Here\u2019s\u00a0the crucial thing that those pundits miss: What the voters think.<\/p>\n
Published Apr 16, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 5\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n When politicians mess up and go against voters\u2019 wishes, those voters should have the ability to fire them between elections.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n After all, voters are supposed to be the boss in a democracy.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Canadian Taxpayers Federation asked Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre if he supports recall legislation for members of Parliament.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a longstanding supporter of the concept that voters should be able to recall their member of Parliament,\u201d\u00a0Poilievre said. \u201cIf you work as a barber or a mechanic or a waitress or a businessperson and you mess up at work and you don\u2019t do what you\u2019re saying, you get fired, but in politics, you get the rest of your term and your paycheque, so let\u2019s take a look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Poilievre made the comments shortly after MP Marilyn Gladu\u00a0crossed the floor\u00a0from the Conservatives to the Liberals.<\/p>\n Tensions often run high when MPs switch parties.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0especially true if the crossing moves a government from minority to majority status.<\/p>\n Constituents who live in ridings that vote in one direction often express frustration with floor crossers, as many are now doing in Gladu\u2019s riding. One Canadian even wrote to the\u00a0National Post\u00a0and\u00a0asked, \u201cWhy bother to vote?\u201d<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When floor crossings happen, talking heads and media pundits like to give hot takes about what it means in the halls of power.<\/p>\n But\u00a0here\u2019s\u00a0the crucial thing that those pundits miss: What the voters think.<\/p>\n Recall neglistation hold MPs accountable<\/p>\n The fair and balanced way to deal with floor crossing, along with a host of other issues, is to bring in national recall legislation so voters can hold their MP accountable between elections.<\/p>\n With recall legislation, if an MP runs afoul of their constituents, voters in that riding can collect petition signatures. If those voters gather enough signatures, they can force a byelection to recall their MP.<\/p>\n When a byelection is called, the MP can choose to run for their position again and they may or may not win the vote.<\/p>\n Recall legislation has been successful in Canadian provinces.<\/p>\n Alberta has recall legislation for provincial,\u00a0municipal\u00a0and school board politicians. British Columbia has had recall legislation for provincial politicians since the mid-1990s.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In Alberta, residents\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0village of Ryley\u00a0used recall to help punt their mayor after municipal spending nearly doubled during the mayor\u2019s tenure and the mayor expensed $5,000 to attend meetings without council approval.<\/p>\n In B.C., MLA Paul Reitsma was\u00a0caught\u00a0sending fake letters\u00a0to\u00a0a newspaper\u00a0editor and resigned when it\u00a0became clear that enough signatures had been collected to recall him.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n OPINION: Federal carbon taxes are still hurting Canadians<\/p>\n <\/a> OPINION: The CBC is a bloated and unaccountable blob<\/p>\n![\"041626-qp0666\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qp0666_302600000-e1776356799292.jpg\")
Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa April 15, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable \/Photo by Blair Gable \/ PostmediaArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.0.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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