Open Letter to the Parliament of Canada —- Serious Concerns Regarding Floor-Crossing by Members of Parliament and Gaps in the Electoral System
Honourable Members of the Parliament,
We are Canadian voters who care deeply about Canada’s democratic system and public integrity, including many members of the Chinese-Canadian community who have long been actively engaged in civic affairs. Recently, the incident in which MP Michael Ma abruptly changed party affiliation only eight months after being elected has triggered widespread public backlash, and has caused a substantive shock to voters’ trust in Canada’s democratic process. The facts make clear that this incident extends far beyond a single riding and lays bare long-standing structural deficiencies within Canada’s parliamentary system that are undermining citizens’ rights to political participation, expression, and representation on a nationwide scale.
We must clearly and unequivocally state:
Floor-crossing is not merely a personal political choice of an individual Member of Parliament. It is an action with clear representative significance and profound public consequences. The mandate of an elected MP derives from voters, who cast their ballots based on the party affiliation, policy platforms, and public commitments represented by the candidate, as well as an overall policy direction—not to authorize a candidate to arbitrarily overturn these premises after being elected and redefine the meaning of their votes or the election outcome.
Accordingly, any shift in an MP’s political position or party affiliation should not be driven by personal interest or individual preference. Such actions substantively alter the election result and constitute a breach of the voters’ mandate. When MPs are able to “defect” without bearing any political or institutional consequences, the harm extends beyond the representative relationship in a single riding to the legitimacy of the entire parliamentary democratic system and public trust in it.
Public sentiment has already spoken—clearly and forcefully.
An online petition calling for this MP’s resignation surpassed 37,000 signatures within just 28 hours. This is not a momentary emotional outburst, but a collective response by voters to the erosion of political integrity.
As the first Chinese-Canadian MP in Canada’s history to be involved in such a conduct, his action has also imposed additional and unjust collateral damage on the broader image of Chinese-Canadian political participation. For decades, the Chinese-Canadian community has been working to contribute to Canadian democracy with responsibility, transparency, and respect for democratic norms. This event has objectively undermined that hard-earned trust.
We firmly believe that:
Protecting the sanctity of the vote and repairing institutional loopholes is not a threat to democracy—it is an act of democratic preservation.
We therefore urge Parliament to take this matter seriously and to pursue meaningful reform.
Voters’ Demands for Amendments to the Elections Act and Parliamentary Rules
I. Democratic Re-Authorization Mechanism for MPs Who Change Party Affiliation
Any Member of Parliament who, after being elected and during their term of office, changes party affiliation, joins the governing party, or alters their position on confidence votes should trigger a democratic re-authorization process, to be effected through one of the following mechanisms:
Automatic resignation of the seat and the holding of a by-election; or
A constituency referendum or confirmatory vote held within a statutory timeframe, allowing voters to decide whether the MP should continue to serve.
II. Enhancing Political Transparency and Accountability
Any Member of Parliament who changes party affiliation should be subject to enhanced transparency and accountability requirements, including but not limited to the following obligations:
Submission of a written, publicly accessible statement outlining the reasons and justification for the change;
Participation in public question-and-answer sessions, briefings, or hearings within the original riding, in order to directly address constituents’ concerns;
Full disclosure of any political arrangements, position promises, or other forms of consideration, so as to protect the public’s right to know and maintain institutional credibility.
III. Distinguishing Continued Independent Status from Party Switching That Alters
Parliamentary Power
Legislation and parliamentary rules should clearly differentiate between the following circumstances :
an MP continuing to serve as an independent; and
an MP joining another political party—particularly the governing party—thereby materially affecting the balance of power in Parliament.
IV. Strengthening the Legal Status of Campaign Commitments and the Voters’ Mandate
Consideration should be given to recognizing a candidate’s clearly articulated party affiliation and core policy commitments during the campaign as integral elements of the voters’ mandate, and to according them appropriate legal standing within the Elections Act and parliamentary rules.
V. Preventing the Manipulation of Parliamentary Majorities through “Poaching”
A comprehensive review should be conducted to assess whether the current framework permits the composition of government or parliamentary majorities to be altered through the inducement or “poaching” of Members of Parliament. Clear and enforceable safeguards should be established to prevent such practices and to uphold the fundamental integrity of parliamentary democracy.
Conclusion
If election results can be altered after polling day without any requirement for voter re-authorization or confirmation, the harm extends beyond the integrity of a single contest to the very foundations of Canadian democracy. We therefore urge Parliament to acknowledge the clear and authentic public will reflected in these 37,000 signatures and to act with care and responsibility in closing institutional gaps and restoring public confidence in democratic processes.
Respectfully submitted,
Voters Concerned with the Future of Canadian Democracy and Public Integrity
