Clock starts on timing of byelection Poilievre hopes to use to return to Parliament [Video]

The Conservatives know more today about when their leader could return to the House of Commons, now that Damien Kurek has been officially declared the member of Parliament for Battle River—Crowfoot.

Kurek, who won the election in the rural Alberta riding with more than 80 per cent of the vote, has promised to step aside to give Pierre Poilievre a chance to run for a seat.

The riding results are considered official once they’re published in the Canada Gazette, which happened on Thursday.

According to federal law, Kurek must sit as a member of Parliament for 30 days before he can tender his resignation.

After that, the Speaker of the House of Commons would have to report the vacancy to the chief electoral officer, at which point the government would have 11 to 180 days to call a byelection.

Byelection campaigns last at least 36 days — so the soonest …