The Conservative Party of Canada has confirmed that Pierre Poilievre will not run in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding in the next federal election.
The party leader lost his long-held seat in the Ontario riding of Carleton in April’s federal election to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy.
The CPC confirmed on Tuesday that Damien Kurek — who held the Battle River-Crowfoot seat previously — would run in the riding again in the next election.
Kurek gave up his seat last year so Poilievre could run there in a byelection.
Radio-Canada asked the CPC where Poilievre might run in the next election, and those questions went unanswered.
The party also confirmed in an email that Kurek’s nomination is guaranteed; the CPC’s National Council passed a motion exempting him from a formal nomination process.
Battle River-Crowfoot has historically been a conservative stronghold, and notably houses municipalities like Camrose, Drumheller and Wainwright. Poilievre won handily in a byelection with just over 80 per cent of the vote.
Last year’s byelection had 214 candidates, making it the largest number of candidates on a federal ballot in Canadian history.
