Bill C-278 Floor Crossers Act

C-278 An Act to Amend the Parliament of Canada Act

Bill Type: Private Member’s Bill

Bill Sponsor: Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway)

Status: Outside the Order of Precedence — Introduced June 2, 2026. This Bill has not passed yet.

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WHAT IS THIS BILL FOR?

Bill C-278 is called the Floor Crossers Act. It says that if a Member of Parliament switches political parties after being elected — or joins a party after running as an independent — they automatically lose their seat. A by-election would then be held so voters in that riding can choose who they actually want representing them under the new political banner.

WHO GAINS POWER

• Voters gain the ability to decide whether they want the same person representing them after a party switch — rather than having that decision made for them
• Political parties gain a stronger hold over their elected members, since crossing the floor now carries a significant consequence

WHO LOSES POWER

• Individual MPs lose the ability to switch parties and keep their seat — a move that has been legal and relatively common in Canadian political history
• ⚠️ Independent MPs are caught in a one-way trap — An independent who joins a party loses their seat. But an MP who leaves a party to sit as an independent is not covered by this Bill — that move is still permitted without triggering a by-election.

WHO GAINS MONEY

• No individual or organization gains money directly from this Bill
• ⚠️ By-election costs fall on taxpayers — Federal by-elections typically cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000 per riding. If floor crossing becomes more frequent as MPs time a switch strategically before this law takes effect — or if the law itself triggers multiple by-elections — those costs add up quickly with no cap or accountability mechanism in the Bill.

WHO LOSES MONEY

• ⚠️ Candidates who can't afford to run repeatedly — By-elections are expensive to run in. Candidates pay deposits, campaign costs and organizational expenses. If a riding is forced into a by-election shortly after a general election, smaller parties and independent candidates with limited fundraising capacity may not be able to mount a competitive campaign — effectively narrowing the field to well-funded parties and incumbents.

THE CATCH

• ⚠️ One-way rule — The Bill only triggers a by-election when an MP joins a party. An MP who leaves a party to sit as an independent keeps their seat with no consequence. The rule is not symmetrical.
• ⚠️ Party leader controls the trigger — The by-election process is initiated by the party leader notifying the Speaker. This puts the party — not an independent officer — in control of when and whether the process starts.
• ⚠️No notification requirement when leaving a party— If an MP leaves a party to sit as an independent, nobody is required to notify the Speaker. There is no timeline, no disclosure and no process. The switch happens with zero formal accountability to Parliament or to voters.
• This Bill is Outside the Order of Precedence, meaning it is unlikely to be debated unless it moves up the Private Members' ballot. It is currently a statement of principle more than imminent Legislation.
• Floor crossing has a long history in Canadian politics — including high-profile cases that changed the balance of power in Parliament. This Bill would fundamentally alter that tradition.

Source: Bill C-278 — An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act