By most accounts, efforts by Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong to give MPs a stronger voice are welcome.
Some might suggest it’s about time a conversation was had.
For as many election cycles as we can remember the MP in power has had to stave off the notion that they are Ottawa’s man or woman in the riding, as opposed to our guy or gal in Ottawa.
The thinking is that once an MP gets elected they quickly toe the party line.
Chong however, despite some sniping from other parties, has remained outside the inner cabal. The obvious reminder of his independent streak strikes back to the day he voted against Prime Minister Harper’s proposal to recognize “the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada.”
The issue was larger than simply that, but it does highlight a principled stand which resulted in him stepping down from his role as Minister of Sport and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
In many ways Chong has sat on the sidelines since, in terms of being part of the inner circle. As we have mentioned often, the jobs of an MP or MPP can be very lonely and difficult when sitting on the back benches or having a portfolio in name only.
This is very much part of Chong’s push now – that those very people we send to Ottawa have an equal chance at accomplishing goals or advancing specific needs that come about at the local level.
The election of an MP begins locally. Local people join a local association and from there nominations are held and a candidate chosen. While not a common occurrence, it has happened that party brass inject themselves into the process by backing a candidate, actually nominating a candidate, or refusing to sign off on a candidate.
This top-down process really flies in the face of what members of local organizations cherish: the chance to participate.
The other concept that seems to be gaining traction in political circles is the notion of a leadership review should caucus question its confidence in its leader.
The mechanics of Chong’s reform bill are in the hands of legislators to consider. There is a long way to go from this point to see whether the bill becomes reality.
Let’s not forget Harper let Chong’s previous efforts to encourage a more meaningful question period die on the vine.
We, however, applaud the continued efforts to at least engage in the conversation of better government, better local input and the avoidance of a governing style that can be quite dictatorial.
