Candidates face threats, doxxing, as longest ballot campaign exceeds 200 names
209 candidates have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 28, 2025 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read
There are 209 candidates who have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection
There are 209 candidates who have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection. It's all part of an election reform protest by the Longest Ballot Committee. (@BryanPassifiume)
OTTAWA — With election day in Battle River-Crowfoot just weeks away, organizers of a long-running election reform protest are celebrating breaking an important milestone — but their candidates are feeling the heat.
In a statement issued Sunday evening, organizers of the Longest Ballot Committee announced the ballot for the Aug. 18 byelection — where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is trying to win a seat — has exceeded 200 names. That total is more than double the record-tying 91-name ballot fielded in the suburban Ottawa riding of Carleton in April’s federal election — and matches the 91-name ballot fielded during last year’s byelection in LaSalle–Emard–Verdun.
That topped the previous record of 84 candidates for the 2024 Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection.
“We hope MPs hear our message loud and clear and do the right thing: recuse themselves and pass decisions on election law to an independent, permanent, non-partisan body, such as a citizens’ assembly to decide,” wrote Longest Ballot organizers Tomas and Kieran Szuchewycz.
“Elections Canada runs our elections. It is an independent, permanent, non-partisan body. The electoral boundary commissions draw riding maps — they are independent, permanent, and non-partisan bodies. We have these institutions to thank for election results we can trust, and the absence of gerrymandering in Canada.”
Ousted from his seat in Carleton on election night, Poilievre is counting on winning Battle River-Crowfoot to reclaim his spot in the House of Commons.
But those unhappy with the campaign are directing their frustration at candidates — using a leaked list of personal information to harass and threaten those on the ballot, prompting some to withdraw their candidacy.
Alex Banks, of Grande Prairie, Alta. — running as a longest ballot candidate for the fourth time — told the Toronto Sun it’s been interesting watching the anger shift.
“The biggest change I’ve noticed is the tone of opposition and where it’s coming from,” he said.
“In the two byelections, in Liberal-held ridings, there was a lot from the Truanon crowd on Twitter telling me I’m a paid Conservative shill, but it never got beyond that — it never got to people making attacks on people’s homes to intimidate them.”
Questions to the Szuchewyczs on the abuse being faced by their candidates went unreturned.
The Longest Ballot Committee was created in response to a broken election promise by former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who during his 2015 campaign, said that election would be last in Canada governed by first-past-the-post election (FPTP) rules — preferring, instead, election systems like proportional representation.
Dillon Anderson, another longest ballot candidate, who lives near Sudbury, said he agrees with the campaign’s efforts towards campaign reform.
“I agree with the core message that politicians need to recuse themselves and give the power back to Canadians when it comes to deciding election rules,” he said, noting that unlike many of his fellow candidates, he is running with an election platform.
“Canadians are realizing that people like Pierre Poilievre, Justin Trudeau, Mark Carney — they’ve all broken promises.”
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X: @bryanpassifiume
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209 candidates have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 28, 2025 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read
There are 209 candidates who have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection
There are 209 candidates who have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection. It's all part of an election reform protest by the Longest Ballot Committee. (@BryanPassifiume)
OTTAWA — With election day in Battle River-Crowfoot just weeks away, organizers of a long-running election reform protest are celebrating breaking an important milestone — but their candidates are feeling the heat.
In a statement issued Sunday evening, organizers of the Longest Ballot Committee announced the ballot for the Aug. 18 byelection — where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is trying to win a seat — has exceeded 200 names. That total is more than double the record-tying 91-name ballot fielded in the suburban Ottawa riding of Carleton in April’s federal election — and matches the 91-name ballot fielded during last year’s byelection in LaSalle–Emard–Verdun.
That topped the previous record of 84 candidates for the 2024 Toronto-St. Paul’s byelection.
“We hope MPs hear our message loud and clear and do the right thing: recuse themselves and pass decisions on election law to an independent, permanent, non-partisan body, such as a citizens’ assembly to decide,” wrote Longest Ballot organizers Tomas and Kieran Szuchewycz.
“Elections Canada runs our elections. It is an independent, permanent, non-partisan body. The electoral boundary commissions draw riding maps — they are independent, permanent, and non-partisan bodies. We have these institutions to thank for election results we can trust, and the absence of gerrymandering in Canada.”
Ousted from his seat in Carleton on election night, Poilievre is counting on winning Battle River-Crowfoot to reclaim his spot in the House of Commons.
But those unhappy with the campaign are directing their frustration at candidates — using a leaked list of personal information to harass and threaten those on the ballot, prompting some to withdraw their candidacy.
Alex Banks, of Grande Prairie, Alta. — running as a longest ballot candidate for the fourth time — told the Toronto Sun it’s been interesting watching the anger shift.
“The biggest change I’ve noticed is the tone of opposition and where it’s coming from,” he said.
“In the two byelections, in Liberal-held ridings, there was a lot from the Truanon crowd on Twitter telling me I’m a paid Conservative shill, but it never got beyond that — it never got to people making attacks on people’s homes to intimidate them.”
Questions to the Szuchewyczs on the abuse being faced by their candidates went unreturned.
The Longest Ballot Committee was created in response to a broken election promise by former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who during his 2015 campaign, said that election would be last in Canada governed by first-past-the-post election (FPTP) rules — preferring, instead, election systems like proportional representation.
Dillon Anderson, another longest ballot candidate, who lives near Sudbury, said he agrees with the campaign’s efforts towards campaign reform.
“I agree with the core message that politicians need to recuse themselves and give the power back to Canadians when it comes to deciding election rules,” he said, noting that unlike many of his fellow candidates, he is running with an election platform.
“Canadians are realizing that people like Pierre Poilievre, Justin Trudeau, Mark Carney — they’ve all broken promises.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
DIllon Anderson MP Candidate Battle River Crowfoot
DIllon Anderson MP Candidate Battle River Crowfoot. 27 likes · 55 talking about this. Hi everyone, welcome to my page where you can learn about the campaign and about me and my promises for Battle...
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Candidates face threats, doxxing, as longest ballot campaign exceeds 200 names
There are 209 candidates who have registered to run in the Aug. 18 Battle River-Crowfoot byelection
