Schmale would prefer to see ‘floor crossers’ sit as independents
For the fourth time since being elected prime minister last spring, Mark Carney has welcomed a member of the opposition to the Liberal Party ranks. On March 9, New Democratic Party (NDP) member of parliament Lori Idlout from Nunavut crossed the floor to join Carney, all but guaranteeing the Liberals a working majority government once three more federal by-elections are fought on April 13 in ridings that are deemed to be at minimum Liberal-friendly.
Acting NDP leader Don Davies said in a statement shared with the press that “the party was very disappointed” in the decision Idlout had made, and that the party continues to oppose the practice of floor crossing. Davies reminded the press New Democrats believe that members who cross the floor should have to fight an immediate by-election to give local voters a chance to weigh in on the member’s decision.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre took to social media to attack the move by Idlout accusing Carney of “using backroom deals to seize a costly majority that voters rejected, which enable Liberals to balloon the debt, inflate the cost of living, block resources and turn criminals lose on our streets.”
Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes Conservative MP Jamie Schmale, said floor crossings “may frustrate some people,” but they are legally permissible.
He notes that among Westminster-style democracies such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, “there are no federal laws requiring a representative to resign or face a by-election after switching parties.”
Schmale did point out that floor crossings in a minority parliament can have an outsized influence on the balance of power in Ottawa.
“In a minority parliament like we have now, where no party holds the majority of the seats (172) a single floor crossing can change the dynamics. Such a move could potentially hand a government a majority or create a change in power without a general election.”
When asked if the option to cross the floor should be limited, or even eliminated, Schmale did note that in other nations around the world the practice has been all but stopped by legislation.
“Some parliamentary democracies across the globe explicitly ban the practice to ensure stability. Countries like India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh have ‘anti-defection’ laws that can result in a member being removed from parliament if they switch parties. In New Zealand a law exists that allows the party leader to request the expulsion of a member of parliament who switches affiliations.”
Schmale said he would prefer that if a member of parliament feels the need to leave a particular party that they should sit as an independent and run in the next election under a new banner.
Kawartha Lakes Weekly asked Schmale why members continue to cross the floor, especially when so many are defeated in the next general election representing their new party.
“Historically, switching parties can be risky. As those who cross the floor are often less likely to be re-elected in subsequent elections, voters may view the move as opportunistic rather than entirely serving the best interests of the community (they were elected to represent).”
Idlout joins former Conservatives Chris D’Entremont, Michael Ma and Matt Jeneroux as members who have also crossed the floor since the first session of the 45th parliament opened for business May 26,2025.
I agree with MP Schmale that an MP who wants to change parties should sit as an Independent until such time as they can face either a by-election or a general election. But these are unusual times. Trump is in the Whitehouse and his leadership has upset the global security and trade apple cart so Canada has has to scramble to stay afloat, even to stay sovereign, some might argue. Polls have been affected by a patriotic reaction. MP Idlout may have consulted her constituents and/or the polls and decided she might best represent Nunavut by aligning with the LPC, given Canada’s recent $40-billion+ Arctic and Northern Region strategic plan to modernize defence infrastructure, enhance surveillance, and improve transportation in the North. Especially given the polls, she may feel she might have the best chance of re-election as a member of the LPC too, although we all know polls can be fickle and that what goes up must come down eventually. https://338canada.com/62001e.htm. Poor Avi Lewis, though; this was not the endorsement he needed to lead the NDP back to opposition. So far as Jeneroux, Ma and D’Entremont go, their choice is their right even if it comes back to bite them in the next election. What I don’t want, really, is for the government to get a majority with these by-elections. I think PM Carney is nuts to not find some justification to call an election given his current status in the polls, but an election doesn’t seem to be on his agenda for the foreseeable. Pierre Poilievre’s opposition has taken a supportive approach and that is playing well with voters although that is not yet reflected in the polls. Like other Canadians, I don’t want the cost of an election right now, so soon after the last one, but I would prefer to know where we stand. Any majority Carney gets with by-elections will be weak so any efforts to pull out all the stops to pursue a more progressive agenda will be limited by the chance an NDP or LPC MP might cross the floor to join the Conservative Party caucus and destroy his majority. But an election now would be like a wartime election: risky. If the government and the opposition can work together to best serve Canada, I will be happy for now.