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e-7315 (Parliament and politics)

E-petition
Initiated by Jennifer Wu from Richmond Hill, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Prime Minister

Whereas:
  • The democratic mandate of a Member of Parliament is established by voters based on the political party and platform represented during a general election;
  • Voters cast ballots with the expectation that an elected Member will continue to represent the party affiliation under which they were elected;
  • A Member of Parliament crossing the floor to join a different party significantly alters the representation chosen by the electorate without providing voters the opportunity to reconsider that choice; and
  • Such changes in partisan affiliation can undermine democratic accountability, and Canadian citizens and residents require a formal mechanism to hold Members of Parliament accountable when a fundamental change in party membership occurs mid-term.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Introduce legislation to establish a recall mechanism for any Member of Parliament who leaves their caucus to join another political party;
2. Mandate that a recall petition process be automatically triggered within an electoral district once a Member of Parliament formally joins a different political party than the one under which they were elected;
3. Establish a requirement that if a recall petition receives signatures equivalent to at least 20% of the total votes cast in that riding during the previous federal election within 90 days, the seat shall be declared vacant; and
4. Require that a by-election be called immediately following a successful recall petition to allow voters to determine their representation under the altered circumstances.
Open for signature
April 1, 2026, at 11:29 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
May 31, 2026, at 11:29 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Vincent Ho (Richmond Hill South)
June 2, 2026 (Petition No. 451-01016)
Photo - Vincent Ho
Richmond Hill South
Conservative Caucus
Ontario