NDP to Table Bill Taking Politics Out of Calling By-Elections

OTTAWA – Given the Prime Minister’s continued refusal to call outstanding by-elections in Outremont, York-Simcoe and Burnaby South, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have been left without federal representation in the House of Commons. Wednesday, NDP Democratic Reform Critic Nathan Cullen tabled a bill to reduce the time before a by-election must be called following a vacancy from six months to 45 days.

“I think most Canadians would agree that it’s wrong that the Prime Minister can, with no justification, delay or deny Canadians their right to have a voice in Parliament,” said Cullen. “Mr. Trudeau has shown a willingness to play political games with by-elections unlike any Prime Minister before. He’s using people in those ridings as political pawns. This must stop.”

“We’ve seen Trudeau defend MPs like Nicola Di Iorio who have refused to give up their seat even when they’ve stopped coming to Parliament at all,” added Cullen. It’s time that we put representing Canadians first. It’s their interests we are all elected to serve, not the interests of political parties.”