Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre decisively won a byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot this week, taking over 80 percent of the vote in a crowded field of more than 200 candidates thanks to the longest ballot initiative.
The byelection comes after Poilievre failed to reclaim his Ottawa-area riding of Carleton in this spring’s federal election after 22 years there. Former Battle River–Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek stepped aside so Poilievre could run in one of the country’s safest Conservative seats.
Poilievre’s closest challenger wasn’t the Liberal or NDP candidate, but rather Bonnie Critchley—an openly queer army veteran who ran as an independent and spoke out about Poilievre parachuting into her community. Critchley got just under 10 percent of the vote.
Poilievre will return to Parliament when it resumes this fall. He’s set to lead a vocal opposition caucus peppered with MPs who’ve opposed LGBTQ2S+ rights including Tamara Jansen, Aaron Gunn, Garnett Genuis and more.
Poilievre will also face a leadership review in January, something he and the party are both acutely aware of, particularly as they face this divide between party traditionalists and the surging section of more populist further right sentiment.
We break down what you need to know.
Why you can trust Xtra
