Ineffective representation.
MPs vote with their party nearly every time, even when their riding disagrees.
MPs from the same party vote together almost every time, and caucuses have removed members who break ranks. These records do not measure whether a riding disagreed.
How often
In the 42nd Parliament, the average MP voted with their party 99.6% of the time. The most rebellious MP still voted with the party 96.6% of the time.
Samara Centre for Democracy, House Inspection, 42nd ParliamentMPs from the same party vote together over 99% of the time on average. One MP in the last two decades was first elected with no party.
Samara Centre for Democracy, The Reform ActThe whip enforces party discipline. On a vote, members are to vote with the party.
House of Commons Procedure and Practice, chapter 1
When an MP breaks ranks
In this part of the law, a caucus is the MPs of one recognized party.
Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.1A caucus may expel a member only if 20% of its members ask for a review and a majority agrees by secret ballot.
Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.2Those expulsion rules apply only if the caucus votes to adopt them after an election.
Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.8On 2 April 2019 the Prime Minister removed Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from the Liberal caucus.
CBC News, 2 April 2019On 20 January 2021 Conservative MPs voted by secret ballot to expel Derek Sloan from caucus.
CBC News, 20 January 2021
The figures above are agreement with the party. They are not a count of votes cast against a riding’s view.
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Sources
- Samara Centre for Democracy, House Inspection, 42nd Parliament
- Samara Centre for Democracy, The Reform Act
- House of Commons Procedure and Practice, chapter 1
- Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.1
- Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.2
- Parliament of Canada Act, section 49.8
- CBC News, 2 April 2019
- CBC News, 20 January 2021