Mark Carney Says He Would Quickly Call Bye-election For Pierre Poilievre

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he would quickly call a bye-election for Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre should a seat open up.

“I will ensure that it happens as soon as possible … no games, nothing, straight,” Carney told reporters Friday morning when asked about the matter during his first news conference since winning Monday’s election

He said he conveyed his decision to Poilievre directly.

Poilievre lost his Carleton (Ontario) seat to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy in Monday’s election. As a result, he’s not allowed to sit in the House of Commons when parliament resumes on May 26 even though he’s the party leader.

It wasn’t immediately clear who in the Conservative party caucus, if anyone, would resign their seat. As of Friday, Poilievre didn’t publicly address the matter or indicate if that’s an option he’s actively pursuing.

Under the federal law (the Parliament of Canada Act) and House of Commons procedures, the Leader of the Official Opposition, also referred to as “His Majesty’s Opposition,” must have a seat and represent a riding. The official opposition is the party with the second-highest number of seats. The Conservatives had 144 as of Friday.

If a party leader doesn’t have a seat, a sitting MP will become the parliamentary leader and hold the title of Leader of the Official Opposition. There is historical precedent for having this type of leadership arrangement.

As an official opposition leader, the representative has privileges beyond voting on legislation such as the ability to ask the first question (along with follow-ups) during question period. Being in the House of Commons often provides soundbites used in political advertising and having the ability to be on the floor greatly helps a leader’s visibility.

Meanwhile, there has been speculation about whether or not Poilievre will be able to continue to live in Stornoway with his family.

Nestled in Ottawa’s Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood more than a kilometre away from Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s official residence, Stornoway is the federally owned and maintained home for the Leader of the Official Opposition.

However, the Official Residences Act calls for the property to be “maintained as a residence for the person recognized as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons.” The law also allows for the Leader of the Official Opposition to have a maintained summer home anywhere in the formally designated National Capital Region. The opposition leader is also entitled to a steward or housekeeper and three other employees to help manage the property.

As of Friday, it wasn’t clear how Stornoway would be occupied going forward.