section_path: Campaign/Contests
section_name: Contests
paragraph_text: Contests
  
  When nominations were closed on April 7, Elections Canada announced that 1,959 candidates would be running for election. No party fielded full slates of candidates in all 343 ridings, though the Bloc Québécois, which only runs candidates in Quebec, covered all 78 Quebec constituencies. The Liberals, Conservatives and NDP were all one short, respectively in Ponoka—Didsbury, Québec Centre and South Shore—St. Margarets. In Ponoka—Didsbury, Zarnab Zafar was not identified as a Liberal allegedly because of "a clerical error with Elections Canada" and is under no affiliation, but the Liberals endorsed her. In Québec Centre, there was said to be "an issue with paperwork" causing the Conservative candidate's nomination to be rejected after the deadline for candidate registrations. The NDP candidate in South Shore—St. Margarets withdrew for personal reasons, and an independent candidate in the riding was endorsed by the NDP afterward.
  
  The Longest Ballot Committee targeted Poilievre's Carleton riding, which had 83 independents nominated, therefore there were a total of 91 candidates running in the riding. When asked why they did not do similar efforts in the constituencies of other party leaders, the organizers said it was a matter of limited resources.