The potential new using for federal Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre is dwelling to wheat fields, dinosaur bones and Nickelback.
It’s additionally Tory nation by way of and thru.
Battle River—Crowfoot in central Alberta is a good distance from the Ottawa using that was Poilievre’s dwelling base for greater than 20 years, as he seeks to regain a seat in the Home of Commons.
Damien Kurek, a three-time elected member of Parliament, is relinquishing his seat in Battle River—Crowfoot to permit Poilievre to run in a byelection there later this yr, the Conservative Get together of Canada introduced Friday.
Kurek walked to victory in Monday’s election with 82 per cent of the vote, one of the vital lopsided races in the nation. Poilievre misplaced his seat in the Ottawa-area using of Carleton to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney stated a byelection could be held as quickly as attainable.
Mayors throughout the Alberta area stated they’re delighted.
“I’m kind of excited,” stated Danny Povaschuk, mayor of Hanna, the city northeast of Calgary that produced Flames legend Lanny McDonald and rock band Nickelback.
“We’re in Alberta. We’re blue, right? I’ll call it a privilege, actually, to have him in our riding here, and I’m relatively confident he should be able to win again.”
Poilievre’s determination to run in the using can be seen by some as a homecoming for the born-and-raised Calgarian. Earlier than transferring to Ottawa in his early 20s to start out his political profession, he attended highschool in town’s southwest and graduated from the College of Calgary.
For using locals, he’s acquainted solely by title.
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Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh stated he has blended emotions.
“Is it going to be high-profile, low representation? Is it going to be that kind of situation? Right off the bat, I don’t think so,” Pugh stated.
Kurek’s departure can be a loss, Pugh added, as they labored carefully collectively.
“We recognize scope is a little bigger as the leader of His Majesty’s Opposition, but I don’t think we should expect or accept any lower level of representation,” Pugh stated of Poilievre.
Battle River — Crowfoot is an unlimited and sparsely populated using that, in line with Elections Canada, is sort of 53,000 sq. kilometres in measurement — bigger than nations like Switzerland or the Netherlands. The inhabitants is about 110,000, placing inhabitants density at about two individuals per sq. kilometre.
Heather Colberg, the mayor of Drumheller, dwelling to the Badlands and dinosaur fossils, stated she’s pleased with Kurek for stepping down to permit Poilievre to hunt a seat in Parliament.
She additionally expects he’ll be again representing the using in 4 years.
“Isn’t that wild? I think Damien is just an incredible, incredible person. He’s been a great MP for us, but to actually give up his seat for the betterment of the party is wow … just admirable,” Colberg stated.
“Obviously I’m pretty honoured Pierre’s hopefully going to represent us. And he’s an Alberta boy originally, so I think he completely understands the overall Alberta thing. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for all of us.”
She stated the using is ideal for Poilievre to land in.
“I think we’re the most Conservative seat in Canada for sure … obviously one of the top. Definitely it’s a mindset in rural Alberta.”
Camrose, a metropolis of about 20,000, is the using’s largest group.
Its mayor, PJ Stasko, praised Kurek’s efforts in Parliament so as to add a pedestrian underpass to a railway crossing in the realm. If Poilievre wins, Stasko stated he hopes the chief will provide the identical illustration residents have come to count on.
“Being visible at many community events and special events that we host around town is key.”
Povaschuk added that Poilievre might get off to begin by following in Kurek’s footsteps and coming to Hanna’s Canada Day parade.
There are different choices this summer time too: the Hand Hills Lake Stampede and the one-day Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alta.
“Obviously being leader, there’s a lot more commitment other than your riding. I think that may have been what cost him in his riding in Ontario,” stated Povaschuk.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 3, 2025.
