Elected representatives are critical in returning our representative democracy to health. But in Canada, Members of Parliament have been drifting away for decades from the essential work citizens require of them—of legislation, representation, and scrutiny.

It’s getting worse.

In 2017, Samara interviewed 54 former MPs who sat in the 41st Parliament (2011-2015). They tell a story of overbearing party leaders and their staff, and an even further loss of agency for individual MPs.

Elected representatives are a part of the central and essential machinery of our democracy and they are meant to represent, include and engage their constituents. We cannot overlook their part in responding to the democratic malaise.

This report is the first in a series of three that makes a case for MPs who are independent, empowered, thoughtful, and engaged in three environments: Parliament, the constituency, and the party. 

Read the report below or download the PDF.

Prefer to listen to the audio report? Stream on Soundcloud or download the MP3.

Key Findings

Methodology

In early 2017, Samara contacted former Members of Parliament who retired or lost their seat after the 41st Parliament (2011 to 2015). As with the first MP Exit Interviews project, we chose to speak to former, rather than current, MPs because we felt they would be less constrained by the demands of office and, having stepped away, would have had time to reflect on their years in public life.

We interviewed 54 former MPs, ensuring that they came from all the major national political parties and most regions of the country. The distribution of interviewed MPs broadly reflects the makeup of the outgoing cohort of MPs in 2015. The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) was our partner in this project and provided the initial letter of introduction and invitation to the former MPs on our behalf.

For the complete methodology, see page 36 of the report.

For more information about the methodology, please contact us.

Real House Lives

MP Exit Interviews: Volume II

With the exit cohort from the 41st Parliament accumulating over 400 years of collective parliamentary experience, we revisited the exit interview process in 2017 with new questions, new themes, and new results. Like last time, we travelled across the country and spoke with over 50 former MPs from across the political spectrum. This research is being captured in a series of three reports that make a case for MPs who are independent and empowered, thoughtful and engaged in three environments: Parliament, the constituency, and the party.

Report One: Flip the Script proposes ways to empower MPs to directly influence law and policy, and carefully scrutinize the Government on Parliament Hill
Report Two: Beyond the Barbecue offers a new vision for what the job of the MP should be in the constituency
Report Three: The Real House Lives focuses on political parties and how to strengthen the role of MPs in an age of extreme partisanship.


Click on the covers below to read each of the reports.

MP Exit Interviews: Volume I

In 2009 and 2010, a group from Samara partnered with the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians to conduct Canada's first-ever series of exit interviews with 65 former Members of Parliament, including 21 cabinet ministers and one prime minister. These men and women, who together represented all political parties and all regions of the country, generously gave their time, allowing us to record the interviews and use the information to advance public understanding of Canadian politics and political culture. 

From these interviews emerged four reports that follow the arc of an MP's experience, from the decision to run, through their committee assignments, interactions with fellow MPs and their party, all the way to their reflections on their time in office and their advice and recommendations.

Report One: The Accidental Citizen? details the MPs' backgrounds and paths to politics
Report Two: Welcome to Parliament describes the MPs' initial orientation and the varied ways they defined their role
Report Three: "It's My Party" summarizes how MPs spent their time in Parliament and their relationship with their political parties
Report Four: The Outsiders' Manifesto reveals the MPs' advice to future Parliamentarians and offers recommendations for change

Click on the covers below to read each of the reports.