Bill giving more power to MPs passes Senate

OTTAWA — A Conservative backbencher’s controversial effort to rebalance power between MPs and party leaders is on its way to becoming law after surviving a stiff challenge in the Senate.

Michael Chong’s Reform Act passed in the upper house late Monday by a vote of 38-14, with four abstentions. Chong sat in the gallery to watch the nerve- racking finale to his 19-month crusade to empower MPs and dilute the power of party leaders.

“It will lead to freer votes in the House of Commons, where members of Parliament can, on occasion, break ranks with their party to represent their constituents’ views and that is a significant change from the status quo,” Chong said.

Among other things, the act is designed to give MPs in a party caucus the power to trigger a leadership review, and to subsequently vote to oust their leader.

Two Conservative senators, David Wells backed by Denise Batters, introduced an amendment last week that would have neutered that specific part of the private member’s bill.

Passing the amendment would have effectively killed the bill, since it would have forced it back to the House of Commons, which adjourned last week in advance of an anticipated October election. Wells’ amendment was rejected Monday by a vote of 46-14. Chong’s bill will also give MPs the power to expel and reinstate colleagues from their caucus, currently the preserve of party leaders.

It will also give them the power to select their caucus chairperson.

In a bid to win all-party support in the House of Commons, Chong watered down some elements of his original bill, including dropping a proposal to strip leaders of their power to determine who can run as a candidate for their parties.