Here's a scary possibility for future elections.

[glarius]

What's to keep a person who secretly supports party "A" to run for party "B" in a riding where there is strong support for party "B". When he or she is elected as a member of party "B" he or she immediately switches to party "A", just as Emerson has done?....Carried out to an extreme, this could happen all over the country and could wreak havoc with parliament....Just a thought, but it's possible.:dilemma:

P.S...I believe there should be a law that a person must represent the party he or she was elected to represent for at least a year.

[Minstrel Boy]

1. I think something like that already happens,

apart from the massive switching of party affiliations. But there are some MPs who seem to have their hearts elsewhere.

I'm thinking of someone like Tom Wappel, who seems to be a Liberal for no other reason than it's been the local vehicle of electoral success.

[Spazito]

2. Yep, sure seems it could happen more often

Given there is no immediate penalty, there is no reason why they wouldn't do it. I bet none of the parties will bring in legislation to prohibit it because they may want to do it soon or in the future.

[hopeisaplace]

3. People running for MP should "voluntarily" sign "a promise statement"

that they will be loyal to the party they are being elected under and not cross to the other side...
...and they should print it in the local papers of the areas they are running in...because after this
"trick", people are going to doubt the allegiance of those running in the future.

[glarius]

4. good idea...n/t