OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is one of 214 candidates — and not even the only Pierre on the ballot — fighting a byelection that was never part of his plan. Article content

Monday’s vote in Alberta’s Battle River—Crowfoot riding, despite the lengthy roster of candidates , should be an easy win for Poilievre. But spending his summer campaigning in rural Alberta was a high price to pay to look Prime Minister Mark Carney in the eye during question period when the House of Commons reconvenes in September. Article content

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Eight months ago, polls suggested the Conservatives were a slam dunk to form government. Instead, Poilievre lost his own seat in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton and his Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat to Ca

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