Liberal MPs Shoot Themselves in the Foot by Voting Against Having Power to Oust Leader, Says Peter Menzies

December 20, 2024 TruthUSA

Commentary

It is entirely the fault of disgruntled Liberal members of Parliament that they lack the ability to remove their leader. They made the decision to deny themselves this power.

Fairly late into its decade in government, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives passed the Reform Act. Introduced as an amendment to the Parliament of Canada Act by Conservative MP Michael Chong, its purpose was to enhance the power and influence of MPs, ensure none of them could be evicted from their caucus without peer approval, and most importantly, grant them the power to remove their party leader.

Unfortunately, the provisions of the bill were optional for all parties, and only the Conservatives chose to implement them. They used it to remove their previous leader, Erin O’Toole, after the 2021 election. This bill allows MPs to petition for a confidence vote on their leader, which led to Mr. O’Toole’s removal, appointment of an interim leader, and a vote for a new leader, Pierre Poilievre, by party members.

This act serves as a necessary check on the power of the Prime Minister’s Office, preventing the prime minister and his staff from overstepping their boundaries and ensuring MPs have a say in party leadership.

There are likely Liberal MPs who regret their unanimous decisions to pass on the power to remove their current leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after each election since the bill’s passage in 2014.

A small group of Liberal MPs have tried to force Mr. Trudeau to resign due to the government’s declining popularity. Without the rights granted by the Reform Act, their options are limited.

Most of them would lose their seats if they vote against their own government in a confidence vote, so they are left with little power besides being frustrated or protesting against certain legislation.

Without the provisions they denied themselves, Liberal MPs are essentially powerless and are ineffectual by their own choosing.

This lack of power has given Mr. Trudeau and his Chief of Staff dictatorial powers within the parliamentary system, which is concerning for the nation.

The consequences of their actions might lead to significant risks for the nation, such as the potential impact of 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports threatened by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Despite efforts by provincial premiers, Mr. Trudeau remains the target of Mr. Trump’s criticisms, reflecting a sense of weakness that could have been avoided.

The situation may have been different if Liberal MPs had not willingly stripped themselves of power, and now the country may face significant consequences.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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