Floor Crossing in Parliament is Swindling

Jenica Atwin carried Green Party votes with her when she defected to Liberals. Is that democracy or fraud?

Tradition cannot be forever because it germinated at certain times, in certain circumstances. When the music changes, the dance changes, says the African proverb. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change in former British colonies like Canada that practise rusty political traditions like floor crossing.

What is floor crossing? An example. I went to the market to buy oranges. I like them because they are sweet. Someone was selling lemons. He tried to convince me to buy them, even gave me a recipe for lemonade. I said no. I don’t like lemons, they are bitter. I bought oranges and went home. I later tried to peel them only to discover that he sold me lemons.

There is a tendency to regard anything British, anything related to the Queen of England as sacrosanct, holy or god-like. Because of that, floor crossing in Canada is not regarded as what it is: fraud, cheating, false advertising, swindling, trickery, treachery, duplicity and plain deceit. I paid for oranges but got lemons, and it’s all legal.

Floor crossing’s roots are in England, where the minority class that ruled the country made parliamentary rules that suited them as landed gentry and aristocracy.

Because of class brotherhood, they said ”Old chap, you can cross the floor and bring your Cambridge voters with you. Let’s discuss it over brisket and port at the club.” Clubs in Britain were only for men who went to Eton, Oxford and Cambridge and married nieces of royal lineage. No women allowed.

Political tradition, and floor crossing in particular has expired. It is in conflict with the freedom of association guaranteed by Canada’s constitution and should be removed constitutionally, unless tradition over-rides basic human rights.

Does it?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.