Parliamentary Rats^*

This article was generated following several high-profile parliamentary floor-crossings in the Canadian Federal Parliament,
including Belinda Stronach and David Emerson.
Its posting here was prompted by events surrounding Wajid Khan.
Since then, Garth Turner has invited infamy.

© 2006, 2007, R. W.C. Stevens

  Canadian voters in several areas of the country have been frustrated on seeing their elected representative change party allegiance.

Q: What could be simpler than a Recall-Election?!!?

A: Truth be told^†:- Under current legislation, a petition for recall may not be made within the first 12 months following a member’s date of election. In addition to that, to be successful, a petition must bear a number of signatures, from the district in question, amounting to twenty-five per cent of the votes cast in the most recent election in that district. A petition is immediately invalid if a previous recall of the member has been attempted in the current parliamentary session. Under current legislation, recall is not possible!

  We need our legislators to revise the Recall-Election Act, so that floor-crossings are less attractive. There should be special rules, applied when the petition is prompted by a change of party affiliation; whether it be a change between recognized parties, or a change to or from independence; whether it be apparently self-motivated, or because of a ‘firing’ at the instigation of the former party. Since the final decision, as to whether or not a petition is generated (and the decisions of whether or not the petition — and the recall — is successful), lies in the hands of the electorate this is a change which would freely allow changes over which the electorate are not bothered. Changes to the existing legislation, specific for instances of allegiance change, should certainly include waiving of the ‘12-month’ restriction. Maybe, 25% is too many to ask for. The ‘one recall attempt per sitting’ should probably also be waived.

* RAT, in the slang sense, being one who who abandons or betrays his or her party or associates.
† Details are based on: Canadian Bill C-269; 1999.

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