The Conservative Party of Canada was founded by a dirty backroom deal in 2003.
Then, 70+ MPs crossed the floor from the Alliance and PCs to the new CPC.
Did their constituents get a say?
They elected either a PC MP or a Reform MP and ended up with a CPC MP.
Not long ago, a bill tried to ban floor crossings.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner delivered a blunt, clear-eyed case for why that’s a terrible idea — and why she and her colleagues voted it down.
A "dirty, backroom deal" helped him win leadership of the Conservative Party of #Canada.
Then, another "dirty, backroom deal" with Kurek out in Battle River-Crowfroot got him back into the #HoC.
So, when it comes to "dirty, backroom deals," 🍎@PierrePoilievre🍎 is the #GOAT!
Here’s what then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper said about floor crossing when Emerson went from the Liberals to the Conservatives and he faced criticism from the NDP:
“Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, I believe members of Parliament should have that freedom and be accountable to their constituents for their decisions at the next election. However, in my observation, the only parties that really have this as an obsession are the parties that no one ever crosses to.”
The Conservatives were also happy to welcome former Liberal MP Leona Alleslev, who crossed the floor in 2018. The CPC was so happy, in fact, that they appointed Alleslev as Deputy Leader. At the time, the Conservatives did not call for restrictions on floor crossing, nor did they call for Alleslev to face a recall.