The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Moore Butts -- Is It Time For New Floor Crosser Rules?
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Mar 17, 2026 
Gerald Butts, political strategist and former senior adviser, and James Moore, former Conservative cabinet minister, trade sharp analysis on recent MPs switching parties. They debate whether crossovers should prompt by-elections, recall-style accountability, or sitting as independents. They also probe motivations, historical patterns, and the role of former officials speaking out.
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History Shows Floor Crossings Are Routine
- Floor crossings are historically common but vary in public reaction depending on timing and effect on parliamentary math.
- Gerald Butts notes over 300 crossings in Canadian history, averaging two a year, but recent ones draw more scrutiny as they move the government toward a majority.
Don’t Force By-Elections For Every Switch
- Resist mandatory by-elections for every party switch because they are costly and disruptive, especially in a minority parliament.
- James Moore highlights multi-million-dollar costs and suggests political accountability will occur at the next election instead.
Keith Martin’s Stepwise Floor Crossing Model
- Keith Martin set an example by sitting as an independent, consulting constituents, then running for a new party nomination before formally joining.
- James Moore recounts Martin's stepwise approach as a model that reduced cynicism around switching parties.