The Battle River–Crowfoot election might seem like a foregone conclusion to some, but if I lived there, I wouldn’t be so quick to hand my voice to Pierre Poilievre, a politician who just dropped in for the win. Here’s why this “safe” riding deserves more than a rubber stamp.
Dear neighbours I haven’t met yet,
I don’t live in Battle River–Crowfoot. I’m from Ontario. But I’ve been following your by-election more closely than some of my own local races. And if I did live in your riding, And if I did live in your riding, I’d be taking this election seriously – because who you send to Ottawa speaks for your whole community. I would be careful giving my vote to a man who just landed there because his backup plan fell through.
I know Pierre Poilievre is popular. I know he plays the outsider card like a pro. But I’ve also watched him from a distance for years, and what I see is not someone who represents rural values. It’s someone who uses rural ridings like yours to boost his brand while offering little in return.
What I’ve seen him do nationally
Pierre Poilievre talks a good game. He’s sharp, media-savvy, and always ready with a sound bite. But that’s mostly what it is, game-playing. He’s turned the House of Commons into a theatre, holding up proceedings with gimmicks and delay tactics meant to frustrate rather than build.
He rails against “gatekeepers” and “elites” while cozying up to billionaires and corporate donors. He complains that “everything is broken,” then refuses to propose serious, practical plans to fix any of it. I’ve seen him exaggerate problems, inflame division, and peddle fear while offering little substance. For all his bluster, he has never held a serious economic portfolio, yet he talks like he’s Canada’s saviour in a hoodie – or perhaps cowboy hat.
Pierre championed the convoy. He applauded a protest that gridlocked cities, rattled communities, and undermined public safety, not as an act of freedom, but as a political stunt. That’s not leadership. That’s reckless opportunism.
Why that matters to you
Battle River–Crowfoot is a riding full of hard-working people, deep community roots, family farms, churches, hockey rinks, small businesses, and a proud history. It’s so much more than just a “safe seat.” You deserve someone who will actually represent you, not someone who assumes you’ll vote blue no matter who’s holding the sign.
When Damien Kurek stepped down, he did so with decency, doing what he thought was the right thing at the time. You may not have agreed with him on everything, but at least he showed up. He was present, respectful, and accessible. That’s a low bar in politics, but one Pierre hasn’t even tried to clear.
So if not Pierre Poilievre, then who?
What about Bonnie Critchley?
She doesn’t have a national party machine behind her. She’s not mouthing billion-dollar slogans or holding press conferences with choreographed fury. What she is offering is herself, honestly, fully, and without strings attached.
Bonnie is a 22-year veteran of the Canadian Forces. She’s a teacher. A mom. A rural Albertan through and through. She lives in Tofield. She’s not chasing power; she’s trying to serve her neighbours.
She’s every bit as committed as Damien Kurek ever was, maybe more. Like him, she believes in public service. Like him, she believes in showing up. Unlike Poilievre, she’s not using your riding as a stepping stone to save her career.
In a time when politics feels more like professional wrestling than governance, Bonnie Critchley is straight-talking, compassionate, and present. Whether or not you agree with her on every issue, you can at least trust she’s not faking it for the camera.
This election is not a done deal
I know a lot of people are saying Poilievre will win no matter what. Maybe they’re right. But votes aren’t just about winning. They’re about integrity, intent, and direction.
If you believe your voice matters, if you want to send a message that this riding can’t be bought, borrowed, or used like a political back-up plan, then maybe it’s time to break the pattern.
You don’t owe Pierre Poilievre your vote just because he slapped a blue sticker on a lawn sign. You owe it to yourself, your community, and your kids to vote for someone who sees you as more than a means to an end.
If I lived in Battle River–Crowfoot, I’d be voting for someone who knows the land and its people, who’s earned their place, and who shows up without a media circus.
I’d be voting for Bonnie Critchley.
