Dear Mme. St-Denis,
You have done what I thought impossible: for the first time ever I agree with the NDP’s call to have a floor-crosser step down!
I’ve never been partial to the notion that ordinary MPs needs to provoke an unnecessary by-election to be able to evolve their political ideals and policies. Canadian democracy is ill served by the orthodox obsession with partisan affiliation. I hope for floor crossings in all directions: by MPs, party members and staff. I did it myself, I can assure you it feels a lot better to be in a party more aligned with my ideals.
I can see how a newly unexpectedly elected NDP MP could have rapidly evolving points of view and even how they might want to jump ship. But that’s not what you said today.
No, instead: “Les électeurs ont voté pour Jack Layton. Jack Layton est mort.”
If that’s truly what you believe, then you shouldn’t sit in the House as anything other than an NDP MP or an independent — to do otherwise is illogical and worse, deeply offensive.
You seem to think you’re entitled to this seat, even though by your own admission definition you didn’t win it. Which, I suppose, makes you perfectly at home in your new caucus. Though it also begs the question: if you truly feel voters elected Jack, why didn’t you resign your seat in the House of Commons?
This post first appeared on Ian Capstick’s blog.
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