The Conservatives continue to shed MPs, with Marilyn Gladu the latest to cross the floor to the Liberals. As I wrote yesterday, whatever you think of Gladu’s decision, we must protect the right of MPs to think and act as individuals, rather than party drones:
“Were Canada to ban floor crossing, we would be suppressing the individual minds of those we elect, and further concentrating power in party leaders. As things stand now, floor crossing protects independence and keeps pressure on leaders to treat their colleagues well lest they watch those colleagues head elsewhere. Floor crossing – and the threat of it – protects us from a system where those we elect turn into mindless drones serving nothing more than the centralized will of ‘the leader.’ So, whether you agree with Gladu’s decision or not, it is essential to protect the right of MPs to cross the floor. The individual mind is the most precious resource we have.”
In response to Gladu’s crossing, some have called for the rules to be changed so that any MP who leaves a party must sit as an independent. The problem with that line of thinking is that it eliminates one of the only points of leverage individual MPs have against their party leaders. Party leaders can already dole out cabinet posts/critic roles, and committee assignments, and always have the nuclear option of not signing a candidate’s nomination papers in their back pocket. The best counter an MP has is to weaken their leader by crossing the floor. This creates important incentives, as party leaders need to effectively manage caucus relationships and respect the independent minds of their colleagues, or risk losing those colleagues to caucuses led by more skilled leaders. Another way to look at this is that – just as a free market forces companies to compete in providing the best products at the best prices – a free market for MPs—through crossing the floor—forces party leaders to compete in providing the best leadership. Forcing MPs to sit as independents would stop that free market process from working.
Further, crossing the floor ensures that MPs can respond to shifts in public opinion. At present, the Liberals hold a substantial lead in the polls, meaning many sitting Conservative MPs risk losing their seats if an election were held today. Floor crossing is a way for MPs to respond to this shift in public opinion. It’s also a way for parties to attract more talent. When the Conservatives won in 2006, David Emerson, Former Minister of Industry under Paul Martin, crossed the floor to the Conservatives to serve as Minister of International Trade and later Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Conservatives – having been out of office for so long – were short on experienced federal operators, and Emerson provided that experience. This made the government more effective, which was a net positive for Canadians, just as it’s a net positive for Mark Carney to include a broader range of voices in the government.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s floor-crossing comments
Here’s what then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper said about floor crossing when Emerson went from the Liberals to the Conservatives and he faced criticism from the NDP:
“Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, I believe members of Parliament should have that freedom and be accountable to their constituents for their decisions at the next election. However, in my observation, the only parties that really have this as an obsession are the parties that no one ever crosses to.”
The Conservatives were also happy to welcome former Liberal MP Leona Alleslev, who crossed the floor in 2018. The CPC was so happy, in fact, that they appointed Alleslev as Deputy Leader. At the time, the Conservatives did not call for restrictions on floor crossing, nor did they call for Alleslev to face a recall.
The voters will
Like all floor crossings, the voters had their opportunity to weigh in on Alleslev’s decision. Alleslev was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, but the Conservatives came in second place in the seat count. Alleslev resigned as deputy leader in July 2020 and endorsed Peter MacKay for the Conservative Party leadership. In the 2021 election, Alleslev lost her riding by three points. She then ran for the CPC leadership in 2022, but withdrew after failing to raise enough money to pay for the registration fee. So, voters had their say on Alleslev multiple times, and this culminated in her no longer being an MP.
Individual voters will have their chance to express their will regarding Marilyn Gladu and the other floor crossers if those floor crossers wish to run again. The MPs who switched parties may choose not to run, they may lose nomination races, they may win nomination races and lose in the next general election, or they may win nomination races and win in the next general election. Voters will decide. The fact that such a large number of floor crossers have crossed to join the Liberals under Mark Carney does not mean the system should be changed, nor does it mean anything nefarious is taking place. Rather, MPs are exercising their freedom, and as former Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, they will be “accountable to their constituents for their decisions in the next election.”
Ultimately, this is how our system works: Floor crossing protects the MP’s mind, elections protect the voter’s will.
Spencer Fernando
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