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

A billion-dollar price tag for refugee health care and rising global tensions dominated this week’s episode of Inside Politics, as host Kevin Klein and Winnipeg Sun columnists Royce Koop and Lawrence Pinsky, KC, examined the cost of federal policies — and the broader anxiety many Canadians are feeling about the world.

The discussion began with new figures from the Parliamentary Budget Officer showing the Interim Federal Health Program, which provides medical coverage for asylum claimants and certain other migrants, is projected to cost roughly $1 billion annually. The program covers services including dental care, vision care and pharmaceuticals — benefits not universally available to all Canadians under provincial plans.

Koop noted the only reason the updated costs became public was that Conservative MPs pressed the issue at committee. He argued that while providing basic care to those awaiting refugee decisions may be defensible, the scale and scope of the benefits raise serious questions — particularly at a time when Canada is running large deficits.

“Canada used to have a broad political consensus on immigration,” Koop said. “Now that consensus is fracturing.” He suggested that overspending and poor transparency are eroding public confidence in the system.

Pinsky was more blunt, calling the program emblematic of fiscal mismanagement layered onto rising national debt. He pointed to Canada’s weakening dollar and growing deficits, arguing such expenditures contribute to broader economic strain.

Klein questioned the return on investment, contrasting the $1 billion health-care cost with record food bank usage and homelessness. “If we’re spending that kind of money,” he said, “what are Canadians getting back?”

The panel also criticized the growth of the federal civil service — reportedly up roughly 80% over the past decade — and questioned whether Canadians are seeing improved services as a result.

Midway through the episode, breaking news added a new dimension: the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against certain tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Pinsky called it a decisive constitutional moment in the United States, while cautioning Canadian leaders not to inflame rhetoric. Koop argued Canada must avoid emotional reactions and focus on preserving critical trade relationships.

The conversation ended on a more personal note, with Klein raising concerns expressed by his son about global instability and the possibility of wider conflict. While Koop downplayed fears of a world war, Pinsky acknowledged rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, and the need for sober awareness without alarmism.

As the episode concluded, the panel emphasized the importance of measured debate in uncertain times — urging Canadians to stay informed without succumbing to fear.

Prime Ministerial power and provincial popularity were put under the microscope on the latest episode of Inside Politics, but the sharpest exchange wasn’t about slogans or campaigns — it was about money: how governments spend it, how politicians earn it, and why taxpayers keep footing the bill.

Host Kevin Klein was joined by Winnipeg Sun columnists Lawrence Pinsky, KC, and political science professor Royce Koop to unpack a new Fraser Institute report ranking premiers on fiscal performance. The study, authored by the institute’s director of fiscal studies Jake Fuss, measured provincial leaders on government spending, taxes and debt. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ranked first, Ontario Premier Doug Ford placed second — and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew came dead last with an overall score of just 10.9%, a number that stunned the panel.

Koop said Manitoba’s poor ranking was driven by rapid program spending increases and weak performance on debt and deficits, warning that governments can’t “spend and spend” forever without consequences. Pinsky agreed, arguing poor fiscal policy eventually leads to higher taxes, fewer services, or both — and Manitobans are already feeling the squeeze through inflation and strained public services.

Klein pushed the conversation deeper, arguing fiscal recklessness is fueled by a political culture that rewards short-term vote buying. Premiers, he said, think only in four-year election cycles, spending taxpayer dollars to look like heroes while ignoring long-term consequences. That led to a broader debate: what politicians are paid, and whether they deserve annual raises while Canadians struggle.

Klein noted that federal MPs are set to make more than $210,000 annually after April 1, with raises that continue even during economic hardship, while many Canadians face rising food costs and growing reliance on food banks. “How do you take that raise,” he asked, “and then tell people you need cuts?”

Pinsky argued public office comes with real personal costs and that competitive pay helps attract qualified candidates — but suggested raises could be redirected to charities in tough times. Koop raised the idea of tying political pay to performance metrics such as balanced budgets, a concept Klein embraced, arguing taxpayers should not reward failure.

The episode ended with Klein inviting viewers to weigh in: do politicians make too much — and should their pay be linked to results?