18 Aug 2025: Poilievre/By-election in Battle River–Crowfoot (AB)

[The Bread Guy]

As I had said earlier, my unnamed source (usually pretty reliable) said there was supposed to be a no media involved quiet parting of ways. Now it seems as though something different is happening.

If he really does keep her on, I think he will find surviving the leadership review in January much, much more challenging.

In the world of political wordsmithing, though, sometimes you have to look at almost each syllable

From the piece (highlights mine):

... Jenni Byrne ... will continue to play a role in the party, but sources say she is stepping away from the daily grind on Parliament Hill (and) is still an adviser to the Conservative Party of Canada and Pierre Poilievre ... she is scaling back her connection to the party’s work in opposition ...

So, does all that mean she's still "in," but a bit further away from PP himself?

Offering tidbits, but now screened a bit more before they get to his shell-like ear?

Doing more party organizing work as opposed to political tactical work?

Some other option a dummy like me who's never worked a campaign can't even come up with?

I guess this is a rambling way of saying "she's in" =/= "she's in where/how she used to be."

LATE ADD: Also a bit in the National Post ...

Despite calls for change, Poilievre's campaign manager keeps an advisory role, firm on party payroll

Her future with the party has been a source of discussion among MPs and supporters, frustrated by the party's loss to Mark Carney.

nationalpost.com

Also archived here https://archive.is/Zdv4c

More tea leaves to be read here (again, highlights mine):

... the manager who ran that campaign remains an adviser, but is taking a less visible role, at least for now ... A spokesperson for Byrne’s lobbying firm, Jenni Byrne and Associates, also confirmed that it remains a contractor for the party. "The arrangement with the Conservative Party of Canada was always through JB+A — never personally with Jenni. This was the case before the election and continues to be the case post-election,” said the spokesperson, who declined to provide their name because they do not usually comment about their clients ... Two sources close to Byrne’s thinking said she is still working in an advisory capacity with the party and with Poilievre but has been spending more time in Toronto, dedicating more hours to her lobbying firm since the Conservatives lost the election in April. “There’s nothing to announce because nothing’s really changed,” said one of them, who added there is currently “no bad blood” with either Poilievre or his wife Anaida ... Sources told National Post that Byrne is spending time on more focused issues, such as Poilievre’s upcoming byelection in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, set for Aug.18, as well as his upcoming leadership review ...

 

[Remius]

As I had said earlier, my unnamed source (usually pretty reliable) said there was supposed to be a no media involved quiet parting of ways. Now it seems as though something different is happening.

As The Bread Guy said maybe they have indeed cut ties and the messaging is just a soft way of saying it.

If he really does keep her on, I think he will find surviving the leadership review in January much, much more challenging.

I think his leadership review is fairly safe one way or another.

They’ve made it in person in Calgary in January. If most of the disgruntled types are in Ontario, QC and Atlantic area, I doubt they will travel all that way to vote.

If his personal numbers don’t go up over time it may be caucus that decides at some point. Or if he just squeaks in a win in that by election.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Was it an evil lair?

The PMO certainly qualified for that.

 

[Good2Golf]

I guess this is a rambling way of saying "she's in" =/= "she's in where/how she used to be."

Which is the same kind of Maskirovka that Carney was accused of…

Le plus que ça change…

 

[The Bread Guy]

Which is the same kind of Maskirovka that Carney was accused of…

Le plus que ça change…

Don't matter what colour the team jersey when it comes to "political communications," bud - hence one of my tag lines (actually written by an ad guy): “The risk of insult is the price of clarity.” -- Roy H. Williams

 

[Remius]

More than 50 candidates registered in Alberta byelection where Pierre Poilievre hopes to win back a seat

Dozens of independent candidates have already registered in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot byelection, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hopes to win back a seat in the House of Commons.

www.ctvnews.ca

The longest ballot guys are at it again…

 

[The Bread Guy]

More than 50 candidates registered in Alberta byelection where Pierre Poilievre hopes to win back a seat

Dozens of independent candidates have already registered in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot byelection, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre hopes to win back a seat in the House of Commons.

www.ctvnews.ca

The longest ballot guys are at it again…

Behold the list so far ....

Voter Information Service - List of candidates

Also noticed this guy isn't on the list as of this post (18 Jul, 1550E) ...

Liberal Party of Canada announces Darcy Spady as Liberal candidate for Battle River—Crowfoot | Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced that Darcy Spady, a seasoned energy leader and community advocate, will be the Liberal candidate for Battle River—Crowfoot in the upcoming federal by-election.

liberal.ca

 

[Remius]

Behold the list so far ....

Voter Information Service - List of candidates

Also noticed this guy isn't on the list as of this post (18 Jul, 1550E) ...

Liberal Party of Canada announces Darcy Spady as Liberal candidate for Battle River—Crowfoot | Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced that Darcy Spady, a seasoned energy leader and community advocate, will be the Liberal candidate for Battle River—Crowfoot in the upcoming federal by-election.

liberal.ca

I’ll be watching how that Bonnie Critchley does. Her CBC interview was quite something lol

 

[The Bread Guy]

I’ll be watching how that Bonnie Critchley does. Her CBC interview was quite something lol

AND not too long, either - lots of frankness there ....

 

[The Bread Guy]

Also, a bit of harshness out there, too ...

Beyond Local: Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door knocking due to death threats

Read the full story and comment on LakelandToday.ca

www.lakelandtoday.ca

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

She attributes the threats and other derogatory messages she has received to her advocacy for transgender people.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[Jarnhamar]

AND not too long, either - lots of frankness there ....

She has a point.That riding is being used by Poilievre as a safe seat and he has zero interest in the riding or community. They voted for who they wanted and he turned around and abandoned them. It's almost as bad as crossing the floor.

I hope Poilievre still wins in the expectation that he uncovers any of Carneys misdeeds, but barely.

 

[MilEME09]

Also, a bit of harshness out there, too ...

Beyond Local: Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door knocking due to death threats

Read the full story and comment on LakelandToday.ca

www.lakelandtoday.ca

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door-knocking due to death threats

She attributes the threats and other derogatory messages she has received to her advocacy for transgender people.

edmontonjournal.com

Embarrassed for my province with this, disagree with politics all you want, but threatening harm is way to far. I hope some people threatening her get charged, a message needs to be sent that this is not acceptable

 

[HavokFour]

Critchley certainly isn't going to make it easy for Poilievre. Her presence online has really ramped up the last week on social media. Gotten to a point where I'm seeing more of her than anything Pierre related to the byelection. Even getting her campaign ads thrown at me on Youtube, a resident of Ottawa.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Certainly far less money than an unwanted election barely halfway through a mandate…

Oh I don't know, I know lots of people that want another election. I can wait though. Carney hasn't been tested under fire yet. I'll reserve judgement until PP is back in the House, trying to keep him honest (a lofty goal for anyone, when Carney is the subject).

We have thousands of Canadians living rough, because of an inept government. Millions using food banks, out of control crime and punishment, and making Canada the international illegal pharmaceutical lab that it has become. However, we always seem to have billions to spend on foreign aid, in part, establishing housing and food relief around the world. The cost of an election is paltry pocket change comparatively. Money is moot though. We don’t have any. We're broke. If we're going to borrow the better part of $100,000 billion, on top of what we've borrowed/ wasted already since trudeau/carney took over, a few million of non existent money for an election should be a simple line item buried in the non existent budget. The cost of an election needs to be weighed against the costs to the country under another liberal government.

 

[ArmyRick]

Critchley certainly isn't going to make it easy for Poilievre. Her presence online has really ramped up the last week on social media. Gotten to a point where I'm seeing more of her than anything Pierre related to the byelection. Even getting her campaign ads thrown at me on Youtube, a resident of Ottawa.

I can respect that Bonnie is NOT a longest ballot candidate but a legit independent candidate. She is door knocking big time, canvassing, advertising and ohhh, she has also asked the ballot committee to politely knock it off (it HURTS her chances more than anything as a legit candidate.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Percent of Canadians who voted is the same as percent of Canadian happy with FPTP.

I'm having trouble deciphering your math.

Just because a person voted, doesn’t mean they don’t want system change.

Personally, I'm quite happy exploring other voting procedures. I'm not overwhelmed by FPTP and I also voted.

I can't be the only one in step.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I'm having trouble deciphering your math.

Just because a person voted, doesn’t mean they don’t want system change.

Personally, I'm quite happy exploring other voting procedures. I'm not overwhelmed by FPTP and I also voted.

I can't be the only one in step.

I'm a big supporter of electoral reform.

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

The only person I care about in power is the one who can give us some economic muscle again. We have the resources and our neighbours with the most dynamic nation on the planet. We should be the richest country on the planet and it shouldn't even be close.

Pipelines, highways, rail lines, mines, mills and factories. We should have it all and we should absolutely dominate. Cut the red tape and the bullshit and get on with it.

 

[McG]

I'm having trouble deciphering your math.

Just because a person voted, doesn’t mean they don’t want system change.

Personally, I'm quite happy exploring other voting procedures. I'm not overwhelmed by FPTP and I also voted.

I can't be the only one in step.

We are in agreement. I was responding to a post that suggested the voting system was fine because 84% of Canadians voted.

 

[ArmyRick]

Cut the red tape and the bullshit and get on with it.

That is one of the biggest keys to moving forward right there