Pierre Poilievre didn't just lose his seat. He also likely lost his home
Elections Canada reported the Liberals' Bruce Fanjoy captured Poilievre's Ottawa-area riding
Published Apr 29, 2025
Last updated 2 hours ago
4 minute read
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is joined by his wife Anaida Poilievre as he speaks to supporters after his party lost the Canadian Federal Election on April 29, 2025 in Ottawa, Canada. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis /Getty Images
OTTAWA — Before Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre finds a new seat in the House of Commons, he will likely have to find a new home.
Early Tuesday morning, it became clear that Poilievre had lost his bid for re-election in Carleton, the suburban Ottawa riding he’s represented since 2004. Around 3:30 p.m. ET, Elections Canada reported the Liberals’ Bruce Fanjoycaptured Poilievre’s Ottawa-area riding by about 4,300 votes.
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The loss complicates Poilievre’s announcement that he plans to stay on as party leader.
But it also likely throws a wrench into his living situation.
Shortly after he was elected leader of the Conservative Party, Poilievre moved into Stornoway house, the taxpayer-funded official residence of the leader of the Opposition.
But according to the Official Residences Act, Stornoway is reserved for the “Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons”. Since Poilievre lost his seat, he is no longer recognized as the official leader of the opposition.
That means that in all likelihood, Poilievre and his family will have to move out to make space for the next party leader in the House of Commons. He also loses out on a $215,090 annual budget for residence staff and services and a $2,000 annual vehicle allocation.
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Without a seat in Parliament, Poilievre will not be able to return to the House of Commons when it resumes. That makes things more awkward for the Conservative leader, who must now find a way to regain a seat, while also soothing party concerns about its loss.
To regain a seat, one of the party’s newly elected representatives would have to step aside, which would trigger a byelection, where Poilievre would need to run. Poilievre, originally from Alberta, has called Ottawa home since he first came to Parliament Hill in the early 2000s.
The timing of a by-election call is also out of his control. It is up to the prime minister, who can wait up to six months to call one to fill a vacant seat. By-election campaigns can also last between 36 and 50 days, opening the possibility that Poilievre may not return to the House of Commons this year, depending on its sitting schedule.
Poilievre spent election night on Monday trailing Fanjoy, a businessman who officially became the Liberal candidate in June 2024.
He had won the riding seven straight times, almost losing only once, when former prime minister Justin Trudeau rose to power in 2015.
Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal candidate for Carleton. Photo by Sadeen Mohsen /Postmedia
This election, the Liberals took special interest in the riding, with Fanjoy having spent the past two years knocking on doors and seeing hundreds of Liberals raise their hand to volunteer to try to defeat Poilievre.
The large rural riding boasted the highest turnout of any riding for advanced polls, according to Elections Canada. In all, around 81 per cent of eligible electors cast a ballot.
The area is also home to many federal public servants, whom Fanjoy made direct appeals to, arguing that Poilievre intended to make job cuts.
The Liberal also campaigned on drawing parallels between Poilievre’s political style and that of U.S. President Donald Trump, a connection that dogged Poilievre throughout the campaign.
Story continues below
Fanjoy had hoped to target more moderate Conservatives, turned off by Poilievre’s right-wing populism.
Speaking to party faithful shortly before 1 a.m. ET, Poilievre said in his concession speech that Conservatives had to “learn the lessons” of their election loss, but that the party had reason to celebrate, having grown its seat count by more than 20.
It also made breakthroughs in regions like the Greater Toronto Area, which the party had struggled to do for the past three elections.
Those included Newmarket-Aurora and the neighbouring ridings of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, as well as Richmond Hill South. It also won back Markham-Unionville, which the party lost in the 2021 federal election and picked up a second seat in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Now I know that some of you might be disappointed that change did not get over the finish line tonight,” Poilievre said in his speech early Tuesday. “Change takes time.”
Story continues below
Running on a promise of change, Poilievre’s Conservatives captured 41.3 per cent of the vote, while the Liberals captured 43.7 per cent.
While Poilievre’s predecessors failed to convince the party’s caucus and supporters they deserved another shot after their election losses, Poilievre remains immensely popular among Conservatives and delivered more seats for the party, growing its support to historic heights. His campaign rallies drew in thousands and Conservative campaigns were abuzz about the support they were seeing on the ground.
Poilievre also earned the endorsement of at least 12 local trade unions and police associations, which was a first for the federal party. It also saw a lot of young people turn out in its favour.
Ultimately, it failed to be enough.
Lawn signs for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Bruce Fanjoy, Liberal candidate for House of Commons in the riding of Carleton, sit across from a polling station in Ottawa, Ontario on April 28, 2025. Photo by GEOFF ROBINS /AFP via Getty Images
In the final week of the campaign, Liberals expressed optimism at their chances of defeating Poilievre in his own seat.
Story continues below
One source, speaking on the condition of background, pointed to internal projections they said suggested the Liberals were gaining ground on Poilievre, who finished the five-week campaign by making a pit stop in his own riding on the final day of the race.
The Conservative campaign dismissed reports that Poilievre could be in trouble.
The Liberals ultimately felt turnout was going to be the biggest factor.
One complicating factor that slowed Elections Canada’s counting in Carleton was that 91 people were on the ballot, a majority of whom as Independents who were participating in a protest meant to raise awareness about electoral reform.
nationalpost.com
I guess this is the kinda thing that happens when you are the leader of the party that has lost the last 4 elections.
Hahahahaha
#Losers
Elections Canada reported the Liberals' Bruce Fanjoy captured Poilievre's Ottawa-area riding
Published Apr 29, 2025
Last updated 2 hours ago
4 minute read
OTTAWA — Before Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre finds a new seat in the House of Commons, he will likely have to find a new home.
Early Tuesday morning, it became clear that Poilievre had lost his bid for re-election in Carleton, the suburban Ottawa riding he’s represented since 2004. Around 3:30 p.m. ET, Elections Canada reported the Liberals’ Bruce Fanjoycaptured Poilievre’s Ottawa-area riding by about 4,300 votes.
Story continues below
The loss complicates Poilievre’s announcement that he plans to stay on as party leader.
But it also likely throws a wrench into his living situation.
Shortly after he was elected leader of the Conservative Party, Poilievre moved into Stornoway house, the taxpayer-funded official residence of the leader of the Opposition.
But according to the Official Residences Act, Stornoway is reserved for the “Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons”. Since Poilievre lost his seat, he is no longer recognized as the official leader of the opposition.
That means that in all likelihood, Poilievre and his family will have to move out to make space for the next party leader in the House of Commons. He also loses out on a $215,090 annual budget for residence staff and services and a $2,000 annual vehicle allocation.
Story continues below
Without a seat in Parliament, Poilievre will not be able to return to the House of Commons when it resumes. That makes things more awkward for the Conservative leader, who must now find a way to regain a seat, while also soothing party concerns about its loss.
To regain a seat, one of the party’s newly elected representatives would have to step aside, which would trigger a byelection, where Poilievre would need to run. Poilievre, originally from Alberta, has called Ottawa home since he first came to Parliament Hill in the early 2000s.
The timing of a by-election call is also out of his control. It is up to the prime minister, who can wait up to six months to call one to fill a vacant seat. By-election campaigns can also last between 36 and 50 days, opening the possibility that Poilievre may not return to the House of Commons this year, depending on its sitting schedule.
Poilievre spent election night on Monday trailing Fanjoy, a businessman who officially became the Liberal candidate in June 2024.
He had won the riding seven straight times, almost losing only once, when former prime minister Justin Trudeau rose to power in 2015.
This election, the Liberals took special interest in the riding, with Fanjoy having spent the past two years knocking on doors and seeing hundreds of Liberals raise their hand to volunteer to try to defeat Poilievre.
The large rural riding boasted the highest turnout of any riding for advanced polls, according to Elections Canada. In all, around 81 per cent of eligible electors cast a ballot.
The area is also home to many federal public servants, whom Fanjoy made direct appeals to, arguing that Poilievre intended to make job cuts.
The Liberal also campaigned on drawing parallels between Poilievre’s political style and that of U.S. President Donald Trump, a connection that dogged Poilievre throughout the campaign.
Story continues below
Fanjoy had hoped to target more moderate Conservatives, turned off by Poilievre’s right-wing populism.
Speaking to party faithful shortly before 1 a.m. ET, Poilievre said in his concession speech that Conservatives had to “learn the lessons” of their election loss, but that the party had reason to celebrate, having grown its seat count by more than 20.
It also made breakthroughs in regions like the Greater Toronto Area, which the party had struggled to do for the past three elections.
Those included Newmarket-Aurora and the neighbouring ridings of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, as well as Richmond Hill South. It also won back Markham-Unionville, which the party lost in the 2021 federal election and picked up a second seat in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Now I know that some of you might be disappointed that change did not get over the finish line tonight,” Poilievre said in his speech early Tuesday. “Change takes time.”
Story continues below
Running on a promise of change, Poilievre’s Conservatives captured 41.3 per cent of the vote, while the Liberals captured 43.7 per cent.
While Poilievre’s predecessors failed to convince the party’s caucus and supporters they deserved another shot after their election losses, Poilievre remains immensely popular among Conservatives and delivered more seats for the party, growing its support to historic heights. His campaign rallies drew in thousands and Conservative campaigns were abuzz about the support they were seeing on the ground.
Poilievre also earned the endorsement of at least 12 local trade unions and police associations, which was a first for the federal party. It also saw a lot of young people turn out in its favour.
Ultimately, it failed to be enough.
In the final week of the campaign, Liberals expressed optimism at their chances of defeating Poilievre in his own seat.
Story continues below
One source, speaking on the condition of background, pointed to internal projections they said suggested the Liberals were gaining ground on Poilievre, who finished the five-week campaign by making a pit stop in his own riding on the final day of the race.
The Conservative campaign dismissed reports that Poilievre could be in trouble.
The Liberals ultimately felt turnout was going to be the biggest factor.
One complicating factor that slowed Elections Canada’s counting in Carleton was that 91 people were on the ballot, a majority of whom as Independents who were participating in a protest meant to raise awareness about electoral reform.
Pierre Poilievre didn't just lose his seat. He also likely lost his home
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has lost his seat in Parliament, complicating earlier plans he announced to stay on as party leader.
nationalpost.com
I guess this is the kinda thing that happens when you are the leader of the party that has lost the last 4 elections.
Hahahahaha
#Losers
