Independent (Canada)
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| Independent (Canada) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Independent (Canada) |
| Incumbent | Various |
| Appointer | Elected by voters |
| Formation | 19th century |
Independent (Canada) An independent in Canada is an individual elected without formal affiliation to a registered political party, often serving in the House of Commons, provincial legislatures, or territorial assemblies. Independents interact with institutions such as the Parliament of Canada, House of Commons of Canada, Senate of Canada, Supreme Court of Canada, and provincial legislatures like the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and National Assembly of Quebec. Their presence affects party dynamics involving groups such as the Liberal Party of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada, New Democratic Party, Bloc Québécois, and provincial parties like the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party and British Columbia New Democratic Party.
Definition and Overview
An independent is defined under the Canada Elections Act and parliamentary conventions as an elected representative not a member of a registered party such as the Green Party of Canada, People's Party of Canada, or regional organizations like the Coalition Avenir Québec and Québec solidaire. Independents sit as unaffiliated members in assemblies including the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, distinct from members of caucuses led by figures like Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh, Yves-François Blanchet, François Legault, or John Horgan. They may be former members of parties such as the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada or expelled members from parties like the Bloc Québécois.
Historical Context and Development
Independent candidacies date back to early Confederation contests involving figures linked to leaders such as John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier; later epochs saw independents interact with movements around the United Farmers of Alberta, Social Credit Party of Canada, and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. During crises like the Conscription Crisis of 1917 and debates following the Statute of Westminster 1931, independents occasionally held balance-of-power roles, as during minority parliaments involving leaders such as William Lyon Mackenzie King and Robert Borden. Reform movements influenced independents alongside actors like Tommy Douglas, Maurice Duplessis, and regional figures from the Prairie provinces.
Independent Politicians in Federal Politics
Independents in federal politics have included former party members expelled or resigned from caucuses led by premiers and leaders such as Stephen Harper and Paul Martin. Independents have participated in confidence and supply negotiations with parties like the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party and influenced outcomes in minority parliaments involving the 2008–2009 Canadian parliamentary dispute and other sessions presided over by Speakers like Peter Milliken and Anthony Rota. High-profile federal independents have appeared in ridings once held by figures such as Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, and Jean Chrétien.
Independents in Provincial and Territorial Politics
Provincial and territorial independents operate in contexts including the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, National Assembly of Quebec, and northern bodies like the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. They interact with premiers such as Ralph Klein, Kamal Nath—note: regional comparisons—and party organizations like the Saskatchewan Party, Alberta New Democratic Party, Quebec Liberal Party, and historic entities like the Union Nationale. Territorial consensus governments in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories feature independents alongside leaders such as former premiers and assembly speakers.
Roles and Influence in Parliamentary Procedure
Independents engage with parliamentary procedure administered by offices including the Clerk of the House of Commons and Speakers such as Raymond Speaker—historical example—and affect committee work in bodies like the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Special Committee on Electoral Reform. They may secure seats on committees alongside members from parties like the Conservative Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois, influence motions of non-confidence that involve leaders including John Diefenbaker and Lester B. Pearson, and raise private member's business debated under rules shaped by the Standing Orders of the House of Commons.
Notable Independent MPs and Premiers
Notable federal independents have included figures such as David McGuinty—former associations—, and well-documented independents like Gilles Duceppe—contextual party links—or those who left parties under leaders like Jean Chretien or Pauline Marois in provincial contexts. Provincially, prominent independents and former premiers who have sat as independents connect to histories of Frank McKenna, Gary Filmon, Camillien Houde, and controversial figures associated with parties like the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and the Social Credit Party. Territorial leaders in Yukon and Northwest Territories have also sat or worked cooperatively as independents.
Electoral Strategies and Legal Frameworks
Independent campaigns operate under electoral law set by the Canada Elections Act and administered by institutions like Elections Canada and provincial counterparts such as Elections Ontario and Élections Québec. Strategies include targeting ridings formerly held by leaders like Paul Martin or regional powerbases tied to entities such as the United Farmers movement and organizing without resources from registered parties like the Green Party of Canada or the Liberal Party of Canada. Legal questions about riding nominations, floor crossing, anti-defection norms, and recall mechanisms reference precedents involving by-elections, writs, and decisions adjudicated in courts like the Federal Court of Canada and interpreted by officers including the Chief Electoral Officer (Canada).