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Thunder Bay-Superior North candidates discuss appropriateness of crossing the floor

Voters in Thunder Bay-Superior North know a thing or two about members of Parliament crossing the House of Commons floor.
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Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Andrew Foulds says an MP that changes parties should resign and try their luck in a byelection.

Voters in Thunder Bay-Superior North know a thing or two about members of Parliament crossing the House of Commons floor.

Twice in the past decade the electorate has voted in a representative under one party banner, only to see him finish the term wearing different party colours.

In 2007, after representing the Liberals for nearly two decades, MP Joe Comuzzi left the party to sit as an independent, refusing to toe the party line and vote against the Conservative budget. Ultimately he wound up with the Conservatives, retiring before the next election.

Three years ago MP Bruce Hyer quit the NDP under similar circumstances, after being censured for voting with the wishes of his constituents in mind and against the controversial long-gun registry, drawing the ire of new party leader Thomas Mulcair.

Today Hyer enters his fifth election as one of two Green Party MPs and said there most definitely is an appropriate time for elected officials to change sides.

And, he added, there’s nothing in the Constitution that says those who do choose a new affiliation should step aside and run again in a byelection.

“In a parliamentary system, they don’t vote for parties, they don’t vote for prime ministers, they vote for MPs to represent them. We don’t have a U.S. system here where they elect a president,” Hyer said.

Hyer also pointed out that from Confederation until 1970, when then prime minister Pierre Trudeau changed the law, party names weren’t even on the ballot.

The man who hopes to replace Hyer under the NDP banner said unequivocally voters can expect him to remain with the party throughout the term.

Foulds said he thinks voters deserve to know the politics of the people they put in office and trust they’ll remain true to their roots.

“They need to know that they’re voting for a person. They need to know the values of that person and the integrity of that person. They also need to know what they’re voting for when it comes to the political party and their platforms,” said Foulds, adding anyone who crosses the floor should resign and take their chances in byelection.

“When you have floor crossings, they’re changing party platforms and I think people deserve to know where people are coming from, from the very core.”

Second-time Conservative candidate Richard Harvey, the runner-up in 2011, said his party allows MPs to vote according to their conscience and constituents.

“It doesn’t come up,” he said, choosing not to weigh in on whether or not a floor crossing should trigger a byelection.

“I do believe that what’s really important to recognize that people are voting for both the individual (and the party). The reality is there is a combination of both.”

Liberal candidate Patty Hajdu called floor-crossings a real slap in the face to those who have worked hard to put a candidate in office.

“It really is a team sport. You’re doing this as the face of the Liberal party in Thunder Bay-Superior North,” she said. “Of course you have independent opinions, and sometimes you may have to vote against you party.

“But the honourable thing in that case is to take the discipline, move on and then go on to do great things, which we have seen other MPs do.”



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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