Alberta's Conservative House Leader Joseph Schow announced on Monday that the provincial government is developing legislation aimed at safeguarding the electoral system from the Longest Ballot Committee (LBC). This protest group has been known for submitting numerous frivolous candidates on federal election ballots. Recently, in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding, Elections Canada had to implement a new write-in system after the LBC encouraged over 200 individuals to run in an August by-election.

Kieran Szuchewycz, a key figure in the LBC, previously succeeded in persuading an Alberta Queen’s Bench judge in 2017 to rule that the requirement for election deposits was unconstitutional. Justice Avril Inglis acknowledged that while the purpose of these deposits was to deter frivolous candidates, the requirement primarily filtered out those unable to afford the $1,000 deposit. This ruling led to a surge in frivolous candidacies, as the deposit requirement was eliminated.

With the removal of the deposit requirement, the only remaining barriers against the LBC's tactics are the need for candidates to gather 100 signatures from local residents and to appoint an official agent. The LBC has circumvented these requirements by recruiting nominators willing to endorse multiple candidates and by providing the same official agent, often Szuchewycz himself, for various candidates.

Currently, Tomas Szuchewycz, Kieran's brother, represents the LBC publicly. Earlier this month, he testified before the House of Commons procedure committee, which has been examining the group's activities. A recent exchange between Tomas Szuchewycz and Conservative MP Michael Cooper centered on whether the LBC employed unlawful methods in their signature-gathering efforts.

The LBC's mission is to reform the electoral process by transferring election design authority from the House of Commons to an independent, non-partisan body. However, election reform initiatives have historically struggled to gain traction in direct referendums. Critics argue that the LBC's approach, which some view as anti-democratic, seeks to bypass traditional legislative processes.

While federal parties are considering ways to strengthen the electoral system against the LBC's tactics, specific strategies remain unclear. Schow did not disclose details about the Alberta government's proposed legislation but emphasized that candidates should be individuals who are genuinely committed to representing their constituents. This statement has drawn scrutiny and criticism, as it raises questions about the criteria for candidacy in the electoral process.