Tory MP Kurek Resigns House Seat, Starting Process for Poilievre’s Return

Conservative MP Damien Kurek, who announced he would give up his seat so party leader Pierre Poilievre can run in a by-election, arrives for meeting of the Conservative caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on May 25, 2025. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

Conservative MP Damien Kurek said June 17 will be his last day in Parliament, having advised the House Speaker of his resignation.

Kurek had announced his intention to step down shortly after the April 28 general election. The Alberta MP said on May 2 he would leave the House of Commons to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection in his rural riding of Battle River-Crowfoot.

“I will continue to work with our incredible local team to do everything I can to remain the strong voice for you as I support Pierre in this process, and then run again here in Battle River-Crowfoot in the next general election,” Kurek said in a statement.

Poilievre has remained party leader after losing his long-held Ottawa-area riding of Carleton to the Liberals in the election. He will face a leadership review next year.

Following Kurek’s resignation, Prime Minister Mark Carney will need to set the date for the byelection. He previously said he would not play “games” over the matter and will call it as early as possible. Carney is currently hosting the G7 leaders’ summit in Alberta.

Kurek, who was first elected in 2019, would have been eligible to receive his MP pension had he stayed in the role until October. Kurek has said he will take care of the family farm during his time away from politics.

Kurek has been a prominent voice within the Conservative caucus backing Poilievre’s leadership. The party lost a sizeable lead in the polls from late 2024 to the April election, but nonetheless managed to increase its share of the popular vote and its number of MPs in the House.

“Pierre Poilievre is a man of principle, character, and is the hardest working MP I have ever met,” Kurek said. “His energy, passion, and drive will have a huge benefit in East Central Alberta.”

Poilievre has previously thanked Kurek for his “selfless act” in resigning his seat, and said he would work to earn the trust of constituents in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding.

It is not rare for party leaders to represent a riding they do not live in. Carney’s family home is in the upscale neighbourhood of Rockcliffe Park, east of Ottawa’s downtown, whereas he represents the riding of Nepean in the west of the city. Former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is from the Greater Toronto Area but ran and won his seat in Burnaby, B.C., in 2019.

Poilievre is not expected to have any issues winning the byelection in the Alberta riding, which Kurek won in a landslide with 82.8 percent of the votes. The Liberal candidate trailed behind with 11.7 percent.

Poilievre’s contest could, however, be impacted again by the protest movement flooding ballots with candidates. The Longest Ballot Committee had targeted Poilievre’s riding of Carleton on April 28, which resulted in lengthy ballots listing 91 candidates.

The committee stated its intention to target the Battle River-Crowfoot byelection after the plan emerged to have Poilievre run.

Kurek’s resignation comes after he gave his farewell address to the Commons on May 29.

The MP has also worked to leave a legacy with a private member’s bill, which was re-introduced by a fellow Tory MP last week. Kurek’s bill to adopt a national livestock brand as one of Canada’s symbols had lapsed when Parliament was prorogued in early January.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.