EDITORIAL: Paying the price for parliament’s quitters

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Some elected representatives give the appearance that they view their seats in the House of Commons as convenient streams of income until something better comes along.

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Since last year’s federal election, 12 MPs have resigned and at least one other has indicated his intention to leave soon. This is confounding, given the federal election was just last year and every resignation comes with a hefty bill for a byelection.

Last year’s federal vote upended early expectations that Liberals would lose in a landslide. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was seen as a shoo-in to become prime minister. The resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau caused a seismic shift in the electoral landscape and Prime Minister Mark Carney eked out an unexpected minority government. A number of defections to his party changed that landscape even more.

It may be understandable that Conservatives who foresaw themselves as cabinet ministers are disgruntled by the outcome. All the same, politicians should be aware from the outset that they serve at the pleasure of voters. Even though their party didn’t make the transition to government, the electorate has given them a position of public trust. It’s a bit like a marriage — in sickness and in health. For richer, for poorer. In government and in opposition.

Elections Canada estimates the cost for byelections this year will be $24 million. Only last year, taxpayers shelled out an estimated $602.5 million for a general election.

Those who’ve resigned since then include former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, who now serves as CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, U.K. Other Trudeau-era cabinet ministers, including Bill Blair and Jonathan Wilkinson, resigned to take up cushy diplomatic posts — Blair as High Commissioner to the U.K. and Wilkinson as ambassador to the European Union. Carney appointed Quebec Conservative Richard Martel to the Senate. Quebec New Democrat Alexandre Boulerice resigned to run provincially.

It’s a pity they didn’t have greater respect for the position of MP. There’s no way to ban such self-indulgent exits. While an attractive deterrent, cutting the pensions of these quitters is likely not an option. What we could do, though, is ensure that those who take up positions such as ambassadorial or Senate roles do not receive lavish severance pay at taxpayers’ expense.