Dozens of Independents Join Crowded Field as Poilievre Eyes Comeback in Battle River—Crowfoot Byelection

Battle River Crowfoot, Alberta, July 16, 2025: The Alberta riding of Battle River Crowfoot is preparing for a remarkable byelection, with dozens of independent candidates already registered in a race that could see Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre return to the House of Commons.

The surge of independent hopefuls comes from the efforts of the Longest Ballot Committee, an electoral reform advocacy group determined to set records by registering hundreds of candidates. The group says its goal is to draw attention to the flaws of Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system.

While most candidates are running as independents, others have filed nominations under banners such as the United, Libertarian, Christian Heritage, and Conservative parties.

Poilievre, who served as MP for Carleton in Ottawa for over two decades, lost his seat in April to Liberal newcomer Bruce Fanjoy. Soon after, Conservative MP Damien Kurek, who represented Battle River Crowfoot since 2019, announced he would step down to create an opportunity for Poilievre. Kurek formally resigned on June 17, the earliest date allowed under parliamentary rules.

Kurek won the riding in 2025 with nearly 83 percent of the vote, reflecting the riding’s strong conservative leanings.

The byelection recalls the unusual circumstances in Poilievre’s former riding of Carleton, where 91 candidates contested the April general election. Ballots in that race were about a metre long, forcing Elections Canada to begin advance ballot counting six hours before polls closed to manage the workload.

Similar preparations may be needed in Battle River Crowfoot if the number of candidates continues to climb. The Longest Ballot Committee was also involved in byelections last summer in Toronto St. Paul’s and LaSalle Émard Verdun, where 84 and 91 candidates, respectively, were on the ballot.

The Liberals have not yet formally registered a candidate in Battle River Crowfoot, but the party has announced that engineer and energy sector leader Darcy Spady will run for the seat and has already begun campaigning.

Poilievre, without a seat in the House, has been unable to participate in question period. Andrew Scheer has been serving as interim Official Opposition leader. The mid-August byelection could pave the way for Poilievre to return to Parliament when MPs resume in September.

Candidate registration closes on July 28, while advance polls are scheduled for August 8 to 11.