Â鶹´«Ã½

Politics

    • Can MPs remove one of their colleagues from the House?

    Share
    Ottawa -

    Calls for newly-elected Spadina-Fort York MP Kevin Vuong to resign has prompted the question: Can the House of Commons expel one of its own?

    Yes, but it would be an extraordinary move, according to author and political commentator David Moscrop.

    “They can kick out anyone they please, for whatever reason they please, with a majority vote and they’ve done it four times to three people but not since the 1940s,†said Moscrop in an interview with CTVNews.ca.

    Vuong -- who the Liberal Party quickly tapped to take over the Toronto riding after incumbent Adam Vaughan announced he wouldn’t seek re-election -- was told he could under the party’s banner and wouldn’t be a member of the Liberal caucus after advanced polls had already occurred, and just two days before most voters went to the polls on Sept. 20.

    This came after considerable attention over his failing to disclose a sexual assault charge against him that was dropped in 2019. Because he was removed as a Liberal candidate after the Elections Canada cut-off for printing ballots, Vuong was still listed as a Liberal candidate. The entrepreneur and naval reservist won 38.9 per cent of the vote.

    The newly-elected Independent MP has apologized for not , and has also denied the allegations, stating that he understood the intimate relationship to be “consensual.†He said he plans to address the allegations more “wholly in a dedicated forum†at a later date.

    At the same time he said he would continue to sit in the House of Commons despite calls from MPs of all party stripes to step down.

    “I appreciate that not everyone is happy with my election and I very much understand why it is different in my case. For those who feel this way, I understand the source of your doubts and I will work hard to earn your trust,†said Vuong in a statement on Sept. 22.

    Moscrop says the removal of an MP would require the majority of members to vote in favour of a motion for his or her ousting.

    According to the House of Commons rules of procedure and practice, the House enjoys “very wide latitude†in using its powers to regulate its own internal affairs and pursue disciplinary measures when necessary.

    While one of these powers is expulsion -- including for matters outside of the scope of their role as an elected official -- it is considered a serious move that has its limits, such as not preventing the expelled MP from serving in Parliament again.

    If the House were to initiate this rare process to remove Vuong, it would set a precedent given the handful of past examples involved legal offences.

    In 2014, the House began proceedings to remove former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro, convicted for covering up election campaign spending violations, but he resigned his seat before they got the chance.

    Louis Riel was expelled twice from the House, first in 1874 after being charged with murder and then again after he was deemed an outlaw. In 1891 after Thomas McGreevy was accused of corrupt practices relating to Quebec construction work, the House adopted a resolution expelling him. And then in 1947, the House determined that Fred Rose, who had been convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act and had been sentenced to serve six years in prison, had become incapable of sitting or voting in the House.

    “The motion also ordered the Speaker to issue a warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer to make out a writ of election to fill the vacancy. Although expulsion was not explicitly referred to in the motion, the House declared his seat vacant,†reads one parliamentary .

    Moscrop says it’s also important to note the move is “non-justiciable.â€

    “Part of the reason it’s so taboo is that the person who’s removed, or facing expulsion, has no recourse to the judicial system,†he said.

    If Vuong were to be expelled or change his mind and voluntarily step down, a byelection would be held in the Spadina-Fort York riding. It’s only when a vacancy is created that constituents are given the ability to go back to the polls and decide on their next representative.

    Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, a Liberal MP from the nearby riding of Beaches-East York, out his criticism of Vuong’s decision to stay on: “One earns trust by acting with integrity. In this case, that means stepping down.†He later added: “The failure to disclose this information to the party is disqualifying.â€

    NDP MP Charlie Angus also weighed in on Twitter, : “Candidates for office ask for public trust in crafting laws, dealing with the private issues of constituents, being transparent in meeting business and lobbyists. Ethics matters. Kevin Voung covered up a charge of sexual assault. He needs to go.â€

    It’s also possible if Vuong remains an MP that he would never have to step foot in Ottawa. If the House of Commons continues to proceed with a hybrid sitting in the next Parliament, Vuong has the option of working from home in his Toronto riding.

    CTVNews.ca reached out to Vuong for a comment about the calls for him to resign his seat but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

    IN DEPTH

    Opinion

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

    A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

    opinion

    opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

    When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    The City of Calgary ended water restrictions for the city at a Sunday morning update.

    A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

    Canada

    • The City of Calgary ended water restrictions for the city at a Sunday morning update.

    • The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

    • A man is facing numerous drug trafficking charges after Dufferin OPP seized a large assortment of drugs and weapons in Orangeville earlier this week.

    • Pasquale Monaco says he’s debating whether to keep renting out the two-bedroom basement apartment of the Montreal building he owns after it was flooded — again — in August, when the remnants of tropical storm Debby sent four feet of water rushing into the space.

    • Infectious disease physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says whooping cough is most risky for unvaccinated infants, children and older people.

    • The London Police Service (LPS) is currently investigating a suspicious death in the east end.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a nickname for the opposition’s end zone. They refer to it as the “chicken box.â€

    • Jonathan Aranda homered for the second consecutive game, helping Taj Bradley and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday.

    • Kiefer Sherwood spent several nights last spring chasing Quinn Hughes around the ice and generally pestering the Vancouver Canucks.

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

    Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

    An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

    They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

    A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

    Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

    The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

    The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

    It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

    • Work crews have been busy in the British Columbia legislature over the summer, prying apart desks in the historic chamber and piling them up in hallways as they tried to work out how to fit in six more seats.

    • British Columbia's New Democrats and the B.C. Conservatives are set to take their election tours to Metro Vancouver cities today as the campaign enters its second day.

    • A six-year-old girl who was reported missing in northern B.C. earlier this week remains unaccounted for, and "significant resources from across the province" have joined in the search, police said Saturday.

    • One person has died following a shooting in Scarborough late last night.

    • Toronto police have arrested three people and they are looking for two others in connection with an alleged fraud that saw a man and his daughter bilked out of more than $18,000.

    • A man who was critically injured in an eight-vehicle pileup in Milton Friday has died of his injuries in hospital.

    • The City of Calgary ended water restrictions for the city at a Sunday morning update.

    • Nick Kolomyja reckons axe throwing may have saved his life.

    • Calgary fire crews were busy early Sunday dealing with a fire, a missing cat and a vehicle that drove into the side of a garage.

    • Police are looking to speak with a female who was a passenger in a stolen vehicle that was recovered early Saturday morning in Kanata.

    • A body has been found in the vicinity where a woman went missing on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, Ont. while kayaking Tuesday night, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

    • It's been one year since Michael Andlauer took over ownership of the Ottawa Senators and on Saturday, he spoke for the first time about the tentative deal for a new arena at LeBreton Flats.

    • A 54-year-old man was found unconscious on the ground with his electric scooter in Sherbrooke, Estrie, at 2:50 a.m. from Saturday to Sunday, according to the Sherbrooke Police.

    • Last month’s massive water main break in Montreal’s Ville Marie borough has left the company Cirque Eloize reeling, with nearly 10,000 items from their storage facility destroyed.

    • Pasquale Monaco says he’s debating whether to keep renting out the two-bedroom basement apartment of the Montreal building he owns after it was flooded — again — in August, when the remnants of tropical storm Debby sent four feet of water rushing into the space.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a nickname for the opposition’s end zone. They refer to it as the “chicken box.â€

    • Nick Kolomyja reckons axe throwing may have saved his life.

    • The number of Edmontonians experiencing homelessness has risen 47 per cent this year, according to data from the city's main housing agency.

    • The Celtic Colours International Festival will return to Cape Breton, N.S., for nine days from Oct. 11 to 19, with hundreds of events and performances scheduled to take place in communities around the island.

    • A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.

    • A 76-year-old man who was reported missing Saturday in Annapolis District, N.S., has been found deceased.

    • The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.

    • While slang may come and go, experts say the phenomenon behind them, which constantly churns out brand-new bon mots, is as old as language itself.

    • People living in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood have a new park to call their own. On Saturday, the community celebrated the grand opening of Giizhigooweyaabikwe Park on Lizzie Street.

    • Fire officials are investigating after a fire completely destroyed the community fridge in the Cathedral neighborhood.

    • The last two months after losing her daughter Bella have been extremely difficult for Kyla Thomson.

    • Regina police arrested three youths in connection to a bear mace incident at a Regina high school on Friday.

    • Brantford, Ont. residents were met with an unexpected sight on Saturday evening as a suspected funnel cloud appeared in the skies above the city.

    • Police were called to a business in the area of University Avenue East and Weber Street North at around 10:40 p.m. Saturday for a report of a man attempting to stab another man.

    • Police said the pedestrian, a 52-year-old man, was taken to an out-of-region hospital with life-threatening injuries and the driver of the vehicle failed to remain at the scene.

    • The 75-year-old building, formerly the Waskesiu Chamber of Commerce building, was relocated to the Parks Canada compound on the edge of the townsite.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP major crimes unit is investigating after a man’s body was found on Sweetgrass First Nation.

    • Motors were roaring, and tires were spinning as Saskatoon's biggest names in motocross gathered together for the 50-year anniversary of the club's founding on Saturday.

    • video

      video

      The most popular hockey podcasters on the planet brought some major attention to the Forest City this weekend with the annual Chiclets Cup.

    • The identity of a motorcyclist has been revealed by loved ones on social media following Friday’s fatal south end collision in London. The London Police Service has not released anything regarding the driver’s identity.

    • Huron County OPP are investigating a serious single vehicle collision that took place west of Seaforth.

    • One person is dead after a crash in Caledon on Sunday.

    • The Barrie Skateboard Association (BSA) hosted a unique competition at the City's Skate Park on Saturday to celebrate its 25th anniversary, which showcased the park's importance and the growth of skateboarding in the region.

    • Police located and arrested a male suspect Saturday evening in relation to an alleged assault incident that occurred earlier this week in Gooderham.

    • Windsor firefighters had an early start to the day as a fire broke out in the 1500 block of Pellissier Street in the city.

    • video

      video

      The Amherstburg Uncommon Festival is living up to its name with the addition of a drone light show — a first for Essex County.

    • The Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) has arrested a man following an incident on Saturday.

    • British Columbia's New Democrats and the B.C. Conservatives are set to take their election tours to Metro Vancouver cities today as the campaign enters its second day.

    • A man who was found dead behind a curling rink in Nanaimo, B.C., earlier this month was the victim of a homicide, police confirmed.

    • A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

    • A pair of runaway pigs are in the custody of an animal sanctuary in the Okanagan after evading police and volunteers for hours earlier this week.

    • The Red Bridge, a historic landmark in Kamloops, B.C., was completely destroyed by fire early Thursday morning.

    • Animal protection officers in British Columbia have rescued three pit bulls – including one that gave birth to 10 puppies – from a rat-infested home in Kelowna.

    • Despite the heavy rain, plenty of muscle turned up for United Way’s annual Pull the Bus fundraiser in Lethbridge Friday.

    • Lethbridge County has rescinded its fire restriction as a result of the recent cool, wet weathr.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes kicked off the 2024-25 season on a winning note Friday night, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 3-1 in a game played at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

    • A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

    • Following an outbreak of COVID-19 on its continuing care floor and just ahead of the flu season, St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Elliot Lake has opted to re-introduce a universal masking policy until further notice.

    • A 26-year-old driver from Surrey, B.C., has been charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and bodily harm in a crash that killed two youths in northern Ontario last year.

    N.L.

    Stay Connected
    Follow Â鶹´«Ã½