Canada’s Conservative U-Turn: Poilievre's Comeback Bid in a Riding Swamped with 214 Candidates!
Battle River–Crowfoot, Alberta — After losing his seat in Ontario during the April federal election, Pierre Poilievre is staging aQ comeback—running in the August 18th Battle River–Crowfoot by-election, a staunchly Conservative riding vacated by MP Damien Kurek, who had won it with over 82% of the vote .
The Longest Ballot Committee, a protest movement demanding electoral reform, has flooded the by-election with 214 candidates—forcing Elections Canada to switch to write-in ballots for the first time ever. Voters must write the name of their preferred candidate by hand—a major departure from standard ballots .
Alberta is simmering with separatist sentiment. Premier Danielle Smith has even proposed easing citizen-initiated referendum rules on separation, although Poilievre has distanced himself, calling himself a “Canadian patriot” while recognizing Albertans’ frustrations .
Advance voting turnout in the riding is already matching the numbers from the general election—over 14,000 votes cast and counting—indicating strong engagement, turbulence, or both .
| Aspect | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Poilievre’s comeback | Without a seat, his ability to lead as Opposition Leader has been limited . |
| Protest vote potential | The Longest Ballot stunt may siphon votes or delay results—making things unpredictable . |
| Political symbolism | A win could re-establish Poilievre’s national influence, despite urban disconnect criticisms. A loss would be a massive blow to his leadership. |
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