A group known as the Longest Ballot Committee, which has fielded numerous protest candidates in various elections and byelections over the past few years, is now active in the upcoming Terrebonne vote. Terrebonne, located in the Montreal area, is one of three byelections scheduled for April. The committee, comprised of electoral reform advocates, has successfully gathered a significant number of candidates in multiple electoral contests since its inception five years ago.
Mark Moutter, a seasoned protest candidate, expressed frustration with the lack of progress in electoral reform despite promises from different levels of government. The Longest Ballot Committee is pushing for a citizens’ assembly to spearhead electoral reform, criticizing political parties for their reluctance to make the government more representative of the electorate.
Volunteers of the group are currently collecting signatures in Terrebonne ahead of the candidate registration deadline on March 23. Notably, their past initiatives have prompted Elections Canada to make adjustments to ballots, including printing ballots that were almost a meter long in some instances. In a recent Alberta byelection, Elections Canada resorted to a write-in ballot due to the sheer volume of over 200 names on the ballot paper.
The upcoming byelections hold significance as a victory for the Liberals in two of the three ridings could secure a narrow majority government for Prime Minister Mark Carney. While University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest, both located in Toronto, are considered safe Liberal strongholds, Terrebonne presents a more competitive race, especially after the Supreme Court nullified last year’s result due to a misprint on mail-in ballot envelopes.
The Longest Ballot Committee’s choice to focus on Terrebonne stems from the unique circumstances surrounding the byelection, which was triggered by flaws in the electoral system. The upcoming rematch in Terrebonne features Tatiana Auguste against Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné, who previously represented the Bloc Québécois in the riding. Despite the Liberals narrowly winning the now-annulled election, Sinclair-Desgagné had a long-standing history as the MP for Terrebonne, a stronghold for the Bloc since the early 90s.
Past elections organized by the Longest Ballot Committee have been marked by extensive ballots causing confusion among voters and delays in counting. Efforts to address these challenges are underway, with MPs advocating for changes to election rules to restrict the group’s ability to register candidates. The House affairs committee conducted a study on the committee, and recommendations are expected soon.
Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault suggested measures to curb the group’s influence, such as requiring unique signatures from each candidate and limiting an official agent to represent only one candidate in a riding. Despite potential obstacles, Moutter remains determined to continue their efforts. The byelections are set for April 13, with advance polls open from April 3 to April 6.