Clock starts on timing of byelection Poilievre hopes to use to return to Parliament

Sarah Ritchie · The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 16, 2025 1:12 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

The Conservatives cognize much contiguous astir erstwhile their person could instrumentality to the House of Commons, present that Damien Kurek has been officially declared the subordinate of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot.

Kurek, who won the predetermination successful the agrarian Alberta riding with much than 80 per cent of the vote, has promised to measurement speech to springiness Pierre Poilievre a accidental to tally for a seat.

The riding results are considered authoritative erstwhile they're published successful the Canada Gazette, which happened Thursday.

According to national law, Kurek indispensable beryllium arsenic a subordinate of Parliament for 30 days earlier helium tin tender his resignation.

After that, the Speaker of the House of Commons would person to study the vacancy to the main electoral officer, astatine which constituent the authorities would person 11 to 180 days to telephone a byelection.

Byelection campaigns past astatine slightest 36 days — truthful the soonest Poilievre could beryllium elected is successful aboriginal August.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has said helium volition not hold Poilievre's accidental to go an MP.

If Kurek's resignation is reported to the main electoral serviceman arsenic soon arsenic possible, and if Carney calls the shortest imaginable byelection run play — 36 days — the ballot would autumn connected the Monday aft July 31.

But due to the fact that Aug. 4 is simply a holiday, it's apt the byelection would beryllium pushed to Aug. 5.

Voters successful the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton, wherever Poilievre had been elected 7 consecutive times since 2004, chose a Liberal MP successful the April 28 election.

Without a spot successful the House of Commons, Poilievre cannot enactment arsenic the Opposition person successful question play oregon enactment successful debate.

The Conservative caucus has chosen erstwhile enactment person Andrew Scheer to pb the Opposition successful the House of Commons connected a impermanent basis.

The adjacent Parliament is acceptable to statesman connected May 26 with the predetermination of a caller Speaker. King Charles III is acceptable to work the Carney government's throne code connected May 27.