In Canadian politics, the act of floor-crossing, where opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) switch sides to join the ruling government, has a long history dating back to the earliest days of Parliament. While it is not uncommon, the recent trend of five opposition MPs defecting to the government within a short period is noteworthy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been in office for about a year, has seen a significant number of opposition MPs crossing the floor to join his caucus, placing him among the top prime ministers in terms of attracting opposition members during a parliamentary session.
Looking back at historical data from the Library of Parliament, CBC News compiled a list of MPs who have changed their political allegiance to join a governing caucus since Confederation. The analysis excluded MPs who left politics and returned under a different party, as well as those who left a governing caucus in protest only to rejoin later.
Sir John A. Macdonald stands out for welcoming the most opposition MPs during a single session. Nine members from the Anti-Confederation Party, a group opposed to the formation of Canada, joined Macdonald’s Conservatives in 1869, with five crossing over on the same day. This unique scenario was a result of the Anti-Confederation Party’s dissolution and its members dispersing between Macdonald’s party and the Liberals.
During the First World War, Prime Minister Robert Borden managed to attract a total of 17 MPs to his Unionist government, with one MP defecting during a parliamentary session. Borden’s success was largely due to the conscription issue, with sixteen Liberal MPs running and winning seats under his government in the 1917 election.
In a more contemporary context, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien also saw opposition MPs crossing the floor to join his government. Over his ten-year tenure, eight MPs from various parties such as the NDP, Progressive Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, and Canadian Alliance joined Chrétien’s Liberals, mirroring the diverse support that Prime Minister Mark Carney has been able to gather in a short period.
Unlike some of his predecessors, Carney has been able to secure floor-crossers from multiple parties within a short span of time, similar to Chrétien’s experience. However, unlike Carney, Chrétien did not rely on these defections to maintain a majority government.
Floor-crossing has played a role in Canadian political history, with other prime ministers like Paul Martin, Stephen Harper, and Justin Trudeau also benefiting from opposition MPs joining their ranks during minority governments. While previous instances have been contentious, none have been pivotal in helping a prime minister secure a majority government. Time will tell if Prime Minister Mark Carney will achieve this milestone in the upcoming byelections on April 13.
By: CBC News
