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Backbencher Revolt |
Implications of the Vote on Parliamentary Committees
Tradition Rules for Committee Elections
Committees generally have one chair and two vice-chairs. Traditionally,
the chair and vice-chairs were chosen in the following manner:
- The chair and one vice-chair are from the government side (the party
that has formed the government).
- One vice-chair is from the opposition side (one of the opposition
parties).
- Persons are elected according to a show of hands.
Under these rules, the Prime Minister can exert a lot of influence in
the election of committee chairs and vice-chairs. The majority of members
on a committee are members of the Prime Minister’s party. The election
of chairs and vice-chairs is done by a show of hands. Thus the election
is public and the Prime Minister knows how each member of the committee
voted. This public aspect of the election gives the Prime Minister control.
The Prime Minister can pick the chair and tell each member of his/her
party on the committee to vote accordingly.
Reformed Rules for Committee Elections
Under the reforms adopted on November 5th, the election of committee
chairs and vice-chairs is now done by secret ballot instead of a show
of hands. Under this new system, the Prime Minister's influence is greatly
reduced. Now the election is secret, no one knows who voted for whom,
and the Prime Minister can no longer punish those who fail to vote according
to the Prime Minister's wishes.
Full
text of the Recommendations by the Standing Committee on Procedure and
House Affairs
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