Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to make a quick return to the House of Commons after losing his Carleton seat in last week's federal election, with Alberta MP Damien Kurek stepping aside in Battle River—Crowfoot to make room for a byelection.
In the meantime, former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has been appointed as the party’s interim leader in Parliament, taking on the role of Leader of the Opposition when the House resumes on May 26.
"I'll be taking over the parliamentary leadership duties of the caucus until Mr. Poilievre rejoins us in the House," Scheer said Tuesday following an all-day caucus meeting on Parliament Hill.
Scheer also pledged that Conservatives would hold the government accountable, especially on key issues like Canada’s ongoing trade dispute with the United States.
"The threats of tariffs, the threats of annexation — all of that needs to stop," he said.
Poilievre, who has led the Conservatives since 2022, lost his seat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, marking the first time in two decades that the Carleton-area riding has not elected a Conservative MP. Speaking briefly to reporters Tuesday, Poilievre said the party will spend the summer listening and learning but remains optimistic.
"If you had told me that we would get 41 per cent of the vote a couple of years ago, I would have said, 'Wow, that's ambitious,'" he said. "But if you told me that we would get 41 per cent of the vote and still not win, I would have said, 'You're crazy.'"
Behind the scenes, momentum is building for Poilievre’s return to Parliament. On Monday, Kurek announced his intention to resign his Alberta seat — a Conservative stronghold where he captured nearly 82 per cent of the vote — once Elections Canada certifies the results and he is formally sworn in.
The federal government has up to 180 days to call a byelection, but Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled last week that it would be called “as soon as possible” should a Conservative MP step aside to allow Poilievre to run.
Conservatives met Tuesday to reflect on the election outcome and discuss internal rules under the Reform Act, which allows caucus members to trigger a leadership review. Scheer declined to comment on whether such a motion had been adopted but stressed the caucus remains united behind Poilievre.
"I'm confident that our leader, Pierre Poilievre, will be able to make some adjustments to finish the job next time," he said.
Poilievre’s leadership remains secure for now, with multiple MPs, including Scheer and re-elected Ontario MP Michael Barrett, voicing support for him.
"We're behind Pierre Poilievre," Barrett said.
Poilievre also used a video message Monday to acknowledge the campaign's shortcomings and promise to “learn and grow.” However, he deflected questions Tuesday about the future of campaign manager Jenni Byrne, who has faced internal criticism.
"She did a lot of hard work and our team has a lot to be proud of," Poilievre said.
Several senior staffers, including Poilievre's press secretary and communications director, have since stepped down.
Despite the election loss, Conservatives gained 10 seats, largely at the NDP’s expense. The Liberals, however, capitalized on the NDP collapse, allowing them to edge out a minority victory.
As Poilievre prepares for a byelection, Conservatives are working to regroup — and rebuild momentum — under Scheer’s temporary stewardship in the House.
— With files from Canadian Press