After seeing the floor crossing issue come up in the comments of another post, I thought I would put up a post on this issue.
My personal opinion of floor crossing is that I tend to smile when my party gains a member (the good), I tend to fume for a day when someone from my party crosses to an opposing party (the bad). And in all cases I never once complain or state that an MP should not be able to cross the floor but there are always a bunch of people ticked off and screaming bloody murder. (the ugly)
There is always a financial issue that is the biggest hit. Electorial District Associations work hard to raise money to get their party member elected and I do believe that local party members in the MP’s constituency have a right to be angry.
But I honestly think that Partys change, constituent views change and MPs crossing the floor allow for some form of compensation for these things without having to hold a by-election.
As for the Khan crossing, I think Liberals in his riding should be more upset with Stephane Dion than with Khan because it was Dion’s ultimatum that ultimately forced Khan to do what he felt was right and that was to do what is best for Canada. If his constituents feel that he should have chosen the Party over the nation then shame on them.
I would also like to take this moment to point out that the only party that seems to really be upset about floor crossing as a concept is the NDP. Even though they are the ones who have gained the most from this crossing, I respect them sticking to their guns. I tend to think they are against it because as far as I, or wikipedia, know, there has never been a federal floor crossing to the NDP party. No wonder they are against it.
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MP’s are free agents. They are elected as individuals and can make their own choices. The “recall” is the next election in my opinion. I must say – Khan was another like Emerson- they ran for the Liberals because of Paul Martin. Neither were actually partisan or even “liberal” before that. Martin talked a good talk and has been called the most conservative finance minister the Liberals ever had (in that he seemed to make conservative type promises – not that he kept them). He esposed free enterprise. Imagine the horror of Khan to get Dion – not only a socialist but a Professor of Socialism. A former separtist who has never in his life had a job that was not from the public purse. That in itself would certainly alienate business people like Khan and Emerson.
I think as Stephen Harper said that banning floor crossing gives the party leaders way too much power over their caucus members. Harper is quoted as saying although floor crossing is sometimes hurtful it is a part of our parliament and he would not change it in any way. I agree with him.
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As I said on the other thread, I don’t like floor-crossing but I recognize the necessity of it. Sir Winston Churchill crossed the floor, not once but twice… going from Conservative to Liberal and later back to Conservative… and I don’t think anyone would argue that Churchill wasn’t an honourable gentleman who served his country (and the world) well.
I think part of what I don’t like is how (of late) floor crossers get rewarded. Stronach, Brison & Emerson all landed cabinet posts for their crossing which smacks of unethical.
Khan isn’t getting anything he didn’t already have. He was a backbencher and he remains a backbencher. He retains his special adviser role. That’s it, folks.
At the riding association level, floor crossing must be a real kicker. Certainly, it was in Emerson’s riding although the folks leading the charge weren’t from Emerson’s riding.
At the end of the day, I don’t think the Khan crossing will have any kind of impact on the Conservatives or Dion. It’s just one of those things that happen.
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(the good) We lost Belinda. Good times!!!!
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I cannot disagree more with Shannon.
“MP’s are free agents. They are elected as individuals and can make their own choices.”
You don’t really believe that Khan was elected in the 905 because of his personaliy, do you? Or that Rob Anders was elected in Calgary West because he is the most qualified candidate? These two candidates were elected because of their parties – especially in the last election, which seriously polarized voters between the CPC and LPC.
Secondly, an elected Member of Parliament is not a “free agent” unless they are elected as an independent. And even then they’re not “free”. They are not their own boss because they work for the constituents. Because guess what this is? Democracy!
Khan is a constituent of Mississauga that has been chosen to represent his neighbours in parliament and serve the interest of the MAJORITY of constituents in the EDA. And which constituents elected Khan? Liberals! By a huge margin! Just like Emerson.
If Khan wanted to be “loyal” to CPC policies and remain the PM’s advisor, then he should have resigned his seat with the LPC and sat as an independent.
That is perhaps the only honourable way to represent the people in his riding who elected him to parlaiment. The other way, which he took, might be ‘permissable’ within the parliamentary system – but it is disrespectful to the majority of consituents who put him in parliament in the first place and it is extremely low and ultimately self-serving.
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Khan didn’t jump: he was pushed. I admire Harper for reaching out to people from different parties and wish I saw more of it. I strongly believe Canadians don’t really care whence ideas come, if they’re good ones. Nor should political leaders. Harper seems to understand that, and I respect him for it.
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“If Khan wanted to be “loyal” to CPC policies and remain the PM’s advisor, then he should have resigned his seat with the LPC and sat as an independent”
Um Dylan, I presume that you were just as outraged at Belinda and Scottie? Riiggghhhtt. You were high fiving with the rest of the Liberals when they crossed over.
The fact that the Liberals are constantly whining that the CPC doesn’t cooperate in parliment is thrown out the window by the PM seeking the advice of qualified people – regardless of political stripes. Unfortunately, Dion and the Liberals are such partisans that they refuse to see that parliment should work together and if there are party members who have particular skills or knowledge, why should they not “advise” the prime minister.
Hurts when the shoe is on the other foot, doesn’t it.
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I see your point , and agree in part , but if you remenber back with Belinda they talked the same talk , but then took full advantage of their new found power by hijacking parliament to re issue a new pork infested budget.
The NDP have to always talked out both corners of their mouth on these issues , however , until a law is passed in the commons banning such moves in parliament , floor crossing will continue as it has since Sir John A McDonald. All the polictal haymaking and grandstanding on the subject will amount to zero.
Belinda will stay put , Kieth Martin will stay put , Scott Brison will stay put , Mr Emerson will stay put , and so will Mr Kahn. If you remember Sheila Baby face Copps was considering a walk to the NDP , and very little was voiced by the NDP at the time.
The NDP know fully that the grandstanding is only for appearance to shore up support for the numskulls to stupid to understand that the status quo will stand , and you may have noted , that no one is ever really serious about jumping ship to the Mr 18% NDP crowd. So it only stands to reason that the NDP would make the most noice on the subject , and then stand to gain the most benefit.
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Dylan, I’m afraid that I have to disagree with your disagreement:
“Khan is a constituent of Mississauga that has been chosen to represent his neighbours in parliament and serve the interest of the MAJORITY of constituents in the EDA.”
The simple fact of the matter is that Mr. Khan has been elected by a majority of those constituents (who chose to vote) to represent the interests of the EDA in parliament.
He IS NOT elected to “serve the interests of the MAJORITY of constituents”.
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Another Sean (#8) you are very correct. An MP is elected and at that point he is there to represent ALL of his constituents.
To add some support to your argument though, Wajid Khan was not elected by a majority. He only got 45.95% of the vote, but still must represent everyone.
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Nowadays, 45.95% is a pretty decent result. Every floor crossing, it’s the same noise. The party who lost an MP screams and points fingers. The party who gained an MP snickers. Non-issue.
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Albertagirl – I’m not a Liberal. Search “Stronach” and “Brison” on my blog and you’ll find that I criticized their floor crossings as well. I’ve only been a member of two political parties in my life: The PC party of Canada, and the Alberta Progressive Conservative Association. Next time, do your homework before you make ridiculous speculation.
My question to everyone who thinks Khan’s defection was somehow honourable to both himself and his constituents is, do party politics not matter in an election?
Essentially I am hearing the argument that MPs should freely be allowed to go to whichever party THEY believe best represents their constituents regardless of the party they were elected with.
I understand that our parliamentary system is designed to elect the individual candidate during an election and NOT a party or leader – however, that is the way things are done idealistically. However, in practice this does not occur. Especially last election.
Either way, the CPC’s fate is controlled by the Socialist party of Canada – which is NEVER good for the country.
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I’m another not so big fan of floor-crossing, but I think Mac covers this one well when he states the following:
‘I think part of what I don’t like is how (of late) floor crossers get rewarded. Stronach, Brison & Emerson all landed cabinet posts for their crossing which smacks of unethical.
Khan isn’t getting anything he didn’t already have. He was a backbencher and he remains a backbencher. He retains his special adviser role. That’s it, folks.’
What really is illuminating with this particular case though is the Head Hypocrite, Dion, simply cannot seem to get his mind around the fact that ALL politicians should be there to serve the best interests of the country, not their political party.
And the Head Hypocrite sees no problem at all with remaining a citizen of a foreign land, while being the leader of his country of convenience.
So party loyalty comes ahead of your country, and your constituents, but divided loyalties regarding your country are fine.
How….Liberal!
Cheers!