Monday June 16, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS – reporting from VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 3:17 pm PT | Updated 10:20 pm PT]
News analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review vote, in January 2026, at a full Conservative Party of Canada policy convention in Calgary.
The Globe and Mail first reported the story and then CTV carried it.
If a leader does not resign following an election loss, the party’s constitution requires Conservative Party members to vote at its next national convention as to whether that leader should stay on.
The exact dates of the convention have yet to be confirmed. A mandatory Conservative Party leadership review happens after every election.
A convention vote is attended only by delegates from party district offices from across the Canada. It is not a popular vote.
Election night results:
The Conservatives increased their seat count by 22 seats in the April 28 election and won over than eight million votes across the country. by most accounts that would be considered a substantial gain for the party.
However in the 45th general election Poilievre lost his own seat in Carleton (in Ottawa), which he had held since 2004.
Relying on Byrne:
There has been some disgruntled discussion about the tight hold that Conservative Party campaign manager Jenni Byrne has on how elections (particularly this latest one) are run. In particular, it’s her direction that candidates not speak to the media ahead of or during the campaign; this started when Stephen Harper was still prime minister ahead of the 2015 election.
During the 2025 election the media was finally outspoken about this, realizing that it was no longer an aberration but a directive that is working directly against democracy.
Byrne advises federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and operates her own consulting firm, Jenni Byrne + Associates. Perhaps the biggest question to Poilievre should be why he relies so heavily on Byrne. Yes, the hard core exclusionary approach to winning elections might work but it erodes public trust.
There is a view within many in the party faithful that the Conservative Party needs “a reality check” and that there is “much to change on the inside” if the party wants to win and form government in a future election.
By-election:
Poilievre is set to run in a by-election in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot.
The riding became available after Conservative MP Damien Kurek stepped aside to allow the Conservative leader to run for a safe seat.
Prime Minister Carney said shortly after the election that he would not ‘play games’ with setting a by-election date for Battle River–Crowfoot. As such, the by-election could happen this summer or by early fall.
===== RELATED:
- Alberta MP steps down to make room for Poilievre by-election (May 29, 2025)
- Federal Election 2025 Results – leaders, parties & BC (April 28, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA