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

[ArmyRick]

I hope someone smarter than me finds a solution, I just don’t know what that looks like

Fair enough. I think a parliamentary committee could sort this out quick.

The Liberals and Conservatives are happy with FPTP

So 84% of Canadians that voted last election? Thanks, sounds to me like a majority of the voters. In other words, changing FPTP was NOT AN ISSUE

You are starting to turn a little toxic on this topic.

So shut up? We don't want to talk about it? Nope. Get ready for more toxicity.

My point still stands and NO ONE has gone against it.

You run as an MP candidate in a riding for the intent of being an MP in that same riding. That still stands and it doesn't change. All the other nonsensical justification for this horseshit is pure noise trying to cancel the actual signal.

 

[ArmyRick]

An excellent video showing the history behind the longest ballot protest and some valuable insights including the fact they chickened out from a chance to discuss it.

 

[McG]

So 84% of Canadians that voted last election? Thanks, sounds to me like a majority of the voters. In other words, changing FPTP was NOT AN ISSUE

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

Get ready for more toxicity.

We don't need anymore, thanks.

My point still stands and NO ONE has gone against it.

You haven't really made a point. You've yelled at clouds and spoken derogatorily of anyone who might thing electoral reform would be good for Canada. The longest ballot thing is stupid, but it is no impediment to the electoral process, and it has no statistical impact on the outcome.

 

[brihard]

You run as an MP candidate in a riding for the intent of being an MP in that same riding. That still stands and it doesn't change.

Does it stand? In a lot of ridings only one party has a realistic chance of getting elected. Anyone putting their name in as the NDP or LPC candidate for Battle River - Crowfoot knows damned well they aren't getting it, and you can bet they aren't making any career plans or arrangements in anticipation of that. And whoa re you or I to say that if one of these individuals were elected they wouldn't show up to work and do the job? That happened to a number of very surprised NDP 'also-rans' a few elections ago.

Being a candidate in an election is a Section 3 Charter right. There are certain permitted limitations to that, but they aren't broad. The charter right is specifically to candidacy, which further constrains any measures to restrict people putting their name forward. This isn't an easy problem to wave away, and to be blunt it's not one you've proposed any realistic solution to.

 

[ArmyRick]

You've yelled at clouds

You can insult me, I really don't give a shit

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

Which Political Party promised in 2025 to look at electoral reform? None. If it was an issue, it would have come up much more than Trump, Tariffs, Trade, Housing, Defence, Crime, Climate, etc. It didn't.

You haven't really made a point.

So what is the reason one puts their name on a ballot to run as an MP? It sure as hell shouldn't be because they want to protest the electoral system.

 

[ArmyRick]

Does it stand? In a lot of ridings only one party has a realistic chance of getting elected. Anyone putting their name in as the NDP or LPC candidate for Battle River - Crowfoot knows damned well they aren't getting it, and you can bet they aren't making any career plans or arrangements in anticipation of that. And whoa re you or I to say that if one of these individuals were elected they wouldn't show up to work and do the job? That happened to a number of very surprised NDP 'also-rans' a few elections ago.

Being a candidate in an election is a Section 3 Charter right. There are certain permitted limitations to that, but they aren't broad. The charter right is specifically to candidacy, which further constrains any measures to restrict people putting their name forward. This isn't an easy problem to wave away, and to be blunt it's not one you've proposed any realistic solution to.

Your getting wrapped up in the legality of it and right now, its legal. Doesn't make it moral. And it is p[issing off a lot of Canadians. I suspect this will be dealt with sooner than later. I hope in parliamentary committee with some amendments so only people actually seeking to be an MP run.

 

[McG]

So what is the reason one puts their name on a ballot to run as an MP? It sure as hell shouldn't be because they want to protest the electoral system.

It is a citizen's right to put their name in the competition for whatever reason they want, and if they get elected then they have the rest of that parliament to make electoral reform their focus.

 

[Remius]

It is a citizen's right to put their name in the competition for whatever reason they want,

the Rhino party comes to mind. I’d hate to see them sidelined lol.

 

[dapaterson]

the Rhino party comes to mind. I’d hate to see them sidelined lol.

Ruth Brosseau was a sacrificial NDP candidate who was elected and became a decent MP.

 

[ArmyRick]

It is a citizen's right to put their name in the competition for whatever reason they want, and if they get elected then they have the rest of that parliament to make electoral reform their focus.

The organizer of the Longest ballot committee has openly stated they are jamming up ballots to purely to protest FPTP.

Want to make a change to FPTP? Get a petition and an MP to sponsor it and do it PROPERLY.

Gumming up a ballot for a federal by election with 100+ names to protest FPTP is not the way to do it. Its wasting everyone's time. You have to swear a solemn declaration as to your intent to run. I doubt they swear to run as a candidate for the purpose of protest.

Step 4. Completing and Submitting the Nomination Package - Becoming a Candidate

Tools for Nomination Contestants.

www.elections.ca

 

[brihard]

Your getting wrapped up in the legality of it and right now, its legal. Doesn't make it moral. And it is p[issing off a lot of Canadians. I suspect this will be dealt with sooner than later. I hope in parliamentary committee with some amendments so only people actually seeking to be an MP run.

The legality is absolutely key to it. I've already agreed that this is an annoying stunt, so you can see that I don't like it. I don't like a lot of things, but that means nothing next to someone's right to do or say a thing.

A Parliamentary Committee making 'some amendments' cannot change this. They don't have the power to. Committees can study and call witnesses and debate and propose amendments to bills that are going through the legislative process. Cabinet can amend regulations. But a committee of Parliament can't just wave their hands at something that vexes them and change the rules.

And even if there's legislative change it will still have to survive Charter challenge should it come to that. Section 3 doesn't allow for many outs on this, and it's no subject to the Notwithstanding Clause were that extreme option to be proposed.

At the end of the day there's minimal actual harm or impact form this stunt. It's just annoying and dumb. It's doesn't tangibly hurt our democracy.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Gumming up a ballot for a federal by election with 100+ names to protest FPTP is not the way to do it. Its wasting everyone's time. You have to swear a solemn declaration as to your intent to run. I doubt they swear to run as a candidate for the purpose of protest.

It used to cost $1000 to run as an independent in a by-election
but it was struck down in 2017 by a federal judge on charter grounds. They could always explore bringing that back, that way if someone really wants to play longest ballot it'll cost them $1000 for the game.

 

[AmmoTech90]

You run as an MP candidate in a riding for the intent of being an MP in that same riding.

Pierre will not be an effective MP for Wainwright as he knows nothing about. Marlaina is a completely ineffective MLA in Medicine Hat as she got parachuted in there and is pretty much a ghost.
So no, leaders don't run to be a riding MP. They run to be a leader, and Pierre has failed once and needs a very secure seat with little chance of problems in the riding that he might have to deal with as a MP.
I know that's not what the intent is, but that's how it works.

 

[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.