Category Archives: Floor crossing

NDPWatch: Why suddenly so concerned about floor crossing, Official Opposition?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/11/ndpwatch-why-so-suddenly-concerned-about-floor-crossing-official-opposition.html

November 2, 2011 11:21 AM | Read 27 comments27
By Kady O’Malley

Note: The following meanderings originally appeared on twitter, but have been tweaked, extended and edited for readability.

Enthusiastic party press releases to the contrary, the next NDP-backed private members’ bill headed for the floor of the House does not, in fact, “ban” floor crossing outright, but would trigger an automatic byelection when an MP “becomes a member of a registered party” that did not endorse his or her candidacy in the election. Continue reading →

Remarkable – The NDP tables bill to prevent floor crossing

This is truly remarkable. Note the jutification.

http://www.ndp.ca/press/ndp-bill-would-ban-floor-crossing

November 2, 2011

OTTAWA – New Democrat MPs Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac) and Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) tabled a Private Member’s Bill today to prevent MPs from changing political affiliations during their term.

“Members shouldn’t play petty politics and think only of their career, by changing political parties whenever they like,” said Ravignat. “MPs were elected personally, and under their party banner. We must ensure that members are accountable to their constituents.”

If adopted, this bill will prevent Members of Parliament from changing their party affiliation during their mandate. A member who wishes to leave their party would either have to sit as an independent or run in a by-election.

This bill was introduced by Peter Stoffer in the last Parliament.

“I am happy to support my colleague who is bringing the issue back to Parliament,” said Stoffer. “At the present time, any member can cross the House without accountability to their constituents. We are determined to prevent this from happening once and for all.”

Conservatives provide more protection for a pet MP

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/02/09/don-martin-conservatives-provide-more-protection-for-a-pet-mp.aspx

Don Martin: Conservatives provide more protection for a pet MP

Posted: February 09, 2010, 12:29 AM by Kelly McParland

Don Martin, Conservative party

He’s done it again.

An MP widely considered invisible at best, and horrible at worst, has been saved from local rejection after party headquarters denied his own riding directors the chance to shop for a better Conservative candidate.

For reasons the national office will not explain, the Conservatives have thrown blanket protection over Calgary West MP Rob Anders to enforce his apparently unalienable right to carry their banner into the next election.

Not only did the party shut down any risk of the incumbent suffering a pre-election dumping, but last weekend it seized control of local membership lists, the cash box and the power to call an annual general meeting, shutting down a volunteer association elected only last March by Conservatives at large.

Continue reading →