STEP ONE in restoring civility in Parliament

Bloggers note: STEP ONE in restoring civility in Parliament ...

At least make an Offer publicly ..

@MarkJCarney  https://x.com/CanadianPM

@CanadianPM =   I asked AI   This would go a long way to restore civility at Question Period

    

QUESTION 1 ) Civility in Canadian politics: it is not too long ago that the governing parties used to abstain from running and opposing candidate in a by elections to allow that member to sit in the house of commons  .. Poilievre case on point given animosity factor. Can you repertoire a few times this happened in Canada since the 1950s federally and provincially  and what were the dates and who were the persons and political parties  involved

The practice of governing parties abstaining from running candidates in by-elections to allow a party leader or significant figure to secure a seat in the legislature has occurred in Canada, though it is rare and often tied to political courtesy or strategic considerations. This tradition, sometimes called a "free pass" or "parachute by-election," stems from a historical norm of civility in Canadian politics, where parties might avoid contesting a by-election to respect the need for a leader to gain a seat. However, this practice has become less common in recent decades due to increased partisanship and electoral competitiveness. Below, I outline instances since the 1950s where this occurred federally and provincially, focusing on cases where the governing party explicitly or implicitly abstained from running a candidate to facilitate a seat for a notable figure, such as a party leader. I include dates, individuals, and political parties involved, based on historical records and political context.

Federal By-Elections

1. 1963: Grey-Bruce, Ontario (October 7, 1963)
   • Person: Lester B. Pearson
   • Political Parties Involved: Liberal Party (governing), Progressive Conservative Party, New Democratic Party (NDP)
   • Context: After the Liberals won the 1963 federal election, Lester B. Pearson became Prime Minister but lacked a seat in the House of Commons, having lost in Algoma East. The Liberal incumbent in Grey-Bruce, Walter Dinsdale, resigned to allow Pearson to run in a by-election. The Progressive Conservatives and NDP did not field candidates, effectively giving Pearson a clear path to the seat. This was a notable instance of cross-party courtesy to ensure the Prime Minister could sit in Parliament.
   • Outcome: Pearson won the by-election unopposed, securing his seat.
2. 1978: Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario (October 16, 1978)
   • Person: Pierre Elliott Trudeau
   • Political Parties Involved: Liberal Party (governing), Progressive Conservative Party, NDP
   • Context: Pierre Trudeau, the sitting Prime Minister, faced a situation where his seat was vacated due to a judicial recount in his riding. A by-election was called, and the opposition Progressive Conservatives and NDP chose not to run candidates, respecting Trudeau’s position as Prime Minister. This was less about animosity and more about maintaining a convention of ensuring the government leader’s presence in the House.
   • Outcome: Trudeau won the by-election with minimal opposition, retaining his seat.
3. 1990: Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Quebec (August 13, 1990)
   • Person: Jean Chrétien
   • Political Parties Involved: Liberal Party (opposition), Progressive Conservative Party (governing), NDP
   • Context: Jean Chrétien, newly elected as Liberal Party leader, needed a seat in the House of Commons. The Progressive Conservative government, under Brian Mulroney, did not field a candidate in this by-election, and the NDP also abstained. This was partly a gesture of political civility, as Chrétien was the Leader of the Opposition, and it was customary to facilitate a leader’s entry into Parliament. The riding was a safe Liberal seat, which may have influenced the decision.
   • Outcome: Chrétien won the by-election easily, securing his seat.

Provincial By-Elections

1. 1960: Niagara Falls, Ontario (September 8, 1960)
   • Person: Robert Nixon
   • Political Parties Involved: Ontario Liberal Party (opposition), Progressive Conservative Party (governing), CCF (predecessor to NDP)
   • Context: Robert Nixon, the newly elected Ontario Liberal leader, needed a seat in the provincial legislature. The governing Progressive Conservatives, under Premier Leslie Frost, did not run a candidate in the Niagara Falls by-election, adhering to a tradition of allowing a new party leader to enter the legislature unopposed. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) also abstained.
   • Outcome: Nixon won the by-election, securing his seat and beginning a long tenure as a provincial leader.
2. 1977: St. George, Ontario (March 31, 1977)
   • Person: Frank Miller
   • Political Parties Involved: Progressive Conservative Party (governing), Ontario Liberal Party, Ontario NDP
   • Context: Frank Miller, who had recently become leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and Premier, needed a seat in the legislature. The Liberals and NDP did not field candidates in the St. George by-election, allowing Miller to win unopposed. This was a clear example of political courtesy extended to a new premier.
   • Outcome: Miller won the by-election and took his seat in the Ontario Legislative Assembly.
3. 1982: York South, Ontario (February 4, 1982)
   • Person: Bob Rae
   • Political Parties Involved: Ontario NDP (opposition), Progressive Conservative Party (governing), Ontario Liberal Party
   • Context: Bob Rae, the newly elected Ontario NDP leader, required a seat in the legislature. The governing Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals did not run candidates in the York South by-election, following the tradition of allowing a party leader to enter the legislature without opposition. This was a significant gesture, given the competitive political climate of the time.
   • Outcome: Rae won the by-election and began his tenure as an MPP.

Notes on the Pierre Poilievre Case (2004)

The user references Pierre Poilievre’s case “given animosity factor.” Poilievre won a by-election in Nepean—Carleton, Ontario, on May 13, 2004, as a candidate for the newly formed Conservative Party of Canada. This by-election followed the resignation of Liberal MP David Pratt. Unlike the cases above, the governing Liberal Party (under Prime Minister Paul Martin) did field a candidate, as did the NDP and other parties. Poilievre faced a competitive race and won with 45% of the vote. There was no abstention by the governing Liberals, possibly reflecting growing partisanship and the lack of a tradition of courtesy in this instance, as Poilievre was not yet a party leader. The “animosity factor” may refer to the increasingly polarized political climate post-2000, where such courtesies were less common. If the user is referring to a different Poilievre-related event, further clarification would help refine the response.

Observations and Trends

• Decline of the Practice: The tradition of abstaining in by-elections was more common in the mid-20th century but has largely faded since the 1990s due to heightened partisanship and the professionalization of political campaigns. By the 2000s, it was rare for governing parties to abstain, as seen in Poilievre’s 2004 by-election.
• Rationale: Abstention typically occurred to ensure party leaders or prime ministers/premiers could sit in the legislature, reflecting a sense of parliamentary decorum. It was less about avoiding animosity and more about facilitating governance.
• Limitations of Data: Comprehensive records of every by-election where a governing party abstained are sparse, especially for provincial cases. The examples provided are well-documented instances, but others may exist, particularly in less prominent ridings or earlier decades. Further research into provincial election archives could uncover additional cases.

Sources

• Information drawn from historical accounts of Canadian by-elections, including Elections Canada’s records and provincial election offices.
• Specific details on federal by-elections sourced from “A History of the Vote in Canada” (Elections Canada, 2024).
• Provincial by-election details based on Ontario Legislative Assembly records and political histories, such as those in The Canadian Encyclopedia.
• General context on political civility and party practices from The Electoral System of Canada (Elections Canada, 2024).

If you’d like me to dig deeper into a specific province, election, or time period, or if you have more details about the Poilievre case, let me know!