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…

 

[rmc_wannabe]

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…

A completely harmless and valid form of protest under the Elections Act.

Democracy Manifest

 

[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.

 

[ArmyRick]

A completely harmless and valid form of protest under the Elections Act.

Democracy Manifest

100% disagree. Elections Canada asked last year for this nonsense to stop. It pisses people off. One of my 1,001 Liberal voting aunts (who lives in Pierre's old riding) was furious about the ridiculous ballet. As were many other people.

This is making a mockery of democracy and it hinders ALL parties involved. I think you will see a change to this.

As for the snot nosed marxist that organizes this horse shit, he needs to grow the fuck up and accept the way our electoral system works. If it was a much higher priority than Canadians would be demanding it. They aren't. FPTP system works, with its limited flaws.

 

[RangerRay]

I don’t see it as a legitimate exercise in democracy, but I also don’t see it as a nefarious threat. To me, it’s a useless performative exercise that accomplishes nothing and pisses people off. A bunch of people did this in a by-election in my riding a couple years ago, and as annoying as it was, it didn’t alter the results in any way. I’m not aware of any election where this had a big effect on the results. More of an annoyance that is detrimental to their cause than anything.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

100% disagree. Elections Canada asked last year for this nonsense to stop. It pisses people off. One of my 1,001 Liberal voting aunts (who lives in Pierre's old riding) was furious about the ridiculous ballet. As were many other people.

This is making a mockery of democracy and it hinders ALL parties involved. I think you will see a change to this.

As for the snot nosed marxist that organizes this horse shit, he needs to grow the fuck up and accept the way our electoral system works. If it was a much higher priority than Canadians would be demanding it. They aren't. FPTP system works, with its limited flaws.

Want to see it stop? Do it in a liberal riding. Elections Canada will outlaw it within days.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I don’t see it as a legitimate exercise in democracy, but I also don’t see it as a nefarious threat. To me, it’s a useless performative exercise that accomplishes nothing and pisses people off. A bunch of people did this in a by-election in my riding a couple years ago, and as annoying as it was, it didn’t alter the results in any way. I’m not aware of any election where this had a big effect on the results. More of an annoyance that is detrimental to their cause than anything.

It affect people with ESL. It confuses older people and exasperates legitimate voters.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

100% disagree. Elections Canada asked last year for this nonsense to stop. It pisses people off. One of my 1,001 Liberal voting aunts (who lives in Pierre's old riding) was furious about the ridiculous ballet. As were many other people.

And that is due to what, exactly? That there were more candidates than a Blue one and Red one like in the U.S.?

Under our laws we can have multiple independent candidates who are valid options, but also, this can be used to flood the ballot. How do you differentiate the two? Who gets to decide? The Canada Elections Act prescribes who can become a candidate and as far as I am aware, all 50 in this by-election were legal and vetted by the Chief Electoral Officer.

If Elections Canada wants it to stop, it is Parliament that must amend the Act to forbid it. Which brings me to your secind point...

This is making a mockery of democracy and it hinders ALL parties involved. I think you will see a change to this.

This is exactly what democracy is. Using the system in place to try and bring about changes to it that people feel are in need of changing.

Eliminating this kind of protest would require revisions to the Canada Elections Act. No one in their right mind wants to do that, especially in a minority parliament. Why? Amendments.

Additionally, me things that may be the end goal. This group wants to move away from FPTP and they are using the system as written to at least bring awareness to their cause.

As for the snot nosed marxist that organizes this horse shit, he needs to grow the fuck up and accept the way our electoral system works. If it was a much higher priority than Canadians would be demanding it. They aren't. FPTP system works, with its limited flaws.

Works for whom? It works great for Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, and Ontario, but not so much for the rest of Canada. It works for staunch Conservatives and Liberals, but makes Dippers and other party followers have to either vote with their heart or vote strategically.

FPTP worked when our electorate was small and centralized to a few ridings. It has outlived its suitability due to our population growth and regional disparity.

Proportional Representation and Ranked Balloting work in other social democracies around the world; perhaps we at least look at it as an option?

 

[brihard]

Want to see it stop? Do it in a liberal riding. Elections Canada will outlaw it within days.

They did it in a Liberal riding three times, in by-elections in 2022, 2023, and 2024, each following the resignation or death of an LPC incumbent MP. LPC held two of the seats, CPC flipped one of them.

The antics of the ‘Longest Ballot Committee’ in three separate byelections in ridings that had been LPC held did not result in that form of protest being outlawed.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

They did it in a Liberal riding three times, in by-elections in 2022, 2023, and 2024, each following the resignation or death of an LPC incumbent MP. LPC held two of the seats, CPC flipped one of them.

The antics of the ‘Longest Ballot Committee’ in three separate byelections in ridings that had been LPC held did not result in that form of protest being outlawed.

Whatever, I'm sure it will have it's own discussion when the Election Canada inquiry takes place into the irregularities in the recent election.

 

[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