Elections Canada has hired security guards in advance of this month's byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, candidates were told Friday.

The leader of Canada's official opposition Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre, secured a return to Parliament and a chance to grill Prime Minister Mark Carney, staging a comeback after unexpectedly losing his seat in an April election.

Four months after losing his Ottawa seat and the federal election, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is seeking a political comeback in a safe Alberta seat

There are more than 200 candidates running in the Battle River—Crowfoot by-election, where Pierre Poilievre is hoping to win a seat

Poilievre won an Alberta by-election with 80% of the vote after losing his seat in another riding in April's general election.

Crowfoot was left vacant when Conservative Damien Kurek stepped down to make way for his party's leader, Pierre Poilievre, to run for a seat.

A citizen initiative petition asking Albertans whether the province should remain in Canada has been issued by Elections Alberta, with signing locations in several communities, including Airdrie. The petition,

Pierre Poilievre is facing a crucial by-election test as leader of Canada's Conservative party after losing his constituency in the last general election.

: 8:57 p.m. The Canadian Press is projecting Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has won the byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot.