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CALGARY — Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre used the Calgary Stampede as a campaign stage on Saturday, promising to bring a stronger voice for Alberta and Western Canada to the House of Commons.
Dressed in a white cowboy hat and channeling his Calgary roots, Poilievre energized supporters as he campaigned for the upcoming Aug. 18 byelection in the Battle River–Crowfoot riding — a safe Conservative seat vacated by MP Damien Kurek to make way for Poilievre’s return to Parliament.
“I’ll fight for Alberta — for oil and gas, for farmers, for lower taxes, and a federal government that finally respects the West,” Poilievre told the crowd. “The days of Ottawa telling Alberta to pay up and shut up must come to an end.”
Returning to His Roots
Reflecting on his Calgary upbringing, Poilievre recalled walking his family dog through Fish Creek Park and delivering the Calgary Sun as a teenager. The nostalgia appeared to resonate with Stampede-goers, many of whom cheered as he positioned himself as a defender of Western values.
He also praised outgoing MP Damien Kurek for stepping aside, calling him a “team player” who had delivered a “landslide mandate” in the last election.
Political Crossroads at the Stampede
The annual Stampede has again become a political proving ground. Poilievre wasn’t the only federal figure working the midway.
Mark Carney — widely seen as a potential Liberal leadership contender — mingled with the crowd and flipped pancakes at community events on Friday and Saturday. Interim NDP leader Don Davies also made appearances, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford is scheduled to arrive Monday for a bilateral meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Ford is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Smith focused on building energy infrastructure and enhancing interprovincial trade — a move aligned with Poilievre’s own calls for decentralization and stronger provincial autonomy.
As the byelection approaches, Poilievre’s campaign in rural Alberta is shaping up not just as a return to Parliament, but as a strategic message to Western Canadians: that under his leadership, Ottawa won’t be able to ignore them any longer.
