Title: MPs Question Long Ballot Organizer in Committee Meeting

OTTAWA — Members of Parliament scrutinized Tomas Szuchewycz, an organizer for the Longest Ballot Committee, during a tense committee meeting on Tuesday. The committee is investigating the impact of the committee's actions on recent elections, including the April federal election and various byelections. Szuchewycz defended the committee's strategy of flooding ridings with numerous candidates, which he claims has drawn significant media attention and highlighted the need for electoral reform.

Szuchewycz stated, "Canadians would be well served by a permanent, independent, nonpartisan body to oversee the full framework of election law." He emphasized that the committee's efforts have been more successful than he anticipated, citing the increased visibility of their cause. The Longest Ballot Committee has organized dozens of independent candidates to run in elections since 2021, notably in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's riding of Carleton, where the ballot exceeded a meter in length due to the high number of candidates.

During the meeting, Conservative MP Michael Cooper challenged Szuchewycz's methods, alleging that the committee collected signatures for candidates before they were officially selected. Szuchewycz denied this claim, asserting that his group only collected signatures for candidates who had agreed to run. He acknowledged, however, that some voters signed nomination papers for multiple candidates during the Alberta byelection.

Cooper warned Szuchewycz about the seriousness of his testimony, suggesting that he could face contempt of Parliament charges if he did not answer questions truthfully. The committee also heard from Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, who noted that the Longest Ballot Committee had previously attempted to submit nomination forms without identified candidates, although he found no evidence of altered forms after signatures were collected.

Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin questioned whether the media attention the committee received translated into a clear understanding of their message regarding electoral reform. Szuchewycz maintained that the public comprehends their straightforward message.

The committee discussed potential changes to the Elections Act to limit the number of candidates an elector can nominate. Poilievre has called the Longest Ballot Committee's actions a "scam" and has advocated for reforms to prevent similar protests in the future.

Peter Loewen, a professor at Cornell University, described the committee's tactics as a "signature-harvesting exercise" and expressed concern about the implications of allowing one official agent to represent multiple candidates. He suggested that while it is important to facilitate independent candidates, rules should be established to prevent manipulation of the electoral process.

Loewen also highlighted the need for careful consideration of any legislative changes, warning that MPs could find themselves in a conflict of interest when setting election rules. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Canada’s reputation for well-run elections, stating, "It’s not funny to monkey with this."

The committee's discussions reflect ongoing tensions surrounding electoral reform and the challenges posed by the Longest Ballot Committee's activities. As the investigation continues, MPs are weighing potential rule changes to address the issues raised by the committee's actions in recent elections.