In their first official caucus meeting of the new Parliament, Liberal MPs held the votes on governance required under the Reform Act of 2014.
These are questions that define some of the power relationship between backbench MPs and their party leaders. Can the party leader unilaterally expel an MP from caucus? Can MPs remove the party leader? Can they choose an interim leader? Do MPs have the right to elect their own caucus chair?
On each, Liberal MPs voted against giving themselves more authority.
We now know that most Liberal MPs just don’t believe they should be entrusted with real authority. They would rather have a leader such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, or his staff, tell them what is allowed.
I do not think it is any different in the Conservatives. Scheer told them all to support Justin on the Paris climate thing and they were happy to do so. They like the Nuremburg defense I guess.
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