By-election when MP crosses floor

AI summary

Petitioners ask Parliament to amend the Parliament of Canada Act so MPs who join another registered party must vacate their seat and trigger a by-election; they may still sit as independents. The government responds that MPs may change affiliation without resigning and general elections are the chief accountability mechanism.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled In Canada's parliamentary system, MPs are elected to represent their constituents under a party banner, but unrestricted floor-crossing can erode voter trust amid rising political corruption and scandals; Recent crossings, such as those by Conservative MPs to the Liberals, have occurred without the original party straying from its platform, raising concerns of opportunism over principle; Voters deserve immediate accountability when an MP switches to another party mid-term, potentially altering Parliament's balance without endorsement; and Allowing MPs to sit as independents preserves conscience without triggering elections, but joining another party should require voter confirmation. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada,, call upon the House of Commons to amend the Parliament of Canada Act to require that any Member of Parliament who crosses the floor to join another registered political party must vacate their seat and trigger a by-election in their riding, while permitting them to sit as an independent without such a requirement.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Kevin Lamoureux Canada has one of the most trusted parliaments in the world (OECD Trust Survey, 2023). Our democratic system is designed so that Members of Parliament are elected by their constituents and are held accountable by those constituents at every election cycle. General elections are the fundamental mechanism by which voters hold elected representatives accountable. According to the rules governing the House of Commons, while most Members of Parliament are elected with a party affiliation, “they are not obliged to retain that party label during the whole of their mandate. A member who changes party allegiance, or who decides to sit as an independent, is under no obligation to resign their seat and stand for re-election; entitlement to sit as a member is not contingent upon political affiliation” (House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition, 2025). Members of Parliament represent their constituents, and are free to exercise their judgment on what is best for them. These are the current rules which apply to all members of the House of Commons. Outside of general elections, Canada’s democracy enables and encourages all Canadians to make their voices heard with respect to the day-to-day democratic process through a variety of means. This includes reaching out to Members of Parliament on the work they do in the House of Commons and committee meetings, or through their constituency offices. More specifically, Canadians can write to their Members of Parliament directly on issues of concern or matters of interest to them, start or sign petitions, and attend live debates and proceedings, as well as most committee meetings in the House of Commons and the Senate, whenever Parliament is sitting. Committees also seek input from the public on many ongoing studies that are posted publicly. Thank you for taking the time to participate in Canada’s democracy by sharing your thoughts on this issue and making your voice heard.