The Liberal government is inching its way toward a majority by stealth.
On Tuesday, NDP MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor to join the Liberals, leaving the governing party with 170 seats. With three upcoming by-elections, the party has strong odds of reaching the 172-seat threshold required for a majority.
If it does, it will be a technical win for the party, but a loss for democracy.
Idlout, of course, is not an isolated incident. She is the fourth MP — but first NDPer — to cross the floor during the short life of this minority government.
Idlout was preceded by former Tory MPs Chris d’Entremont in November, Michael Ma in December, and Matt Jeneroux in February.
All three of these MPs cited, to varying degrees, dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party’s direction and confidence in the Carney government’s approach.
Really, though? The Conservatives and Liberals have not materially changed since last spring, either on policy or leadership style. If these MPs were so taken with the party then, they should have run to represent the Liberals in that election.
Instead, crossing the floor flagrantly disregards the democratically expressed will of their constituents.
That is especially the case in Canada, where Canadians overwhelmingly cast their votes based on who leads the party, not who represents their riding. Even the selection of riding candidates is often decided by national nomination committees, rather than at the grassroots level.
In a social media post following Jeneroux’s crossing, former Alberta premier and federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney highlighted the undemocratic implications.
“A Liberal has never been elected in [Jeneroux’s] riding,” Kenney tweeted, noting Jeneroux had been elected four times to represent Edmonton Riverbend as a federal Conservative.
“So this runs against the clear direction of his constituents … I also suspect he is going to have a hard time looking his constituents in the eye.”
Kenney ended his post by noting floor crossing MPs owe it to their constituents to seek a mandate through a by-election.
Most Canadians agree with him. According to a March 11 poll, nearly three-quarters of Canadians think floor crossers should not be allowed to serve out their term under the new party.
Respondents said floor crossers should either have to step down and re-contest their seat in a by-election (41%); serve as an independent (22%); or vacate their seat (11%).
Currently, this is not required. Our system allows floor crossings, which may be one reason some MPs see them as okay.
But to those who say this is our system, our response is: the system can and has been changed.
Up until 1931, for example, MPs who wanted to accept a cabinet position were required to step down and run in a ministerial by-election.
That was part of a British tradition going back to the 1600s, where representatives of the people who were being offered so-called “offices of profit” were required to ensure their constituents approved.
With all of the rumblings about backroom dealings and favour trading, perhaps this 400-year-old concept that MPs are representatives of the people — and not just in it for an “office of profit” — should still hold currency today.
