Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for significant changes to Canada’s election laws to address the issue of long ballot protests. He made these remarks during a town hall meeting in Stettler, Alberta, where he is campaigning to regain a seat in the House of Commons. "We have to take action because this is a scam. It is unfair, it is unjust and it must stop," Poilievre stated, referring to the protests that have disrupted elections in recent years, including in his own riding.

The Longest Ballot Committee, an electoral reform advocacy group, has been at the center of these protests. The group has organized numerous candidates to run in byelections, resulting in ballots that can stretch over a meter long. This has led to delays in vote counting and confusion among voters. The committee aims to establish a citizens' assembly to oversee electoral reform, arguing that political parties are hesitant to make the government more representative of the electorate.

In the upcoming byelection for Battle River-Crowfoot, the Longest Ballot Committee is targeting to register 200 candidates, significantly more than the 91 candidates who ran in Poilievre's former riding of Carleton. Poilievre suggested that requiring 1,000 signatures to run and limiting voters to signing only one nomination form could help mitigate the issue. "That would make it impossible for 200 people to go out and have their names piled onto the [candidate] list," he explained.

The Conservative leader's proposals have drawn criticism from the Longest Ballot Committee. They argue that increasing the signature requirement would negatively impact Canadian democracy. In a statement, the group said, "This ill-conceived and self-serving electoral reform proposal by [Poilievre] is downright dangerous, and reinforces our conviction that politicians are not well suited to decide the rules of their own elections."

Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault has also weighed in on the issue. He previously suggested that while he supports lowering the signature threshold for candidates, there should be penalties for individuals who sign multiple nomination papers. However, he did not specify what those penalties would entail.

Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, who is running against Poilievre, expressed her concerns about the impact of the Longest Ballot Committee's actions on her campaign. She believes that the protests are complicating her efforts to connect with voters. In an open letter, Critchley stated, "I have to explain that I am here, in my home, and I am standing up for myself, my neighbors, and my community against the guy from Ottawa who doesn't give a damn about us."

The deadline for candidates to register for the byelection is July 29, with voting scheduled for August 18. As the election approaches, the debate over electoral reform and the implications of long ballot protests continues to intensify.