NDP leader introduces bill that would require floor crossers to face voters first
Crossing the floor seems to me to be anti-democratic. At the same time, taking a stance that you believe in, even if it goes against your fellow voters, seems honourable. Everything is shades of grey.
I don’t have a problem with floor crossing if it’s being done by an MP in the interest of best serving the will and priorities of their constituents as an elected representative. That said, if they ran on one platform and now are going to be loyal to another, I’m okay with them having to get a renewed mandate from their constituents. Floor crossing itself can be part of the democratic process. Getting a renewed mandate also seems to strengthen the democratic process.
Electoral reform? In this government? With these oil prices? Localized entirely within the NDP?
May we have it?
… No.
Seymore! The solidarity of our nation is on fire!
No mother! It’s just a two party system with the illusion of choice
Please?
It’s a matter of political philosophy and historical context. Back then, before we had TV, the internet or even the radio, communities were more tightly knit and your world was your community. You elected your MP to represent you and didn’t care how they did it.
Nowadays, people’s horizons have expanded and their community is the world, so people don’t vote for their MP, but for the party and/or prime minister. Therefore, our Westminster system is no longer aligned with its original goal of representing its constituents above all else.
I’ve been around a long time, and I have never witnessed an election where people didn’t vote for the party. It’s been this way for a very long time.
It’s just human nature to vote for the strong man / party.
No it isn’t.
It did happen in Sask, at least for a while. Ralph Goodale was the last Liberal party holdout for years and years. Got voted out eventually of course, but held on much longer than most on reputation.
Parties aren’t part of our electoral system. You’re elected because you’re the best MP in a given area (or thought to be) and whatever club you join doesn’t change that.
That might be how you think it should be, but it’s not that way at all. Canadians have been voting for the party for many decades.
Teach them then. I always ask candidates who they’ll vote to be PM.
It’s noble they’d do that just when they need free floor-crossing the most.
