By-elections when MPs change parties

C-278 An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act

Vacates the House of Commons seat of any MP who switches parties or joins a party, triggering a by-election.

What Bill C-278 would do

The bill would amend the Parliament of Canada Act to require a member of the House of Commons to give up their seat if they change political parties or join a party after being elected as an independent. A by-election would then be called to fill that vacant seat. The published material gives no further detail.

Official text (opens in a new tab)

Official summary

This enactment amends the Parliament of Canada Act to provide that a member’s seat in the House of Commons is vacated and a by-election called for that seat if the member, having been elected to the House as a member of a registered party or as an independent, changes parties or becomes a member of a party, as the case may be.

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind: Private member's bill
Sponsor: Don Davies, Member of Parliament (Vancouver Kingsway)
Introduced: June 2 in the House of Commons
Last activity: June 2

Where it stands

ProposedJun 2
Being debated
Almost law
Law

Waiting its turn; not scheduled for debate

First reading in the House done June 2

Before the House on 1 sitting day, June 2
Second reading in the House now
Committee in the House not yet
Report stage in the House not yet
Third reading in the House not yet
First reading in the Senate not yet
Second reading in the Senate not yet
Third reading in the Senate not yet
Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: Outside the Order of Precedence · since June 2, 2026.

House
1. First reading in the House: done, 2026-06-02
2. Second reading in the House: current stage
3. Committee in the House: not yet reached
4. Report stage in the House: not yet reached
5. Third reading in the House: not yet reached
Senate
1. First reading in the Senate: not yet reached
2. Second reading in the Senate: not yet reached
3. Third reading in the Senate: not yet reached
Royal assent
1. Royal assent: not yet reached

Debates in the House 0

No debate on this bill is in the record we hold yet.

Discussion

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Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.