Ousted MLA Fletcher fights for right to cross floor

WINNIPEG • A Manitoba politician who was kicked out of the governing Progressive Conservative caucus is asking a judge to strike down the province’s ban on floorcrossing as a violation of his charter rights.

Steven Fletcher is taking the province to court over a 2006 law that prevents him from joining another party and requires him to sit as an Independent until a byelection in his constituency or a general election. Fletcher says the law is the only one of its kind in Canada.

“As a result of my expulsion ... I am not able to represent the constituents of my riding to full advantage,” Fletcher writes in an affidavit filed with the Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday.

“If I were able to join three or more other members of the legislative assembly in a recognized political party, I would regain parliamentary privileges including ... asking questions to the full extent contemplated by the rules.”

No one from the Tory government was immediately available to comment after the court documents were filed.

Fletcher, a former junior federal cabinet minister first elected to the Manitoba legislature last year, was punted from the Tory caucus in June after criticizing a law to create a new Crown agency to promote energy efficiency. He tied up two public hearings on the bill by asking questions late into the night before it passed final reading.