There’s a familiar face returning to the heart of Canadian politics, and he’s not coming quietly. Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, has staged a dramatic comeback, reclaiming a seat in the House of Commons after a shock defeat just months ago. On August 18, 2025, Poilievre swept to victory in a by-election in Battle River-Crowfoot, a sprawling rural riding in Alberta, securing over 80% of the vote and setting the stage for a renewed showdown with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The by-election, held in the vast Battle River-Crowfoot riding—an area larger than the northern Indian state of Punjab—drew national attention. According to Hindustan Times, Poilievre’s closest rival, independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, could muster only a fraction of his support. Canadian networks projected Poilievre’s win within an hour of polls closing, as the first results revealed a commanding lead. Elections Canada’s unofficial results confirmed he had secured about 80% of the vote, a figure echoed by Australian Associated Press.
This victory marks a significant turnaround for Poilievre, who just four months earlier lost his long-held seat in Carleton, Ontario, to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy by more than 4%. That loss ended a 21-year run representing the Ottawa-area riding and left the Conservatives in disarray. Despite having enjoyed a double-digit lead in polls at the end of 2024, the party failed to capitalize, ultimately falling short of becoming the largest group in the House in the April 2025 federal election.
The April election proved to be a turning point for Canadian politics. The Liberals, led by newly installed Prime Minister Mark Carney after the resignation of Justin Trudeau, managed to hold onto power, albeit with a minority government—169 seats to the Conservatives’ 144. Carney’s ascent and Trudeau’s departure helped the Liberals rebound from dire poll numbers, with a Nanos Research poll in early August showing the Liberals at 44% popular support compared to the Conservatives’ 33%. As Australian Associated Press pointed out, the Liberals are expected to maintain confidence in Parliament with the support of smaller parties, even as they fell three seats short of a majority.
For Poilievre, the by-election was more than a personal comeback—it was a test of his political resilience and the Conservative Party’s ability to regroup. The Battle River-Crowfoot seat became available when Conservative Damien Kurek, who had won it with nearly 83% of the vote in April, resigned to allow Poilievre to run. The riding itself is a Conservative stronghold, but the by-election was anything but routine. Advance polls saw a higher turnout than the federal election, with 220 more voters participating, a sign of the heightened stakes and national attention.
Adding to the drama, the by-election featured a record 214 registered candidates, the largest slate in Canadian history. This was part of a protest by the Longest Ballot Committee, which is campaigning to highlight perceived flaws in Canada’s electoral system. Elections Canada responded by implementing an “adapted ballot,” allowing voters to write the name or initials of their preferred candidate instead of choosing from a traditional list. As Elections Canada explained on its website, “This is due to a higher than usual number of candidates and limitations of the large ballots that have been used in some previous elections.”
With his return to Parliament, Poilievre is poised for a high-profile confrontation with Prime Minister Carney when the House of Commons resumes sitting in mid-September. The Conservative leader has already signaled his intent to challenge Carney on key issues, particularly Canada’s relationship with the United States. Poilievre has accused the Liberal government of mishandling US relations, especially in the face of new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. “Mark Carney has been failing. He’s failed, he’s backed down, he’s made concession after concession vis-a-vis the Americans,” Poilievre declared at a media conference last Thursday, as reported by Australian Associated Press.
Carney, who became Prime Minister in March 2025, campaigned on a promise to stand up to Trump but has since moderated his approach as Washington’s rhetoric and trade actions have intensified. Despite the challenges, Carney’s position appears secure for now. Political analyst Nik Nanos, CEO of Nanos Research, told Australian Associated Press, “Poilievre needs to articulate what he learned from the last federal election and how his government would be different than a Carney government.” Nanos noted that Carney has pulled the Liberals more toward the political center, making it harder for Poilievre to draw sharp contrasts.
The stakes for Poilievre remain high. His leadership of the Conservative Party will be formally reviewed in January 2026, a process triggered by the party’s failure to overtake the Liberals in April. The review comes after a turbulent period in Canadian politics: the once-unpopular Trudeau resigned, Carney took the helm, and unexpected US threats of tariffs and even annexation shifted the electoral landscape. The Conservatives, who started the year as favorites for a sweeping victory, found themselves outmaneuvered as the Liberals rallied and voters responded to the new international climate.
The by-election’s unusually high number of candidates and the adapted ballot system also highlighted simmering debates about electoral reform. The Longest Ballot Committee, which orchestrated the protest, previously fielded 81 candidates in Carleton during the federal election. This time, their efforts forced Elections Canada to innovate, underscoring the logistical and democratic challenges facing Canada’s voting system.
As Poilievre prepares to re-enter the House of Commons, the political landscape remains volatile. The Liberals, buoyed by Carney’s leadership and the support of smaller parties, are holding onto power—at least for now. The Conservatives, meanwhile, face the dual challenge of rebuilding after a bruising defeat and defining a clear alternative to the Liberal government. Poilievre’s return is sure to inject fresh energy into opposition benches, but whether he can convert that momentum into lasting political gains remains to be seen.
With Parliament set to resume in mid-September, all eyes will be on the renewed contest between Poilievre and Carney. The coming months promise spirited debate, sharp rhetoric, and perhaps a few surprises as Canada’s political heavyweights square off once again.