Pierre Poilievre calls for stricter election rules to stop long ballot protests in Battle River-Crowfoot, calling them unfair and harmful to democracy.
Poilievre Demands Action Against Crowded Ballot Protest
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called for urgent changes to Canada’s election laws as he faces a planned protest involving a flood of candidates in the upcoming Battle River-Crowfoot byelection. Speaking at a town hall in Stettler, Alberta, Poilievre criticized the tactic as undemocratic, branding it a “scam” that disrupts elections and undermines serious candidates.
How the Protest Works
The group behind the initiative, known as the Longest Ballot Committee, has been staging ballot protests in federal byelections by registering dozens—or even hundreds—of candidates. Their goal is to promote electoral reform by showing how unwieldy and inefficient the current system can be. In a previous byelection in Carleton, Ontario, they successfully registered 91 candidates. For Battle River-Crowfoot, they plan to surpass that with over 200.
Why the Committee Is Doing It
The Longest Ballot Committee argues that Canada’s political parties have avoided meaningful electoral reform. They advocate for a citizens’ assembly to lead reform efforts, aiming for a voting system that better reflects public interests. The group says their protest is legal and intended to highlight flaws in how candidates are nominated and ballots are structured.
Proposed Rule Changes
In response, Poilievre proposed two major rule changes: increasing the required number of nomination signatures from 100 to 1,000 and restricting voters to signing only one nomination form. He argued this would prevent mass sign-ups by individuals not intending to seriously run for office, ensuring only “real candidates” appear on ballots.
Opposition and Electoral Views
Critics quickly pushed back. The Longest Ballot Committee called Poilievre’s suggestions “dangerous” and self-serving. They claim that increasing signature requirements would discourage grassroots candidates and reduce democratic participation. The committee said this reinforces why politicians should not dictate election rules.
Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, in earlier testimony to Parliament, supported reducing the signature threshold but suggested penalties for those who misuse nomination forms for protest purposes.
Impact on Other Candidates
The protest is drawing criticism from other candidates as well. Independent Bonnie Critchley said it’s hurting her credibility and making it harder to connect with voters. She urged the protest group to reconsider, stating, “I have nothing to do with you… Please do not bury me with your ‘legal’ election interference.”
Michael Harris, running under the Libertarian banner, echoed those sentiments, calling the movement a “mockery” that hurts smaller parties and serious independent campaigns.
What’s Next
The deadline for candidate registration is July 28, with voting scheduled for August 18. As the riding prepares for a potentially record-breaking number of names on the ballot, the debate around ballot reform—and what defines a legitimate candidacy—continues to intensify.
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