CPACA

Subject: Urgent Call for Electoral Integrity Reform and By-elections Following Recent Floor Crossings

Dear Prime Minister and Members of Parliament,

We are a group of concerned Canadian citizens. Many of us chose to call Canada home because we deeply value its democratic institutions and the rule of law—principles that form the bedrock of our society.

We are writing to express our profound concern regarding the increasing frequency of Members of Parliament switching party affiliations during a sitting Parliament. Most recently, the decision by Lori Idlout (Nunavut) to leave the New Democratic Party to join the Liberal Party, following similar shifts involving Michael Ma (MarkhamUnionville), Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton Riverbend), and Chris d'Entremont (Acadie-Anapolis), has highlighted a significant gap between the mandate granted by voters and the subsequent political alignment of their representatives.

While we acknowledge that floor crossing is technically permissible under the current Westminster traditions, we believe it undermines the democratic contract. When Canadians cast their ballots, they are endorsing not just an individual, but a specific party platform and a set of governing principles. When an MP changes parties without a renewed mandate, that original democratic consent is effectively nullified.

To restore public trust and ensure parliamentary accountability, we formally request the following:

Immediate By-elections for Affected Ridings: We call for by-elections to be held in the ridings of Nunavut, Markham Unionville, Edmonton Riverbend, and Acadie-Anapolis. The constituents in these regions deserve the opportunity to confirm whether their current representation still aligns with their political will following these changes in party affiliation.

Legislative Reform on Floor Crossing: We urge Parliament to consider modernizing the Canada Elections Act or House of Commons Standing Orders to require that any MP who leaves the party under which they were elected must either sit as an Independent for the remainder of the term or trigger an automatic by-election upon joining a new caucus.

In an era where public confidence in democratic institutions is fragile, and where concerns regarding political integrity, foreign interference and transparency are at the forefront of national discourse, it is more important than ever to ensure that every seat in the House of Commons is backed by a clear and current mandate from the people.

We respectfully ask the Government of Canada and all Members of Parliament to initiate a formal discussion on these reforms to strengthen the relationship between voters and their elected representatives.

We look forward to your response on how you intend to address these concerns and uphold the integrity of our electoral system.

Sincerely,

[Your Name / Organization Name]

[Contact Information]