Pierre Poilievre Bypasses Nomination to Appoint Kevin Davis

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre appointed outgoing Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis as the party candidate for the Brantford-Brant South byelection, bypassing the standard open nomination process. The seat became vacant on September 19, 2026, following the resignation of MP Larry Brock, who left office to return to work as a Crown prosecutor.

The appointment triggered immediate internal conflict during a Sunday rally in Brantford. Larry Brock and former MP Phil McColeman walked off the stage in protest of the decision. Brock had previously endorsed local pastor Dave Carrol for the role, and Carrol expressed deep disappointment after being bypassed for the appointment.

A Conservative party spokesperson defended the move, stating Poilievre used his authority to ensure a candidate was ready to hit the ground running. The party further claimed that Davis received overwhelming endorsement from local grassroots members at the rally. The incident has highlighted growing friction within the party regarding the centralization of candidate selection and the overriding of local riding association decisions.