新民主党（NDP）此前确实提议过相关立法，要求更换政党的国会议员（MP）必须通过补选寻求连任，但此类法案从未在加拿大国会获得通过。包括皮埃尔·波利耶夫尔（Pierre Poilievre）在内的保守党议员过去曾对这类提案投过反对票。
It is correct that the NDP has previously proposed legislation that would require MPs who change parties to seek re-election in a by-election, but such bills have never been adopted in the Canadian Parliament. Conservative MPs, including Pierre Poilievre, have voted against such proposals in the past.
Key Points
核心要点
- 新民主党的提案：新民主党议员不时会在国会提出私人法案，旨在强制任何“跨越议事厅”（即更换党籍）的国会议员参加补选。
- 保守党的反对：例如在 2012 年，皮埃尔·波利耶夫尔曾与其他保守党议员一起，投票反对了一项由新民主党议员提出的法案。该法案原本要求“跨党派者”在正式更换政党前必须参加补选。
- 现行法律：根据现行的《加拿大国会法案》，法律并不要求国会议员必须留在其当选时所属的政党内。他们可以随时更改所属党派，并继续担任国会议员，直到下届大选或其席位因其他原因空缺为止。
- 理由：包括往届保守党和自由党领袖在内的反对强制补选人士通常认为，国会议员应有权独立行动，并在下届大选中向选民负责，而不是通过立即补选。选民可以在投票时对这种投机行为进行惩罚。
It is correct that the NDP has previously proposed legislation that would require MPs who change parties to seek re-election in a by-election, but such bills have never been adopted in the Canadian Parliament. Conservative MPs, including Pierre Poilievre, have voted against such proposals in the past.
Key Points
- NDP Proposals: From time to time, NDP MPs have introduced private member's bills in Parliament aimed at forcing a by-election for any Member of Parliament who "crosses the floor" (changes party affiliation).
- PC Opposition: In 2012, for example, Pierre Poilievre was among the Conservative MPs who voted against an NDP MP's bill that would have forced floor-crossers to run in a by-election before officially switching parties.
- Current Law: Under the current Parliament of Canada Act, MPs are not legally required to stay with the party under whose banner they were elected. They can switch affiliation at any time and continue to sit as a Member of Parliament until the next general election or if their seat becomes vacant for other reasons.
- Reasoning: Those who oppose mandatory by-elections, including past Conservative and Liberal leaders, often argue that MPs should have the freedom to act independently and be accountable to their constituents at the next general election, rather than through an immediate by-election. Voters may punish opportunistic behaviour at the ballot box.
