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Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door knocking due to death threats

Sarah Spanier says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which she attributes to her advocacy for transgender people.
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Independent candidate Sarah Spanier who's running in the rural Alberta riding Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is vying to win is seen in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Sarah Spanier (Mandatory Credit)

EDMONTON — An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats.

Sarah Spanier says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which she attributes to her advocacy for transgender people.

She says she has received some messages stating she will be met with a shotgun if she knocks on doors.

Spanier is one of almost 80 candidates running in Battle River-Crowfoot, with voters going to the polls Aug. 18.

The riding was won handily by Conservative Damien Kurek in the April general election, but Kurek stepped down to allow party leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection.

Poilivere lost his seat in the Ottawa riding of Carleton in the general election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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