Many Canadians may think that the floor-crossing bonanza in the House of Commons these days is not unusual and just a routine part of Canadian politics. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. What is currently happening, with MPs who were elected as Conservatives now crossing the floor to the Liberals, is very unique in Canadian history for a number of reasons.
The whole notion of floor crossing in general was made permissible in the context of an MP finding themselves in disagreement with the party with which they had been elected on a particular issue – usually an issue of conscience or a major policy difference on a particular issue – and decided they could no longer serve under that party. Floor crossings are historically very rare. There have been only two occasions in which there have been more numerous floor crossings than under the Carney Liberal government, and they took place under very different circumstances.
Canada’s founding Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was the leader who had the most floor crossings in one Parliamentary session. A total of nine MPs crossed the floor to the Conservatives in the 1860s. Five crossed the floor on one day in 1869. The circumstances were quite unique though and bear no resemblance to what is going on in the House of Commons today. All of the floor crossers that joined Macdonald’s government came from a fringe political party based in Atlantic Canada called the Anti-Confederation Party. This party’s goal was to undo the formation of the Dominion of Canada. This party ended up collapsing early on and its MPs split in joining either the Conservative or Liberal parties by the late 1860s.
The prime minister who presided over the second most floor crossings was Jean Chrétien, who had eight floor crossers from a combination of the NDP, the Progressive Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois and the Canadian Alliance. Most of these floor crossings happened around the year 2000, and at that time the conservative vote was split between the Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance parties. Chrétien did not need floor crossers to achieve a majority government as he had already been elected with a majority in general elections.
The current scenario of the Liberal government having a very deliberate strategy to poach, bribe, or otherwise attract other MPs to their side is unique in Canadian history. It is also unique in that the initial floor crossers last year did so mere months following the April 2025 federal election. This is completely inconsistent with what the purpose of allowing floor crossers in the first place was supposed to be.
The main problem with floor crossing is that it undermines democracy. Voters who thought they were supporting a particular political party just a few months before suddenly find that the person they supported has changed their partisan spots. Opposition to recent floor crossings has manifested itself in large protests in the ridings affected, where voters were outraged that their votes were being so disrespected.
The problem for democracy in general is that these floor crossing practises can imply that your vote is meaningless and can be nullified quite easily. At a time when Canada has seen serious disruptions in our elections in terms of foreign interference, unethical practices affecting nomination contests and actual threats against nominated candidates, Canadians deserve proof that our elections are fair and rules-based, not subject to interference of any kind.
Never before in Canadian history has floor crossing been used to obtain a majority government from the minority that Canadians chose to elect in a general election. Many Canadians are justifiably outraged that their vote became meaningless because of Liberals’ concerted campaign to attract MPs from across the aisle. Although courting floor crossers in this way is not illegal, it certainly is sleazy. Even incompetent Justin Trudeau was not this sleazy. Recent public opinion polls of Canadians have indicated a majority favour the notion of calling a by-election if an MP decides to cross the floor. This is a reasonable solution to ensure that democracy is respected and voters have the last say, not a handful of MPs who for personal reasons that we will likely never know decide to change teams.
Once any party has a majority government, they can dominate committees and can squelch any inquiries that expose government misdeeds. The Carney Liberal government has been highly secretive in its brief tenure to date. The fact they will now be able to silence committees that can keep them somewhat accountable should concern all Canadians. Just watch what happens in the next few weeks folks when Carney’s majority is finally achieved. It won’t be pretty and it won’t be in the best interests of Canada.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
