Latest news with #Poilievre
Global News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Global News
Rural Alberta byelection has some conservative voters questioning party loyalty
The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory. Fossen is the president of the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce. In the April federal election, it held a candidate forum. Only one nominee showed up to speak to a half empty room. Three months later, Fossen is hosting another candidate forum, this time in a byelection race featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and the response is, well, off the hook. Fossen said phones at her office have been ringing constantly with people inquiring about the July 29 candidate debate. But all seats are booked and 10 candidates have signed up to speak. '(It) has definitely taken everything to the next level,' Fossen said this week in an interview. Story continues below advertisement 'It's fantastic to see the voter engagement and just the interest in the democratic process.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's fantastic to see the voter engagement and just the interest in the democratic process." Poilievre is a vying to win the Aug. 18 vote in Battle River–Crowfoot, a sprawling rural riding that takes up the entire eastern side of Alberta from Edmonton down to Calgary. 1:52 Alberta MP steps aside for CPC leader Pierre Poilievre to run in byelection The writ was dropped last month after Conservative Damien Kurek, who overwhelmingly won the seat in the April general election, stepped down to allow Poilievre to run. Poilievre lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April vote. Poilievre's signs can be seen scattered on lawns and the farm gates along a highway leading into the city of Camrose, the riding's largest municipality. View image in full screen A campaign sign for independent candidate Bonnie Critchley next to signs for Pierre Poilievre and Darcy Spady in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot in Camrose, Alta., on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Amber Bracken/ The Canadian Press His party said he has opened his campaign office in Camrose and he has attended town halls, rodeos, parades and a car show in the riding in recent weeks. Story continues below advertisement He said in a statement he's coming home ready to take the voices of the riding to Ottawa. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I am a born and bred Albertan, with strong Alberta values,' he said. 'As leader, I can take the fight for farmers, oil and gas workers, firearms owners, soldiers, for Albertans to the national stage. That means strong, forceful, representation for the people of Battle River—Crowfoot.' The riding is rock-solid Conservative territory. Kurek won in April with about 83 per cent of the vote. But Poilievre is facing challengers who question not only him, but the idea of parachuting a candidate in from afar. Alongside the Poilievre signs are some for Independent Bonnie Critchley, a 44-year-old military veteran who spent time in Afghanistan. View image in full screen Pamphlets for independent candidate Bonnie Critchley at her campaign office in Camrose, Alta., on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Amber Bracken/ The Canadian Press Critchley said she stepped out of retirement and threw her cowboy hat in the race because she cares about the issues concerning the people in the riding. She criticized Poilievre for running just to advance his political career. Story continues below advertisement 'I didn't think it was right that the guy we overwhelmingly voted for is now gone,' said Critchley, who lives in Tofield, a town in the riding's north end. 'I am running to be the voice for Battle River-Crowfoot in Ottawa. What this means is it will be my voice, but my neighbours' words. 'I want to take us back to a proper, true, representative democracy.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I want to take us back to a proper, true, representative democracy." She told the constituents who met her at their doors that it was important to 'vote for a representative, not a party.' View image in full screen Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley campaigns in the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, where Pierre Poilievre is attempting to earn a seat in Camrose, Alta., on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Amber Bracken/ The Canadian Press Critchley said she is registered to attend the forum and Poilievre will be there too. Other candidates running in the byelection say criticism that Poilievre is a 'parachute candidate' has dominated the conversations they've been having while door-knocking. Story continues below advertisement Poilievre was born in Calgary and has lived in Ottawa for the last two decades. 'It comes up almost every single time that people are kind of angry that the previous representative got switched on them,' said Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, who is from Three Hills. 'They're not happy with a drop-in from out of town with a background that's more national in focus.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They're not happy with a drop-in from out of town with a background that's more national in focus." Kurek's exit also encouraged Independent Sarah Spanier to run. 'I share that frustration,' said Spanier. 'We overwhelmingly voted to support Damien, only to have that choice ripped away on a whim because Pierre got fired and feels the need to use us as some type of political pawn because he assumes this going to be a guaranteed win. 1:55 Poilievre faces similar 'longest ballot' protest in Battle River-Crowfoot byelection The byelection has become contentious in other ways in recent days as well. Story continues below advertisement Spanier said she has stopped door-knocking due to death threats, and RCMP have put out notices reminding people to be kind and respect the democratic process. The byelection has also been in the spotlight due to the Longest Ballot Committee, which as of Wednesday, had registered more than 130 candidates under its banner to bring attention to the issue of electoral reform. Critchley, Spady and Spanier said they prefer staying focused on the issues in the riding. Critchley said she wants to make life more affordable for constituents by, for example, advocating for the federal government to invest in seed research for the farmers affected by drought. Spanier said she wants address food insecurity in the House of Commons. 1:55 Byelection called for Battle River-Crowfoot, Poilievre seeks path back to Parliament Libertarian Party of Canada candidate Michael Harris said he wants Poilievre to lose so a referendum on whether Alberta should separate from the rest of Canada can make headway if he wins. Story continues below advertisement University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young says although riding has historically voted conservative in provincial and federal elections, the byelection has become interesting because vocal Independent candidates have tapped into sentiment that only a leader who is rooted in the life of that riding and concerns should be elected. 'It's going to be tricky for a lot of people in the riding because they are loyal conservatives,' she said. 'You've got a leader who lost his seat and now is looking for another seat but his future as party leader isn't assured. He faces a leadership review in January,' she added.
6 hours ago
- Politics
Pierre Poilievre puts spotlight on Alberta riding ahead of federal byelection
The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory. Fossen is the president of the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce. In the April federal election, it held a candidate forum. Only one nominee showed up to speak to a half empty room. Three months later, Fossen is hosting another candidate forum, this time in a byelection race featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and the response is, well, off the hook. Fossen said phones at her office have been ringing constantly with people inquiring about the July 29 candidate debate. But all seats are booked and 10 candidates have signed up to speak. [It] has definitely taken everything to the next level, Fossen said this week in an interview. It's fantastic to see the voter engagement and just the interest in the democratic process. Poilievre is a vying to win the Aug. 18 vote in Battle River-Crowfoot, a sprawling rural riding that takes up the entire eastern side of Alberta from Edmonton to Calgary. The writ was dropped last month after Conservative Damien Kurek, who overwhelmingly won the seat in the April general election, stepped down to allow Poilievre to run. Poilievre lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April vote. WATCH | Over 100 candidates face off in rural Alta. federal by-election: Poilievre's signs can be seen scattered on lawns and the farm gates along a highway leading into the city of Camrose, the riding's largest city. His party said he has opened his campaign office in Camrose and he has attended town halls, rodeos, parades and a car show in the riding in recent weeks. He said in a statement he's coming home ready to take the voices of the riding to Ottawa. I am a born and bred Albertan, with strong Alberta values, he said. As leader, I can take the fight for farmers, oil and gas workers, firearms owners, soldiers, for Albertans to the national stage. That means strong, forceful, representation for the people of Battle River-Crowfoot. The riding is rock-solid Conservative territory. Kurek won in April with about 83 per cent of the vote. But Poilievre is facing challengers who question not only him, but the idea of parachuting a candidate in from afar. Alongside the Poilievre signs are some for Independent Bonnie Critchley, a 44-year-old military veteran who spent time in Afghanistan. Critchley said she stepped out of retirement and threw her cowboy hat in the race because she cares about the issues concerning the people in the riding. She criticized Poilievre for running just to advance his political career. I didn't think it was right that the guy we overwhelmingly voted for is now gone, said Critchley, who lives in Tofield, a town in the riding's north end. I am running to be the voice for Battle River-Crowfoot in Ottawa. What this means is it will be my voice, but my neighbours' words. I want to take us back to a proper, true, representative democracy. She told the constituents who met her at their doors that it was important to vote for a representative, not a party. Critchley said she is registered to attend the forum and Poilievre will be there too. Other candidates running in the byelection say criticism that Poilievre is a parachute candidate has dominated the conversations they've been having while door-knocking. Poilievre was born in Calgary and has lived in Ottawa for the past two decades. It comes up almost every single time that people are kind of angry that the previous representative got switched on them, said Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, who is from Three Hills. They're not happy with a drop-in from out of town with a background that's more national in focus. Kurek's exit also encouraged Independent Sarah Spanier to run. I share that frustration, said Spanier. "We overwhelmingly voted to support Damien, only to have that choice ripped away on a whim because Pierre got fired and feels the need to use us as some type of political pawn because he assumes this going to be a guaranteed win. I find that insulting. The byelection has become contentious in other ways in recent days. Spanier said she has stopped door-knocking due to death threats, and RCMP have put out notices reminding people to be kind and respect the democratic process. The byelection has also been in the spotlight due to the Longest Ballot Committee, which as of Thursday, had registered more than 190 candidates under its banner to bring attention to the issue of electoral reform. Critchley, Spady and Spanier said they prefer staying focused on the issues in the riding. Critchley said she wants to make life more affordable for constituents by, for example, advocating for the federal government to invest in seed research for the farmers affected by drought. Spanier said she wants address food insecurity in the House of Commons. Libertarian Party of Canada candidate Michael Harris said he wants Poilievre to lose so a referendum on whether Alberta should separate from the rest of Canada can make headway if he wins. University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young says although riding has historically voted conservative in provincial and federal elections, the byelection has become interesting because vocal Independent candidates have tapped into sentiment that only a leader who is rooted in the life of that riding and concerns should be elected. It's going to be tricky for a lot of people in the riding because they are loyal conservatives, she said. You've got a leader who lost his seat and now is looking for another seat but his future as party leader isn't assured. He faces a leadership review in January, she added. This sets this kind of a contest between that notion of what a member of Parliament should be and should do versus the party loyalty. Fakiha Baig (new window) · The Canadian Press
CBC
8 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Pierre Poilievre puts spotlight on Alberta riding ahead of federal byelection
The upcoming federal byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot has Jennifer Fossen in unknown territory. Fossen is the president of the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce. In the April federal election, it held a candidate forum. Only one nominee showed up to speak to a half empty room. Three months later, Fossen is hosting another candidate forum, this time in a byelection race featuring Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and the response is, well, off the hook. Fossen said phones at her office have been ringing constantly with people inquiring about the July 29 candidate debate. But all seats are booked and 10 candidates have signed up to speak. "[It] has definitely taken everything to the next level," Fossen said this week in an interview. "It's fantastic to see the voter engagement and just the interest in the democratic process." Poilievre is a vying to win the Aug. 18 vote in Battle River—Crowfoot, a sprawling rural riding that takes up the entire eastern side of Alberta from Edmonton to Calgary. The writ was dropped last month after Conservative Damien Kurek, who overwhelmingly won the seat in the April general election, stepped down to allow Poilievre to run. Poilievre lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April vote. WATCH | Over 100 candidates face off in rural Alta. federal by-election: The riding of Battle River-Crowfoot, explained Canada's next byelection is slated for Aug. 18 in the Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is running in a bid to return to the House of Commons but now finds himself in an increasingly crowded race. Poilievre's signs can be seen scattered on lawns and the farm gates along a highway leading into the city of Camrose, the riding's largest city. His party said he has opened his campaign office in Camrose and he has attended town halls, rodeos, parades and a car show in the riding in recent weeks. He said in a statement he's coming home ready to take the voices of the riding to Ottawa. "I am a born and bred Albertan, with strong Alberta values," he said. "As leader, I can take the fight for farmers, oil and gas workers, firearms owners, soldiers, for Albertans to the national stage. That means strong, forceful, representation for the people of Battle River—Crowfoot." The riding is rock-solid Conservative territory. Kurek won in April with about 83 per cent of the vote. But Poilievre is facing challengers who question not only him, but the idea of parachuting a candidate in from afar. Alongside the Poilievre signs are some for Independent Bonnie Critchley, a 44-year-old military veteran who spent time in Afghanistan. Critchley said she stepped out of retirement and threw her cowboy hat in the race because she cares about the issues concerning the people in the riding. She criticized Poilievre for running just to advance his political career. "I didn't think it was right that the guy we overwhelmingly voted for is now gone," said Critchley, who lives in Tofield, a town in the riding's north end. "I am running to be the voice for Battle River-Crowfoot in Ottawa. What this means is it will be my voice, but my neighbours' words. I want to take us back to a proper, true, representative democracy." She told the constituents who met her at their doors that it was important to "vote for a representative, not a party." Critchley said she is registered to attend the forum and Poilievre will be there too. Other candidates running in the byelection say criticism that Poilievre is a "parachute candidate" has dominated the conversations they've been having while door-knocking. Poilievre was born in Calgary and has lived in Ottawa for the past two decades. "It comes up almost every single time that people are kind of angry that the previous representative got switched on them," said Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, who is from Three Hills. "They're not happy with a drop-in from out of town with a background that's more national in focus." Kurek's exit also encouraged Independent Sarah Spanier to run. "I share that frustration," said Spanier. "We overwhelmingly voted to support Damien, only to have that choice ripped away on a whim because Pierre got fired and feels the need to use us as some type of political pawn because he assumes this going to be a guaranteed win. "I find that insulting." The byelection has become contentious in other ways in recent days. Spanier said she has stopped door-knocking due to death threats, and RCMP have put out notices reminding people to be kind and respect the democratic process. The byelection has also been in the spotlight due to the Longest Ballot Committee, which as of Wednesday, had registered more than 130 candidates under its banner to bring attention to the issue of electoral reform. Critchley, Spady and Spanier said they prefer staying focused on the issues in the riding. Critchley said she wants to make life more affordable for constituents by, for example, advocating for the federal government to invest in seed research for the farmers affected by drought. Spanier said she wants address food insecurity in the House of Commons. Libertarian Party of Canada candidate Michael Harris said he wants Poilievre to lose so a referendum on whether Alberta should separate from the rest of Canada can make headway if he wins. University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young says although riding has historically voted conservative in provincial and federal elections, the byelection has become interesting because vocal Independent candidates have tapped into sentiment that only a leader who is rooted in the life of that riding and concerns should be elected. "It's going to be tricky for a lot of people in the riding because they are loyal conservatives," she said. "You've got a leader who lost his seat and now is looking for another seat but his future as party leader isn't assured. He faces a leadership review in January," she added. "This sets this kind of a contest between that notion of what a member of Parliament should be and should do versus the party loyalty."
Global News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Police-reported crime in Canada fell in 2024 for 1st time since pandemic
Canada last year saw its first annual decrease in police-reported crime since the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday, breaking a trend of three straight years of increasing incidents and severity. The agency attributed much of the overall decline in the crime severity index in 2024 to a six per cent drop in non-violent crime, which includes such crimes as property and drug offences. That included double-digit drops from the year before in breaking and entering, auto theft and child pornography offences, according to the new data. Those offences, along with drops in mischief and theft of $5,000 or less, accounted for three-quarters of the overall decrease in the crime severity index. Between 2021 and 2023, the non-violent crime index rose nine per cent. The violent crime severity index, meanwhile, decreased by one per cent in 2024, 'having a comparatively smaller impact' on the overall crime level, Statistics Canada said. Story continues below advertisement That still marked an improvement from the 15 per cent increase over the previous three years. 3:12 Poilievre blames Liberals, NDP for 'worst crime wave in Canadian history' Compared with 2023, the violent crime severity index saw slightly lower rates of sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault, along with double-digit drops in extortion and attempted murder. Combined, those offences accounted for 80 per cent of the overall decrease. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The crime severity index was developed to address the limitations of a police-reported crime rate that is driven by high-volume — but comparatively less serious — offences. Statistics Canada said the police-reported crime rate fell four per cent last year from 2023, to 5,672 incidents per 100,000 members of the population. Rising levels of crime in the years following the pandemic led to increasing political debates on how to best address it, including during the recent federal election and within other levels of government. Story continues below advertisement 'The latest police-reported crime stats for 2024 confirm what Canadians already know: under the Liberals, crime pays, and Canadians pay the price,' Conservative MP and justice critic Larry Brock said in a statement. The statement focused on the comparatively higher rates of violent crime since 2015, when the Liberals were first elected to government, rather than the decreases recorded in 2024 from the year prior. —with files from the Canadian Press
Global News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Conservative leader calls for law to block long ballot protests ahead of Alberta byelection
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the long list of names lining up to flood the ballot in his upcoming federal byelection amounts to a 'blatant abuse' of democracy — and he wants the government to do something about it. More than 100 candidates sponsored by the Longest Ballot Committee are registered to run against Poilievre in a byelection in the Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot set for Aug. 18. The advocacy group also targeted Poilievre's former riding of Carleton in the spring election. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Conservative leader, who is seeking a path back to the House of Commons, says in a letter to Liberal House leader Steve MacKinnon that the group is confusing voters and undermining democracy by flooding the ballot with unserious candidates. 1:55 Poilievre faces similar 'longest ballot' protest in Battle River-Crowfoot byelection The Conservatives want the Liberals to pass a law when Parliament returns in September that would require a candidate to obtain signatures from 0.5 per cent of the riding's population, not just 100 people. Story continues below advertisement The party also wants each signature to be exclusive to one candidate, and for riding agents to be barred from representing more than one person at a time.
