A group known as the Longest Ballot Committee, which has fielded numerous protest candidates in various elections and byelections in recent years, is now active in an upcoming vote in Terrebonne. This Montreal-area riding is one of three byelections scheduled for April. The group advocates for electoral reform and aims to involve citizens through a citizens’ assembly in the reform process. Mark Moutter, a previous protest candidate, highlighted the ongoing need for electoral reform at different government levels, emphasizing that politicians often do not support changes that may not benefit them.
Volunteers from the Longest Ballot Committee are currently gathering signatures in Terrebonne ahead of the candidate registration deadline on March 23. Their past initiatives have prompted Elections Canada to adjust ballots, including printing ballots that were nearly a meter long in some cases. In a recent Alberta byelection, Elections Canada resorted to a write-in ballot due to the large number of names on the ballot paper.
The upcoming byelections could potentially secure a slim majority government for Prime Minister Mark Carney if the Liberals win two of the seats. While two ridings in Toronto are considered safe Liberal seats, the race in Terrebonne is expected to be closely contested, especially after the Supreme Court nullified last year’s election result due to a misprint on mail-in ballot envelopes. The rematch in Terrebonne will feature Tatiana Auguste against Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, who previously represented the Bloc Québécois in the riding.
In elections where the Longest Ballot Committee has been involved, the use of extensive ballots has caused confusion among voters and resulted in counting delays. To address concerns about the registration of protest candidates, the procedures and House affairs committee conducted a study on the group and is set to release recommendations soon. Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault suggested potential changes, such as requiring unique signatures for each candidate and limiting the official agent to represent only one candidate in a riding.
Despite potential rule changes, Moutter remains determined to continue their efforts. The byelections, including the one in Terrebonne, are scheduled for April 13, with advance polling available from April 3 to April 6.
