Ask permission before crossing the floor

The private members’ bill set to be debated tomorrow is C-306, put forward by Mathieu Ravignat, the NDP MP for Pontiac.

This enactment provides that a member’s seat in the House of Commons will be vacated and a by-election called for that seat if the member, having been elected to the House as a member of a political party or as an independent, changes parties or becomes a member of a party, as the case may be. A member’s seat will not be vacated if the member, having been elected as a member of a political party, chooses to sit as an independent.

There have been at least a half dozen attempts at similar legislation on floor crossing. Peter Stoffer’s bill is still alive. Jeff Jedras’ objections probably still stand.