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3. Elected MPs Crossing The Floor – After Having Been Elected As MP For One Party They Become Members of Another Party

I’ll Sell My Seat To The Highest Bidder! I Can Do This Because:

“It’s My Seat! I’ll Do With It What I Want!”

“Crossing the floor” means to leave one’s political party and join another, or in a more general sense, to vote against one’s own party.  It is also a clear betrayal of the voters that elected the MP.  Given that many people vote for the candidate because he/she is a member of a party, “crossing the floor” is a clear betrayal of the voters. It is a signal that the MP does NOT recognize the interests of the voter.  If an MP feels that they must leave a party, he/she should sit as an independent and NOT cross the floor.

The following MPs believe that they were NOT elected to represent the ridings that elected them.  They “crossed the floor”. In so doing, they treated their constituents with the ultimate contempt.

Perpetrators have included: David Emerson, Belinda Stronach, Wajid Khan, Scott Brison

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/02/06/bc_emerson-critics20060206.html

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060206/emerson_defection_060206/20060206

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/05/17/stronach-liberals050517.html

(good video coverage)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdngovernment/crossing.html

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1071057688626_20?s_name=&no_ads=

http://www.wajidkhan.ca/EN/4812/49005

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/05/khan-defect-070105.html

The Background – Media Release From The Liberal Party About Their Candidate Simon Bédard:

“September 11, 2008

Statement from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion

Today I announce that I have asked for and received the resignation of Simon Bédard as the Liberal Party of Canada’s candidate in the riding of Québec.

While Mr. Bédard has clearly indicated that he no longer holds those views, the Liberal Party of Canada’s proud tradition of support for our Aboriginal communities must not be overshadowed by these comments.”

http://www.liberal.ca/story_14507_e.aspx=

First, he was the Liberal candidate

“A Liberal Party candidate in Quebec City who drew fire for past comments about Mohawk warriors in the Oka Crisis has resigned from the federal election campaign.

Simon Bédard, a former radio host, tendered his resignation as candidate in the Quebec riding after Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion asked him to withdraw from the race, according to the party website.”

To read the complete article:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/09/11/mtl-bedardquebec0911.html

Then, he became an Independent.

“Some people thought I would go and hide after what happened, well that clearly isn’t the case,” Bedard told reporters.

“I met a lot of people who told me: ‘You dare say out loud what we think.’ That was a revelation to me and that made me change my mind,” he added.

Bedard said being an independent candidate will allow him to speak his mind freely. In his speech, he took a swing at his former party’s weak campaign in Quebec and at the Conservatives for cutting in culture subsidies and promoting tougher measures for young offenders.”

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/decisioncanada/story.html?id=796fab27-e01c-41eb-a3b1-a2a5614cd1ab

See also:

http://www.electionsmedia.com/2008/09/23/independent-candidates/