It seems as though Pierre Poilievre plans to stay on as the leader of the Conservatives, and is going to parachute into Alberta to try to secure a riding there.

The Conservative Party has issued a statement, saying Damien Kurek,  the MP-elect for Battle River-Crowfoot, is going to step aside.

“It has been a tremendous honour to serve the good people of Battle River-Crowfoot as their Member of Parliament since 2019. Their support and commitment to the Conservative movement and our mission to bring back hope and prosperity to this country has been unmatched,” said Kurek in a statement through the Party.  “Which is why, after much discussion with my wife Danielle, and I have decided to step aside for this Parliamentary session to allow our Conservative Party Leader to run here in a by-election.”

“Pierre Poilievre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988. An unstoppable movement has grown under his leadership, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account. This is what’s best for Canada, and is what’s best for Battle River-Crowfoot,” added Kurek.

The redrawn Battle River-Crowfoot riding is a safe-haven for the Conservatives.

Kurek won the riding with 85% support, and says he will run again once the next general election is called.

“Although it will be hard to temporarily step away from this role, in this region I love and have always called home, the mandate given to me is one that clearly states that change is needed. Offering this seat to our Party Leader is an important step in that process. I started my political career talking about the need for government to be held to account and to ensure that rural Canada wasn’t forgotten about, this is a key way to ensure that happens.”

Poilievre failed to secure his seat in the rural Ottawa area riding of Carleton.

It’s not clear when the Prime Minister will call for a by-election.

He has 6 months to make the call.

Carney has said that he does not intend to enter into a supply and confidence agreement with the NDP as his predecessor Justin Trudeau did to maintain his minority government.