B.C. Conservative riding association proposes floor-crossing repayment policy

A federal Conservative riding association in British Columbia is urging the party to adopt a rule that would require MPs to repay campaign costs if they cross the floor or sit as Independents. The proposal comes from the SimilkameenSouth OkanaganWest Kootenay electoral district association, whose president, Chris Pequin, says donors and volunteers deserve protection if an elected candidate leaves the party after benefiting from campaign support. The draft policy would ask candidates to sign a loyalty agreement tied to election funding. It would also require repayment of campaign expenses, minus any reimbursement from Elections Canada, though the association says it still needs to work out how the rule could be enforced under election financing laws. Some political observers are skeptical the idea would become national policy or hold up in practice. Meanwhile, NDP MP Don Davies says floor crossing raises broader questions about accountability, and he has introduced legislation that would require MPs seeking to join another party to first win permission from voters in a byelection or remain Independent until the next election.