NATIONAL PULSE – Only one-in-four agree with MPs crossing the floor

Posted on March 11, 2026 in Feedback, National Pulse, Page One // 0 Comments

House of Commons. (parl.gc.ca)

Canadians split as to whether Carney achieving a majority through floor crossing would be good or bad

By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

March 11, 2026 – NDP MP Lori Idlout became the fourth MP to cross the floor to the governing Liberals during the 45th Parliament, adding more fuel to the debate about the politically controversial practice.

NDP interim leader Don Davies said his party believes floor crossers like Idlout should have to “put that decision to the voters,” and most Canadians appear to agree.

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that only one-in-four (26%) Canadians say if their MP crossed the floor, they should be allowed to serve out their term under their new party colours. More (41%) prefer that if an MP wanted to cross the floor, they should have to step down and re-contest their seat in a byelection. One-in-five (22%) say they should have to serve as an independent until the next election and one-in-ten (11%) believe they should have to vacate their seat.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the three floor crossers who have left his party, arguing that Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals should use an election to get a majority not “backroom deals”. Canadians are split as to whether or not it would be a good (43%) or bad (39%) thing if Carney successfully creates a majority through floor crossing, largely split along political affiliation.

Canadians are also split on the practice of floor crossing in general. Equal sized groups of two-in-five believe it should be allowed (43%) and it should be forbidden (43%). This was also the case when ARI previously asked about floor crossing in 2018. But notably, given the current flow of floor crossers to the Liberals, who makes up those groups has changed over time. In 2018, a majority (57%) of previous CPC voters believed floor crossing should be allowed, now most believe it should be banned (78%).