Unwritten Rules

Who is an MP’s real boss? Their party leader? Canadians? Themselves? MPs have to strike a balance between serving their riding’s needs, their party’s interests, and their own goals that brought them to Ottawa in the first place. But what happens when these priorities clash? This episode, we explore partisan politics and party power. Former MPs tell their stories of learning unwritten rules, striking out on their own, compromise, and unlikely friendship.

Plus, what’s the best place in parliament for making unlikely friends?

This episode features:

Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Liberal, Whitby, (2015-2019); Independent, Whitby, (2019)

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Liberal, Winnipeg Centre, (2015-2019)

Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby South, (2011-2018)

Hon. Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, (2008-2021)

Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina-Fort York, (2014-2021)

Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou, (2011-2019) - Interviews for Humans of the House were conducted in the summer of 2022 and the show was launched in March 2023. In August 2023 Romeo Saganash was charged with sexual assault. We will update when the court case is complete.

Hon. Scott Brison, Progressive Conservative, Kings-Hants (1997-2003); Liberal, Kings-Hants (2003-2019)

Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor-Tecumseh, (2015-2019)

Resources for this episode:

View our episode page at https://www.samaracentre.ca/articles/hoth-episode-4/

On dissenting votes:

“Liberal backbenchers, Tory leadership hopefuls among Parliament's biggest dissenters”.

More on party discipline in Canada:

Our Commons - Committees

Flip the Script

Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada

Who do you think should be an MP’s real boss? Let us know on Instagram and Twitter @TheSamaraCentre and on Facebook at the Samara Centre for Democracy. Join the conversation using #HumansOfTheHouse.

This podcast is part of the Samara Centre for Democracy’s MP Exit Interview Project.

This series is produced by Media Girlfriends for the Samara Centre for Democracy.

Visit our website to learn more about how the Samara Centre for Democracy is working to secure a resilient democracy, and consider supporting our work with a donation.

Humans of the House is funded by the Government of Canada and Rosamond Ivey.

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