Angry in the Great White North

The NDP has issued a statement via their website on Wajid Khan:

Peter Stoffer MP (Sackville-Eastern Shore) says Wajid Khan’s defection to the Conservative Party is undemocratic and Harper should not accept him into his caucus.

“Prime Minister Harper continues to say that their government is more transparent and accountable to the public. Accepting an MP from another party in his caucus is as far from accountable and democratic as it can get. Harper also erred in judgement when he allowed former Liberal MP David Emerson to cross the floor and join him in cabinet and appointed Minister Michael Fortier to a cabinet post even though he does not hold a seat in the House of Commons.”

"I feel very strongly that as MPs, our political future must always be decided by our constituents,” said Stoffer. “If a Member of Parliament wishes to cross the floor, they should resign their seat and seek nomination under the new banner for a by-election or the next general election.”

Under the circumstances, the NDP might have chosen to say nothing. Nevertheless, they are taking the public position that, despite the unsaid benefit to the NDP, Khan ought not to have joined the Conservatives. Moreover, he ought to have resigned the seat, even though the outcome might well have been a Liberal win in a by-election and no net benefit to the NDP.

Of course, it's easy to speak of principles when you yourself have no direct action that can be taken. If the NDP had it in their power, somehow, to force Khan's resignation, that would have been the real test. But even though it is easier to just say the right thing when you don't have it in your power to do the right thing, saying the right thing still counts for something. If nothing else, it puts the NDP on record. Should one day a Liberal MP, say Scott Brison, decide to defect to the NDP, the NDP will have to refuse to accept him into caucus (in Scott Brison's case, that might be a wise choice anyway, since he would almost certainly run for the leadership of the NDP within a week of joining).

So bravo to the NDP for being consistent in their position, even though it might hurt them one day. I don't happen to agree with it, but it's good to see some consistency in the opposition benches in Ottawa.