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

[Blackadder1916]

Some of the reports about last evenings' performances.

Thankfully, Critchley took off her cowboy hat.
And no, Poilievre doesn't live in low budget hotel rooms . . . he lives (illegally?) in Stornaway.

‘Pierre’s riding to lose’: Alberta byelection candidates get together for debate

Pierre Poilievre was greeted with cheers and applause by the hundreds of Albertans who showed up to watch a two-and-a-half-hour political debate on a sunny Tuesday evening in July.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Remius]

Some of the reports about last evenings' performances.

Thankfully, Critchley took off her cowboy hat.
And no, Poilievre doesn't live in low budget hotel rooms . . . he lives (illegally?) in Stornaway.

‘Pierre’s riding to lose’: Alberta byelection candidates get together for debate

Pierre Poilievre was greeted with cheers and applause by the hundreds of Albertans who showed up to watch a two-and-a-half-hour political debate on a sunny Tuesday evening in July.

www.ctvnews.ca

Not quite illegally. The official opposition can decide who lives there apparently. It is supposed to be the leader of the official opposition but they can decide who can live there.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Not quite illegally. The official opposition can decide who lives there apparently. It is supposed to be the leader of the official opposition but they can decide who can live there.

Then maybe they should amend the law to reflect that.

Official Residences Act

Federal laws of Canada

laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

Leader of the Opposition’s residence

3 Notwithstanding anything in the Parliament of Canada Act, the lands described in Schedule II and the buildings thereon shall be maintained as a residence for the person holding the recognized position of Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, in this Act called “the Leader of the Opposition”

Staff of Leader of the Opposition’s residence

8 The Leader of the Opposition may appoint a steward or housekeeper and not more than three other employees to manage the residence of the Leader of the Opposition.

Authorized benefits received as expense allowance

9 For greater certainty, it is hereby declared that any benefit authorized by this Act and received by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition or the Speaker of the House of Commons is received as a living expense allowance expressly fixed in this Act.

 

[Remius]

Then maybe they should amend the law to reflect that.

Official Residences Act

Federal laws of Canada

laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

Leader of the Opposition’s residence

3 Notwithstanding anything in the Parliament of Canada Act, the lands described in Schedule II and the buildings thereon shall be maintained as a residence for the person holding the recognized position of Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, in this Act called “the Leader of the Opposition”

Staff of Leader of the Opposition’s residence

8 The Leader of the Opposition may appoint a steward or housekeeper and not more than three other employees to manage the residence of the Leader of the Opposition.

Authorized benefits received as expense allowance

9 For greater certainty, it is hereby declared that any benefit authorized by this Act and received by the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition or the Speaker of the House of Commons is received as a living expense allowance expressly fixed in this Act.

Sure. But what stops the leader of the house from letting PP or anyone else stay there?

Doesn’t look like there are any restrictions.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Sure. But what stops the leader of the house from letting PP or anyone else stay there?

Doesn’t look like there are any restrictions.

Then I wonder if Andrew Sheer is continuing to claim secondary residence expenses, since he is not living at Stornaway.

From the Commons manual dealing with MPs' financial benefits.

The Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Leader of the Official Opposition may not claim any secondary
residence expenses.

 

[The Bread Guy]

And if you have a little over 2 hours to spare, here's the raw footage of the debate itself.

Candidates Debate in Battle River–Crowfoot Byelection – July 29, 2025

Video courtesy of the Camrose and District Chamber of Commerce and the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre In Camrose, Alta, candidates running to represent the riding of Battle River–Crowfoot in the House of Commons face off in a debate ahead of the August 18 federal byelection...

www.cpac.ca

 

[The Bread Guy]

Well, THAT's good to hear

Fact Check: 'I'm very much alive,' says byelection candidate alleged to have died

An online conspiracy theory recently claimed that a candidate on the ballot in the federal byelection in Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot riding had died in February. The source for the claim

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

News of Elsie Kipp being hale and hearty, contrary to conspiracy theorists, also archived here https://archive.is/XwKQg

 

[HavokFour]

Well, THAT's good to hear

Fact Check: 'I'm very much alive,' says byelection candidate alleged to have died

An online conspiracy theory recently claimed that a candidate on the ballot in the federal byelection in Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot riding had died in February. The source for the claim

www.thecanadianpressnews.ca

News of Elsie Kipp being hale and hearty, contrary to conspiracy theorists, also archived here https://archive.is/XwKQg

This is the Tiktok account in question that started it, for anyone (like me) wondering.

Spoiler: DISINFORMATION AHEAD

@lyndachicamedia

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7531400883859492101

 

[Blackadder1916]

Hoping to preempt any nasties who may wish to disrupt?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/elections-canada-alberta-byelection-sarah-spanier-security-1.7599854

Elections Canada adds security ahead of Alberta byelection amid reported threats​

Number of candidates in Battle-River Crowfoot led to decision, agency says

Elections Canada has hired security guards in advance of this month's byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, candidates were told Friday.

More than 200 candidates are contesting the riding alongside Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons.

Last week, RCMP said several candidates contesting the byelection had reported receiving negative and sometimes "potentially threatening commentary" on social media platforms in recent days. . . .

. . . High number of candidates a contributor
In an email to CBC News, Elections Canada said "Canadians should be confident that they can exercise their right to vote in locations that are safe and secure."

"Throughout the election period, returning officers work closely with landlords of polling places to discuss potential requirements, including the use of security guards. They are also in contact with local authorities throughout the election period," the statement reads. . . .

The high number of candidates in the riding contributed to the move, Elections Canada said.

Due to the number of candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot, and the potential for an unusual number of observers and media at the polling sites, security guards were hired as a precautionary measure, in case additional support is needed for tasks such as directing traffic," Elections Canada said.

'Glad they're doing something'
Spanier added that she was told security will be at every advanced polling station and will be present on polling day as well.

(More at link, including comment from some of the candidates)

The hiring of security guards for polling places is not new or even unusual. The practice is not always associated with a threat or perceived threat (on the part of Elections Canada). During the last general election there were locations in my riding where security guards were provided because the landlord (schools) wanted them.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The snippets of the debate I saw, showed me that PP is still using the same messaging style and it is wearing thin and was out of place. To be fair that is likley 2-3 minutes out of the entire debates, so if others saw a different style I be pleased to hear about it.