Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has lost his own seat in Canada’s election, according to official results, even though his party made gains in various regions of the country.
This marks a significant upset for the 45-year-old, who was first elected to represent a predominantly rural area of the capital, Ottawa, in 2004.
Mr. Poilievre conceded the election late last night to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals but signaled his intention to remain as opposition leader.
To maintain that position, Mr. Poilievre may contest a by-election to reclaim his parliamentary seat.
“We understand that change is necessary, but it is often difficult to achieve. It requires time and effort. That’s why we must take the lessons from tonight to ensure we achieve an even better outcome when Canadians next choose the future of the country.”
Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, once viewed as a long shot, successfully unseated Mr. Poilievre in the Carleton district.
Preliminary results from Elections Canada indicated that Mr. Fanjoy garnered 42,374 votes, surpassing Mr. Poilievre by 3,793 votes.
A Conservative party voter reacting to the election’s outcome.
Mr. Fanjoy mentioned to public broadcaster CBC that he ran against Mr. Poilievre to provide “a positive alternative” to the Conservatives.
“It was crucial that we do not import divisive, American-style politics to Canada,” he stated.
A seasoned right-wing politician known for his combative style and catchy slogans, Mr. Poilievre has aspired to lead Canada since his youth.
He made history at 25 as the youngest member of parliament and was chosen to lead the Conservatives in September 2022, nearly two decades later.
Despite having a 20-point lead over the Liberals at the end of 2024, that advantage diminished after Mr. Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister, coinciding with an uptick in attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump on Canada’s economy and sovereignty.
“It feels like a bit of karmic retribution,” commented Ottawa resident Heather Bradley, 31, regarding Mr. Poilievre’s defeat.
The Liberals secured 168 seats, falling short of the 172 needed to form a majority government.
The opposition Conservatives, under Mr. Poilievre’s leadership, won 144 seats.
