2025 Federal Election

The morning after the 2025 federal election felt like a punch to the gut. I gave myself a day to mourn, to feel the weight of disappointment. But then I did what any resilient Albertan would do, I pulled up my big girl underwear, shook off the despair, and refocused on the road ahead.

Alberta, our steadfast province, stood tall amidst the national shift. We lost only three seats, two to the Liberals and one to the NDP. That’s it. The rest of the country may have veered off course, but Alberta held the line. This proves I am not out of step with my province, maybe with some urban boomers in eastern Canada, but certainly not with Albertans.

In Foothills, we saw one of the most resounding wins in the country. John Barlow took 76 per cent of the vote, one of the largest margins nationwide, with a lead of over 40,000. Our riding also delivered one of the highest voter turnouts per capita. That matters. It speaks to engagement and belief in the Conservative message. It’s easy to whine online, harder to show up at the polls. And show up, we did.

I couldn’t be prouder to be represented by John Barlow, who I believe is the best MP in Canada. He works tirelessly for his riding, listens, shows up, and advocates for what matters to the people here. His win was no accident, it was a well earned reward for years of hard work, principle, and dedication.

Then there is Lethbridge. And Chris Spearman.

Spearman, a former mayor of Lethbridge and vocal anti coal activist, ran as the Liberal candidate in a region that relies heavily on the resource economy. He didn’t just oppose coal. He led a crusade against it, launching a petition, writing op eds, and lobbying government to shut down development before projects were even proposed. Then, bafflingly, he asked voters in coal country to hand him a seat in Parliament.

The result? He was trounced.

Rachael Thomas crushed him, securing 61 per cent to Spearman’s 32. That’s not a narrow loss, it’s a political beatdown. The message from Lethbridge couldn’t be clearer. You don’t campaign against industries that feed families and expect support. You don’t demonize a sector and pretend to be the voice of southern Alberta. Spearman didn’t just lose—he misread the room so badly the result should give him serious pause. For someone who claims to know the region, this kind of defeat shows he is deeply out of touch with the people he hoped to represent.

At least half of Lethbridge leans NDP or progressive Liberal in most provincial elections. Yet even that wasn’t enough to prop him up. Why? Because this election, in southern Alberta, was about resources, prosperity, and survival. When a pro resource, pro development Conservative sweeps Lethbridge, it tells you people are done with anti growth, anti industry rhetoric. They want jobs. They want opportunity. They want leaders who fight for the economy, not against it.

This election also showed us what divides this country. It’s no longer just East versus West. It’s the Laurentian elite versus the working class. It’s bureaucrats and university faculty lounges versus the men and women in work boots. It’s retirees in downtown condos voting to shut down oil and gas while younger Canadians struggle to pay rent and wonder if they’ll ever own a home. The boomers may still have the numbers, but it’s the next generation paying the price.

I stand with Pierre Poilievre and the movement he leads. His message is clear. His policies are rooted in common sense. And unlike the Liberals, he doesn’t have to twist himself in knots to explain why our resource sector matters. While some were spooked by media fear mongering about Trump or ideology, that fear won’t pay their bills when inflation rises and the job market tightens. The financial pain in this country is just getting started.

Pierre will rise from this defeat, because victory is more powerful after a setback. We learn more in failure than in easy wins. One day, when he becomes Prime Minister, he will do it with humility, purpose, and care. He already embodies those traits, and I believe he’ll come out of this even stronger.

In a move that speaks to the unity and momentum behind this party, Damien Kurek, Conservative MP elect for Battle River, Crowfoot, announced he will resign his seat to allow Pierre Poilievre to enter the House of Commons through a by-election. Kurek stated, “Pierre Poilievre just finished a remarkable national campaign that received the highest vote share since 1988. An unstoppable movement has grown under his leadership, and I know we need Pierre fighting in the House of Commons to hold the Liberal minority government to account.”

Kurek’s selfless gesture is a testament to the strength and discipline of this party. It shows we are not just looking to score points, we are building a team, a movement, and a future. I commend him for stepping aside so Pierre can do what he does best, fight for Canadians, especially rural ones, in the chamber where it matters most.

To his credit, Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the situation directly. He said he would call a by-election immediately after the Conservatives confirm which MP will step aside for Poilievre. Emphasizing his commitment to a fair and efficient process, Carney declared, “No games,” signalling his intent to avoid unnecessary political manoeuvring. That is the bare minimum we expect from a Prime Minister, and we will hold him to it.

He didn’t lose because our ideas were wrong, we lost because the country hasn’t hit rock bottom yet. But when it does—when the economic hangover hits—I believe Canadians will look to us for answers.

This wasn’t the outcome we wanted. But it wasn’t a total loss either. The Conservative Party gained 24 seats, jumping from 120 to 144. We made breakthroughs in the Greater Toronto Area, grew our base in British Columbia, and held firm in the West.

This is just the beginning.

I want my kids to have the same chance I had—to work hard, build a life, and succeed. I want an Alberta that isn’t punished for producing what the world needs. I want a Canada that rewards effort instead of punishing ambition.

Above all, I want a government that respects the people who make this country run,

Hope is not lost. It’s just getting louder.