2022-05 PARTY SWITCHING IN PARLIAMENT
Whereas #1 parties are the primary mechanism linking voters and politicians in modern mass democracies; and
Whereas #2 20 MPs in Canada have switched parties in the past decade and 340 MPs have switched parties since Confederation, and there is no existing convention, legislation, or parliamentary rule that deals with crossing the floor; and
Whereas #3 when elected by the people one has the moral responsibility to respect the choice of the people; and
Whereas #4 those opposed to floor-crossing say that floor-crossing devalues their vote, and the MP should step down and recontest his/her seat in a by-election; and
Whereas #5 the electorate punishes MPs who switch parties to further their own careers while sparing those who set out to serve their constituencies; therefore, be it
Resolved #1 that the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) establish as policy that politicians who change political alliances after being duly elected be required to resign, thereby triggering a by-election; and be it further
Resolved #2 that the NCWC urge the Government of Canada to legislate that politicians who change political alliances after being duly elected be required to resign, thereby triggering a by-election.