second-place finish in 2021. The People’s Party of Canada is represented by Jonathan Bridges, aiming to hold on to the support it built in recent campaigns.
Turnout may prove crucial. By-elections often draw fewer voters, though advance polling this time saw 14,454 ballots cast. That’s almost the same as the advance vote in April.
