Legislation aimed at empowering individual members of parliament in the House of Commons was passed in the house on Feb. 25.
Wellington Halton-Hills MP, Michael Chong a long-time advocate of a stronger role for individual MPs, introduced The Reform Act in December of 2013.
On Wednesday, Chong thanked his colleagues on both sides of the House of Commons for their support of his Private Members’ Bill, Bill C-586, the Reform Act, 2014. The Reform Act was adopted 260 to 17, with support from MPs in all parties.
The Reform Act is an effort to strengthen Canada’s democratic institutions by strengthening the role of elected MPs in the House of Commons. The proposals in the Reform Act will reinforce the principle of responsible government, by making the executive more accountable to the legislature and ensuring that party leaders are more accountable to elected MPs.
“I want to thank my colleagues for their hard work and contributions to this important legislation,” Chong stated. “That the Reform Act has gotten this far is a testament to the elected House of Commons and its ability to respond to Canadians’ desire for democratic reform.”
Since its introduction in December 2013, the Reform Act has seen considerable debate and discussion. In April 2014, Chong introduced a revised version of the bill, Bill C-586, based on the feedback received from constituents and Canadians across the country. In January 2015, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee made further amendments providing political parties in the House of Commons flexibility to implement the new rules, while maintaining the principles of the original bill.
“The Reform Act has gotten this far because tens of thousands of Canadians contacted their MPs to express their support,” Chong said. “The Senate should review this bill and pass it into law before the end of June. Canadians are watching.”
The Reform Act is set to enter the Senate of Canada on March 10. The Senate must pass the bill before the end of June, in order for it to become law.
The act, introduced by Chong, aims to strengthen the role of elected MPs rather than having power concentrated in offices of the prime minister and party leaders.
If enacted, it would end the party leaders’ power to veto candidates that have been nominated by local party members in their riding associations.
The proposal also recommends that MPs in the caucus, rather than the leader, would decide if any MP would be expelled or readmitted to the caucus.
It also recommends that caucus MPs elect their own caucus chair and that each party vote on these rules, following every election, in a recorded vote.
While parties would continue to choose their leaders however they wish – leaders would require the ongoing confidence of their MPs.
