Conservative MP Michael Chong holds a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on December 3, 2013.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The minority of MPs who voted against Conservative MP Michael Chong's Reform Act are divided in their reasons – with Conservatives saying they shouldn't have the power to overthrow their party leader and New Democrats saying the bill doesn't go far enough.
Mr. Chong's Reform Act is aimed at reining in the authority of party leaders and empowering individual MPs. The bill, C-586, passed second reading overwhelmingly on Wednesday evening by a vote of 253 to 17. Those voting against it included 10 New Democrats, six Conservatives and one Liberal.
The Globe contacted those 17 on Thursday to ask their reasons for opposing the vote. Five responded. Conservative MPs David Wilks and Bryan Hayes each said they disagreed with the bill's proposal to formalize MPs' powers to trigger a leadership review, and ultimately overthrow a party leader. Both said that power should rest with party members.
"Really, to me, it was a slap in the face to the general electorate that would elect a leader at a national convention," said Mr. Wilks, a B.C. MP. Mr. Hayes, an Ontario Conservative MP, echoed that and said he consulted his local riding association before voting.
"They just felt it takes away some of their incentive to be card-holders [as members of a political party]. The current process will look at a leadership review at a convention, which is, in their opinion and my opinion, where it should be looked at," he said. "...For MPs to be able to [toss out a leader] without the input of members in their riding, they just didn't feel it was appropriate, and I absolutely respect that."
Mr. Chong's bill is largely aimed at restoring power to backbenchers. Both Mr. Wilks and Mr. Hayes said they don't feel limited in their powers as backbenchers in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government. "I'm real comfortable in my relationship with the powers that be. I have no issue at all," Mr. Hayes said.
Liberal MP Marc Garneau was the sole member of his party to vote against the bill, and had the same reason as Mr. Wilks and Mr. Hayes, saying in a statement he did not "believe caucus should have the power to remove a leader chosen by party members," but that he "had no objections to any of the other provisions in the bill."
New Democrat MPs Chris Charlton and Libby Davies, who each voted against the bill, said passing it would give the illusion of making progress on democratic reform, when the bill doesn't go far enough.
"Stephen Harper has seriously eroded parliamentary democracy, but Chong's bill doesn't deal with that," Ms. Davies said in a statement, noting Mr. Chong has twice announced changes to the bill that limit its impact "....I also object to the fact that his weakened position gives the illusion the government is dealing with democratic reform when it isn't," she said.
Ms. Charlton agreed, saying the bill doesn't "respond to the excesses" of Mr. Harper's government and "instead risks giving them cover for their bad behaviour."
Both NDP MPs expressed concern that the bill would force parties to follow certain rules, with Ms. Charlton saying she objects to the bill's attempt to "set rules that dictate to grassroots party members, or caucuses, what they can do." However, Mr. Chong has said he'll seek an amendment to the bill allowing caucuses to opt out of the powers laid out in his bill, should they choose.
The other MPs who voted against the bill, and did not respond to requests during business hours Thursday, included Conservatives Bev Shipley, Bob Dechert, Roxanne James and Gordon O'Connor; and NDP MPs Alain Giguère, Jean Rousseau, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Mylène Freeman, Charmaine Borg, Tarik Brahmi, Élaine Michaud and Anne-Marie Day.
Mr. Chong said the next goal is to get the bill out of committee before the new year, saying "time is tight" to pass it before the next election.