Battle River-Crowfoot, AB – Several candidates vying for a seat in the upcoming Battle River-Crowfoot by-election next month have reported receiving negative and, at times, “potentially threatening commentary” on social media, according to the RCMP. While the national police force emphasizes taking such threats seriously, the narrative surrounding these incidents appears to be heavily influenced by the ongoing controversy surrounding the “Longest Ballot Committee” and its perceived targeting of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Independent candidate Sarah Spanier, one of more than 150 candidates contesting the riding against Poilievre – who is running to regain a seat in the House of Commons – has publicly stated she’s paused door-knocking due to a barrage of hostile comments she’s received. Spanier recounted, “I had people who were telling me that I’m going to regret it, and my family’s going to regret it.” She added that the rhetoric slowly started to escalate into, ‘If you come here, you’re going to regret it.'”
Spanier also indicated that the comments grew “even more aggressive” after she began speaking about her support of transgender people, describing the remarks as “vile, and not exactly something that you can say on TV or radio.” Screenshots shared with CBC News by Spanier reportedly showed comments such as “[Spanier is] an ignorant pig and I pray [she gets] destroyed” and “come to my door they will regret it.” Another comment charged Spanier with attempting to “sabotage” Poilievre, indicating voter’s possible conflation with “longest ballot” interference.
However, the framing of these threats often blurs the lines between general online harassment directed at various candidates and a specific campaign against Poilievre. The article highlights Spanier’s experience while simultaneously introducing the “Longest Ballot Committee,” implying a connection that may not fully encompass the broader landscape of online abuse in politics.
Indeed, of the more than 150 candidates running against Poilievre, most are alleged “electoral reform” advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee. This group’s stated aim is to protest the first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system and advocate for electoral reform, pushing for a citizens’ assembly to decide on election rules.
However, the group’s behaviour – including their prominent interference in Poilievre’s former riding of Carleton in the April general election, which saw 91 candidates on the ballot, and now in Battle River-Crowfoot where they aim for over 200 – suggest a particular focus on elections involving the Conservative leader. Critics, including Poilievre himself, who has labeled it the “longest ballot scam,” argue that the committee’s repeated appearance in ridings where Poilievre is running indicates an attempt to derail his electoral chances rather than a broad, system-wide protest.
This perception of a targeted campaign is reinforced by the fact that Spanier is not a part of that committee. Yet, the article interweaves her experiences with the committee’s activities, potentially creating an impression that her harassment is directly linked to the committee’s broader strategy, even if there’s no explicit evidence provided to support such a direct link. The implication is that the “Longest Ballot Committee” is less about advocating for electoral reform and more about chasing Poilievre from riding to riding to undermine his political prospects.
“The Age of the Keyboard Warrior” – Differing Perspectives on Online Conduct
Not all candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot share Spanier’s level of concern regarding online interactions. Bonnie Critchley, another independent candidate, released a video on TikTok responding to media reports about threats, stating, “It’s honestly just not a thing … Are people saying mean things about me online? Well yeah, it is the age of the keyboard warrior. But there’s been no death threats.” Spanier, in turn, took issue with the video, insisting that Critchley “put forth a video basically saying without saying that I am being overdramatic about this.” Critchley’s campaign reiterated in a statement to CBC News that “online comments are not the same as threats,” emphasizing that “democracy includes disagreement. We welcome respectful discussion, that’s how real progress happens.”
Despite Critchley’s view, Spanier maintained, “This isn’t something new that I’ve just started talking about. This has been on my radar for months now,” adding, “Just because it’s not happening for you doesn’t mean it’s not happening. I just hope people take this seriously.” Her sentiment aligns with broader concerns about the increasing prevalence of online harassment in Canadian politics.
Data from the Privy Council Office shows a significant rise in threats of violence against Canadian politicians, particularly cabinet ministers. For instance, threats to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet went from nearly zero in 2019 to 337 in the first three months of 2024 alone. While these numbers are largely aimed at the Prime Minister, they highlight a trend of escalating aggression in the political sphere.
With half of Canadian voters feeling disenfranchised by what they see as an incestuous relationship between Canadian legacy media, Eastern elites, and Eastern politicians, this trend should come as no surprise.
Broader Landscape of Threats and Committee’s Impact
The RCMP confirmed in their Monday statement that threatening comments made online can be offences under the Criminal Code, which prohibits uttering threats to cause bodily harm, death, or damage to property. The force stated, “Individuals found making such threats may be subject to investigation and could face criminal charges.”
Other candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot have also weighed in. Libertarian candidate Michael Harris, while not receiving direct threats, noted that he’d had “a few Longest Ballot Committee candidates spam my DMs on social media after my statement on them went live.” He added, “Still, I don’t really mind. I believe in freedom of speech. Even if it’s annoying. As long as it doesn’t cross the line into harassment or threats, people have the right to voice their opinions.”
Jayson Cowan, a candidate affiliated with the Longest Ballot Committee, acknowledged receiving aggressive blowback on social media platforms, specifically on X. He stated, “I could understand why to some that would be very scary. But I am not easily scared. I’m welcoming every single debate, every single interaction.” However, Cowan conceded that certain actions, such as sharing people’s personal addresses online, step over the line.
Liberal candidate Darcy Spady expressed support for Spanier on Facebook, writing that it was wrong she had to pause door-knocking due to threats. “No one should ever feel unsafe participating in our democracy. I applaud Sarah for putting her name forward to serve, and I hope we can send a clear message: threats and violence have no place here in Battle River-Crowfoot,” Spady posted.
The by-election is slated for August 18. The ongoing situation highlights the complex challenges of online discourse in modern politics, particularly when activist groups are perceived to be leveraging electoral processes for targeted political ends.
