(LifeSiteNews) — Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has won the Alberta by-election, securing his seat in Parliament this fall.
According to August 18 results from Elections Canada, Poilievre has won the Alberta federal riding of Battle River-Crowfoot by-election with 80.4 percent, or 40,548 votes, which will allow him to stay on as party leader and return to Parliament.
“Getting to know the people in this region has been the privilege of my life,” Poilievre told a crowd at a victory party in Camrose, Alta. “In fact, I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun.”
During the April election, Poilievre lost his Ottawa seat to his Liberal rival, a seat he had held for decades. As a result, he did not return to Parliament but chose to remain as party leader. Conservative MP Andrew Scheer has been acting as party leader in his absence.
Shortly after, Conservative MP Damien Kurek officially resigned as an MP in Battle River-Crowfoot riding in a move to allow Poilievre to run in the by-election.
The Battle River – Crowfoot riding covers over 52,000 square kilometers of east-central Alberta and is considered one of the safest Conservative strongholds in Canada.
During the by-election, a group called the “Longest Ballot Committee” helped register protest candidates against Poilievre, just as they did in his former Ottawa-area Carleton riding in April’s election. The tactic was meant to confuse voters and reduce the number of people who voted for Poilievre.
Poilievre’s return follows months of speculation that he might lose the by-election and Conservatives would elect a new leader.
However, Poilievre’s return also means that the Conservative Party will likely continue its abandonment of traditionally Conservative values, such as defending the unborn, elderly, and school children.
While economically conservative, Poilievre is a known supporter of abortion and has repeatedly promised not to introduced legislation to restrict the practice.
Likewise, Poilievre delayed defending children from the worst effects of the LGBT agenda until he felt that public opinion was with the pro-family movement.
The Conservative leader is known for waiting to make strong statements until after the public reacts. In fact, in February, Poilievre muzzled his own MPs from speaking about Alberta’s ban on “transitioning” kids, only to come out days later in favor of the move after public support for Alberta’s policy rolled in.
Despite his statements in favor of the pro-family movement’s opposition to puberty blockers, he has refrained from pledging any action if he were elected prime minister, choosing instead to insist that such matters are best left under provincial jurisdiction.