Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, speaks at a press event held in Ottawa on Monday, July 14, 2025. The Canadian Press
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants the government to step in after an Alberta byelection ballooned with nearly 150 Independent candidates. He believes the move threatens Canada's democratic process.
The byelection is happening in the Battle River–Crowfoot riding. That’s where Poilievre hopes to reclaim a seat in the House of Commons. However, a group called the Longest Ballot Committee has already filled the race with a record number of names.
What the group is doing
This group is trying to make a point about electoral reform. Their goal? To break the record for the most candidates on a single ballot—over 200. So far, 152 names are listed. Only five represent political parties. The rest are running as Independents.
Those five party candidates include:
- Pierre Poilievre (Conservatives)
- Darcy Spady (Liberals)
- Grant Abraham (United Party of Canada)
- Michael Harris (Libertarians)
- Jeff Willerton (Christian Heritage Party)
Poilievre demands new rules
In a letter to Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon, Poilievre called this ballot “a scam” and “a trick to confuse voters.” He says this isn’t democracy—it’s disruption. He wants new rules when Parliament resumes.
His suggestions include:
- More nomination support: A candidate must get signatures from 0.5% of voters in a riding, not just 100.
- Exclusive signatures: A voter should only sign for one candidate.
- One agent per candidate: Right now, one person—Tomas Szuchewycz—is representing 146 Independent candidates.
Pushback from organizers
Szuchewycz leads the Longest Ballot Committee. He doesn’t agree with Poilievre. In a statement, he said politicians shouldn't make election laws when they’re involved in the race. He believes that’s a clear conflict of interest.
He argued Poilievre’s suggestions are dangerous and self-serving. “Politicians have too much skin in the game,” he said.
This has happened before
Back in April, a similar situation unfolded in Poilievre’s old riding of Carleton. That ballot had 91 names. Elections Canada even began counting early because it took so long to handle the ballots. Each one was nearly a metre long.
The Longest Ballot Committee says they will keep pushing their campaign as long as it’s legal. They say the packed ballots send a message: election laws need reform, but politicians should not be the ones writing them.
