The defection of Quebec MP Lise St-Denis from the NDP to the federal Liberals has revived the political debate over the issue of floor-crossing. St-Denis was elected in the St-Maurice-Champlain riding of Quebec during the province’s historic “Orange Wave” last May. But not even a year into her term, she announced she was jumping ship to join the third-place opposition party on Tuesday January 10.
Many media reports have focused on the broader implications of St-Denis’ move for the fate of the NDP in the former Bloc stronghold. “While Ms. St-Denis was but one of 58 NDP rookies of varying profile from Quebec, her defection illustrates the ongoing turmoil that was caused by Mr. Layton’s death last August,” wrote Daniel Leblanc in Tuesday’s Globe and Mail.
At the press conference announcing her decision, St-Denis only served to confirm what many already view as the hard truth underlying the NDP’s waning popularity in Quebec. Attempting to justify her choice, she said of her constituents: “They voted for Jack Layton. Jack Layton is dead.”
Other reports, however, captured some of the more deep-rooted, negative perceptions of floor-crossing, and what the practice says about the integrity of our democratic institutions.
New Democrat MP and Quebec caucus chair Guy Caron has been quoted as saying “‘Changing political affiliation is a blatant lack of respect for democracy.” The Windsor Star’s January 12th editorial attempts to unpack the issue from a voter perspective, asking: “But what about the constituents who elected St-Denis on the basis she was running as a New Democrat and believed she would honour the party's principles and policies?”
The party’s policies include a proposed private members’ bill that would explicitly prevent MPs from changing political affiliation before holding a by-election. In September, Quebec MP Mathieu Ravignat introduced Bill C-306, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (political affiliation), which is scheduled for a second reading in the House of Commons next month.
St-Denis is not the first MP to cross the floor, and she certainly won’t be the last. Yet debates on the practice are short-lived considering how highly contentious it is. They arise when an MP announces they're crossing over but often peter out as soon as the media shifts its gaze.
While it is both natural and understandable that political allegiances evolve over the course of a person’s lifetime, we must still consider the duty of elected officials to respect not only the wishes of their constituents but the democratic mechanisms by which they came to power.
In the hopes of defying Aaron Wherry’s prediction that the conversation over St-Denis’ defection will “probably be over by tomorrow and mostly forgotten by the weekend,” Samara would like to know what you think about the issue.
Should Members of Parliament be allowed to cross the floor without the approval of their constituents, or should they be allowed the flexibility to do so without holding a by-election?