The riding of Calgary Heritage became vacant when former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper resigned his seat on August 26, 2016, to return to private life, including accepting directorships on corporate boards and establishing a consultancy firm.

[1] Ric McIver, leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and MLA for Calgary-Hays, stated that he would not run.

[1] On February 8, 2017, the Liberal nomination was won by physician Scott Forsyth,[5] defeating Steven Turner and Kanwar Gill.

[7] Businesswoman and former Dragons' Den star Arlene Dickinson was considered a potential candidate until she declined interest on January 22.

Dickinson stated she had supported parts of both Conservative and Liberal platforms in the past, but considers herself non-partisan.