Why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre moved out of his office, but not Stornoway
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has made the decision to close his constituency and Parliament Hill offices following his recent defeat in the Carleton election. Despite losing his title as the leader of the Official Opposition, Poilievre is expected to continue residing at Stornoway, Canada’s official residence for the leader of the Official Opposition.
Although Poilievre is still the leader of the Conservative Party, his caucus has chosen Andrew Scheer to serve as the interim leader of the Official Opposition for the upcoming spring sitting of Parliament. Due to the legal requirement that only an MP can hold the title of Official Opposition leader, Poilievre, who has held a seat in the House of Commons for the past 20 years, is no longer eligible to retain this position.
Scheer has confirmed that Poilievre’s Ottawa offices have been closed, but the expectation is that Poilievre, along with his wife and two young children, will remain at Stornoway. “Given Mr. Poilievre’s intention to seek re-election as a Member of Parliament in the near future, it would be more cost-effective for taxpayers to keep the family at Stornoway during this transitional period,” Scheer stated.
The decision for Poilievre to stay at Stornoway has raised questions about the Conservative Party’s management of the official residence for a non-MP. Scheer has clarified that Poilievre will be referred to as the “parliamentary leader” until his return and emphasized the financial savings to taxpayers as a factor in allowing Poilievre to remain at the government-owned residence.
The cost of moving Poilievre out and back into Stornoway has not been disclosed, but previous reports have indicated that maintaining the official residence can be expensive. Public funds amounting to over $78,000 were allocated for the upkeep of Stornoway during the 2023-24 fiscal year, covering expenses such as utilities, property management fees, and grounds maintenance.
In order for Poilievre to potentially regain his seat in the House of Commons, MP Damien Kurek has announced his intention to step aside, allowing Poilievre to run in the Conservative stronghold of Battle River-Crowfoot in Alberta. However, the process of resigning a seat and holding a byelection can be time-consuming and costly. Elections Canada reports that the average cost of a federal byelection between 2021 and 2024 was $1.7 million, with expenses varying depending on the electoral district and length of the election period.
As Poilievre navigates this period of transition and prepares for a possible return to Parliament, the decision to remain at Stornoway reflects the complexities of political leadership and the financial considerations involved in managing official residences.
