Floor crossing drama took centre stage on this week’s episode of Inside Politics, as host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, debated the latest defection on Parliament Hill — and whether Canada’s rules need to change.

The discussion followed the surprise move by a Conservative MP who had publicly ruled out switching parties, citing family reasons and pledging loyalty to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, only to later join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals. The move, which reportedly includes a role as a special adviser, has reignited questions about inducements and backroom negotiations.

Klein argued the practice has reached a breaking point. “If you want to cross the floor, it should trigger a byelection,” he said, insisting voters elect candidates under a party banner and deserve a fresh say if that allegiance changes.

Koop, who previously opposed automatic byelections, said he is reconsidering. He referenced an alternative proposal from political scientist Alex Marland, which suggests a 30-day cooling-off period during which MPs would sit as Independents before formally joining another party. “These floor crossings create a tawdry media circus,” Koop said, arguing that weeks of political gossip overshadow substantive issues facing Canadians.

Pinsky maintained that while floor crossing is a long-standing parliamentary tradition, he finds the practice troubling. He suggested potential legal challenges from donors or campaign workers who supported candidates affiliated with one party. “It’s a misrepresentation,” he said, adding that greater transparency about any inducements should be required.

Beyond the partisan drama, the panel expressed frustration that attention on defections is diverting focus from pressing national concerns — including trade tensions with the United States, looming recession risks, and federal deficits.

Koop criticized the current government for what he described as a lack of tangible accomplishments despite heavy public messaging. “We still don’t have tariff relief,” he noted, adding that economic pressures and job losses deserve more scrutiny than political manoeuvring.

The panel also speculated about whether more MPs could cross the floor ahead of a potential spring election. With Parliament finely balanced, even one or two defections could shift political dynamics, though Koop suggested diminishing returns if the government secures only a razor-thin majority.

As Klein concluded, the episode underscored growing public unease with political deal-making behind closed doors — and renewed calls for reforms to restore voter confidence.

Read Klein, Koop, and Pinsky at www.winnipegsun.com