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Your LOCAL Media since 1918! VOLUME 107: ISSUE 36
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Grad Pages Inside! Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Kurek stepping away to allow Pierre Poilievre to run in local riding Leslie Cholowsky Staff Reporter
Damien Kurek has announced his intention to resign his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot to allow Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) leader Pierre Poilievre to run in the constituency in an upcoming byelection. Kurek just took the federal election in Battle RiverCrowfoot last week with a wide majority, gaining 81.8 per cent of the total vote. Now he must be sworn in before he can resign his seat and a by-election called. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who as prime minister controls the timing of any by-election, has already announced that he will not delay in calling the necessary by-election for Poilievre. Carney says there will be “no games” and would allow it to be held “as soon as possible.” “It has been a tremendous honour to serve the good people of Battle River-Crowfoot as their Member of Parliament since 2019,” said Kurek in a statement on Friday. “Their support and committment to the Conservative movement and our mission to bring back hope and prosperity to this country has been unmatched. Which is why, after much discussion with my wife, Danielle, I have decided to step aside for this Parliamentary session to allow our Conservative Party Leader to run here in a by-election.” Kurek was very clear that this is for one election period only, and that he would run again in the next general election.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and wife Anaida visited the Kurek family farm on Monday, May 5. Local MP Damien Kurek announced late last week he would resign his seat in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding which would allow for Poilievre to take his place in a future by-election. Poilievre, who was unable to hold the seat he has held in the Ottawa area riding of Carleton since 2004 (then Nepean-Carleton) cannot hold the official Opposition Leader title until a seat is secured, but is still the leader of the CPC. Poilievre said Friday, “It is with humility and appreciation that I have accepted Damien Kurek’s offer to resign his seat in Battle River-Crowfoot so that I can work to earn the support of citizens there to serve them in Parliament.” Poilievre’s team updated on Monday that he had arrived in Alberta, and accepted an invitation from Kurek to visit his farm, his staff, and some of his family members, posting photos of he and his wife Anaida at the Kurek farm.
While Kurek has only held the seat since 2019, the historically conservative constituency, which was created by combining parts of the former Wild Rose riding and the Crowfoot riding, was formerly held by MP Kevin Sorenson for nearly two decades. Kurek said, “Pierre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988. Under his leadership an unstoppable movement has grown, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account. “That is why I know this decision is what’s best for Canada and is what’s best for Battle River-Crowfoot. “Although it will be hard to temporarily step away Continued on Page 21