Kieran Szuchewycz: The fight to make running for office affordable and fair
"I'm most proud of getting rid of the $1,000 deposit that candidates used to have to pay," Szuchewycz says
Kieran Szuchewycz, 37, founder of the Longest Ballot Committee in Winnipeg, Manitoba, played a key role in eliminating the $1,000 deposit required to run for office. During the 2015 general election, Szuchewycz was disqualified from running because he refused to deposit the fee. This experience motivated him to challenge the deposit requirement in court.
In June 2017, Szuchewycz argued in court that the $1,000 deposit discriminated against ordinary citizens who couldn’t afford it. The court ruled in his favor, resulting in the removal of the deposit requirement. This change made running for office more accessible to everyone, not just those who could afford the deposit.
"I'm most proud of getting rid of the $1,000 deposit that candidates used to have to pay," he told me in a phone interview. "I tried to run in 2015, but due to some confusion about the deposit rules—though it wasn’t my fault—I was refused as a candidate.
"As a result, I was able to use that support, and because I worked in a law firm, I knew the basics of how to handle the situation. I was able to represent myself, which was a huge achievement for me.”
Since 2021, Kieran Szuchewycz and his brother Tomas have been leading the Longest Ballot Committee, working to address gaps in the Canadian democratic system. Their efforts have led to significant milestones, including the June 2024 election where 84 candidates ran, setting a new record. They are now preparing for the upcoming by-election in Montreal, where a remarkable 91 candidates are expected to be on the ballot.
In 2015, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promised that it would be the last election using the first-past-the-post voting system. However, he broke this promise despite a committee study in 2016 that brought forward a report. Trudeau ignored the recommendations, and no further discussions took place after that.
"A lot of people care deeply about politics and are actively engaged in discussing political issues," the 37-year-old said. He added that by being directly involved in the process, they are helping to give these individuals a fair chance to run for office, which is crucial in addressing the gaps in our democratic system.
The Longest Ballot initiative began during the 2021 federal election in the riding of Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, Manitoba. In that election, Tomas, the official agent for the Longest Ballot Committee, ran as a candidate alongside Sébastien Rhinoceros, the leader of the Rhinoceros Party. The total number of candidates were 21 and 15 were from electoral reform campaign.
The second instance of another Lonest Ballot occurred during the 2022 Mississauga—Lakeshore federal by-election, where 40 candidates ran among them 35 were from this campaign.
The third instance was in the 2023 Winnipeg South Centre federal by-election, which saw a record 48 candidates, the highest number for a federal by-election at that time and 43 were from Longest Ballot Committee nominated candidates.
The fourth time 18 candidate names were on the ballot in the Kitchener Centre provincial by-election 2023.
In June 2024, the Longest Ballot reached a new milestone with 84 candidates running. The Longest Ballot candidates received over 900 votes. It was a safe riding of Liberals for three decades but lost it to Conservatives. The next record-breaking ballot is scheduled for September 16, 2024, with 91 candidates expected to be on the ballot.
“I initially thought that getting coverage on CBC News would attract hundreds of new members,” Szuchewycz said. “But that hasn’t been the case. Most of our new recruits come from personal networks—friends of friends—rather than strangers. Although some people join us without direct links, most are connected to someone already involved. This situation makes me question the real impact of media coverage and how we might better engage a wider audience.”
During the interview, Szuchewycz acknowledged the importance of covering the electoral reform campaign, noting that it has not received much attention from other media outlets, particularly regarding independent candidates and those affiliated with the Longest Ballot.
Szuchewycz denied any affiliation with political parties but admitted that the Longest Ballot Committee is intentionally targeting Liberal strongholds because Trudeau promised in 2015 that it would be the last election under the first-past-the-post system.
Many criticized the lengthy ballot in the Toronto St. Paul by-election for causing delays, but Elections Canada attributed the delay to the large number of candidates. Typically, results are announced within 2-3 hours of the polls closing, but in this instance, the final result was not revealed until 5 a.m. ET, leading to raised eyebrows. Some journalists and media outlets have also highlighted these issues. La Presse, for example, labeled the Longest Ballot candidates as "bogus," further fueling the debate about the impact of such extensive candidate lists on the electoral process.
“I actually really liked the article a lot because it starts a conversation, which is exactly what we aim for. It’s great to see people discussing the issues, even if the coverage is critical. I followed the French media coverage closely, and it was interesting to see the discussions unfold. I appreciate when such debates are sparked, even if they involve some negative feedback,” he reacted on the La Presse calling electoral reform candidates bogus.
“As for running the Longest Ballot Committee in different cities like Toronto and Montreal, I do feel there are differences, though it’s harder for me to gauge since I don’t speak French. The dynamics and challenges can vary depending on the city and the media landscape. Each location has its own unique political environment and media reaction, which can influence how our campaign is perceived and received.”
Szuchewycz confirmed that since their protest never been acknowledged by government officials for running large number candidates having the longest ballot in the history of Canada.
“I’m very serious about politics, and so are others. Donovan is serious about it in his own way,” he noted. “However, he, along with Sebastian and many from the Rhinoceros Party, have a more playful approach. Working with people like them is a lot of fun. They know how to do a good job without taking themselves too seriously, which is refreshing.”
Donovan Eckstrom and Sébastien CoRhino are affiliated with the Rhinoceros Party. CoRhino is also the leader of the Rhinoceros Party. Both Eckstrom and CoRhino support the Longest Ballot campaign. The Rhinoceros Party advocates for electoral reform and pushes the government to fulfill its promises. They are also among 91 candidates in the Montreal by-election.
He believes that in situations where there is a conflict of interest—especially when elected officials are directly involved—decisions regarding election rules, campaign finances, and similar areas should be handled by independent bodies. Politicians should not be responsible for determining rules that affect their own careers. To ensure fairness and integrity, independent entities, such as Elections Canada, should oversee these decisions. He suggests that mechanisms like independent commissions or Citizens' Assemblies could be employed to make these decisions impartially and democratically.
“I feel like you know I would like to participate in the democracy that felt like you could participate in it properly but until we have a system where the rules aren't just written by who won the last election, I can't really take it too seriously,” 37-year-old shared his frustration on the current system where it only works for those in power.
He said he is unsure about running candidates in the next general election but indicated that he might target the ridings of Liberal leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Papineau, Quebec, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in Nepean—Carleton, Ontario.
"These two parties can form the government and make all the rules," he explained when asked why only target the Liberals and Conservatives, not the NDP or Greens. He admitted that these politicians are unlikely to change the rules that helped them get elected. However, he believes this presents a conflict of interest, as these politicians are the ones controlling the process.
As the Longest Ballot Committee continues to challenge the status quo, Szuchewycz remains focused on giving a voice to those who have been excluded from the political process. Whether or not he runs candidates in the next general election, his work has already sparked important conversations about democracy in Canada.
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I'm confused, if this group is targeting liberal strongholds
Then why did they target Pierre ....twice.