Loadsa "independents" on the Ballot Discussion (split from PP by-election)

[Colin Parkinson]

Poilievre calls for law to block long ballot protests that 'abuse'…

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-rule-changes-longest-ballot-1.7590948

Seems reasonable enough as far as solution to this issue.

This was certain one of the concerns I raised upthread:

Bonnie Critchley — who is running as an Independent and pitching herself as an alternative to the Conservative leader, who she argues pushed Kurek out — said she's facing a "backlash" from voters who are worried that she is a "fake out" candidate.

"I don't have a massive team, I don't have backing from millions of people. I have to go door to door within my community and explain to my neighbours that I have nothing to do with you," she wrote on her campaign website.

Michael Harris, who is running for the Libertarian Party, called the protest a "mockery of the democratic process" that "actively hurts serious Independent and third-party candidates."

 

[brihard]

This was certain one of the concerns I raised upthread:

Bonnie Critchley — who is running as an Independent and pitching herself as an alternative to the Conservative leader, who she argues pushed Kurek out — said she's facing a "backlash" from voters who are worried that she is a "fake out" candidate.

"I don't have a massive team, I don't have backing from millions of people. I have to go door to door within my community and explain to my neighbours that I have nothing to do with you," she wrote on her campaign website.

Michael Harris, who is running for the Libertarian Party, called the protest a "mockery of the democratic process" that "actively hurts serious Independent and third-party candidates."

Critchley’s complaint is absolutely a valid one. It does tend to drown out ‘non-party’ candidates.

 

[Navy_Pete]

I think only allowing people to sign a single nomination is reasonable, as put forth by the Chief Election officer. PPs suggestion for 0.5% of the ridings numbers is silly though, and would absolutely restrict small independent candidates as they won't even have a chance to get on the ballot.

 

[brihard]

I think only allowing people to sign a single nomination is reasonable, as put forth by the Chief Election officer. PPs suggestion for 0.5% of the ridings numbers is silly though, and would absolutely restrict small independent candidates as they won't even have a chance to get on the ballot.

One nomination per agent, one candidate form signature per nominator. The very individual candidate needs their own agent and slate of nominator signatures. That would be pretty easy and a justifiable limitation on the process.

 

[Navy_Pete]

One nomination per agent, one candidate form signature per nominator. The very individual candidate needs their own agent and slate of nominator signatures. That would be pretty easy and a justifiable limitation on the process.

For sure, and 100 people seems pretty small, but having assisted a relative run for town council many years ago getting that kind of support required a lot of door to door, so it's not just a throw away. Some people are already committed to a candidate, but most people just couldn't be arsed.