An example of a ballot for the riding of Carleton, showing the names of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Party of Canada candidate Bruce Fanjoy, is seen at the Elections Canada Distribution Centre on the day of the federal election in Ottawa on April 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

By The Canadian Press

Longest ballot protest group returns, targets byelection in Terrebonne

Mar 17, 2026 | 11:30 AM

OTTAWA — The group that recruited hundreds of people to run against Pierre Poilievre in last spring’s election and last summer’s byelection says it’s now targeting the vote in Terrebonne.

The Longest Ballot Committee says it’s signing up candidates for the April 13 byelection in the Quebec riding the Liberals won by a single vote last spring.

The Supreme Court of Canada invalidated that result because Elections Canada sent mail-in ballots with an incorrect postal code to some voters.

The longest ballot group forced Elections Canada to print ballots that were a metre long in Poilievre’s riding in last April’s election, and to use a special write-in ballot in the byelection last August.

Canada’s chief electoral officer has called on the government to change the candidate nomination rules to make such protests more difficult, but no changes have been made so far.

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The group says it’s trying to point out that members of Parliament shouldn’t be in charge of making the rules that govern elections.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2026.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press