Alberta Byelection Sets Canadian Record with 108 Candidates Against Poilievre

The Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot is set to feature the longest federal ballot in Canadian history, with over 100 candidates registered, mostly affiliated with the Longest Ballot Committee, an electoral reform advocacy group. This unprecedented number of candidates is part of a protest strategy aiming to push for electoral reform by overwhelming the ballot, which has frustrated Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the byelection after losing his Carleton seat. Poilievre has called for stricter rules to limit the number of candidates, proposing higher signature requirements and restrictions on petition signing, arguing that the current flood of candidates is unfair and undermines the democratic process. Meanwhile, critics of the protest movement, including some independent and Libertarian candidates, say the large number of candidates confuses voters and burdens the election process. Supporters of the Longest Ballot Committee, including Indigenous candidate Jayson Cowan, argue that the protest gives voice to marginalized groups typically excluded by bureaucratic barriers. The record-breaking candidacy in Battle River–Crowfoot reflects ongoing tensions over Canada's electoral system and the desire for reform.