Legislators’ Motivations for Leaving Their Party: The Canadian Case

• In Event: Inter-Party Legislative Politics

Abstract

This paper discusses the reasons why elected officials leave their political party while still in office and sit as an Independent. This class of politicians is distinct because it encompasses legislators who exit a party caucus voluntarily and who choose to discontinue their political career with any political party. The mixed-method research draws on Canadian data collected via interviews with legislators, party leaders and political staff, supplemented by a review of news stories, political biographies and scholarly sources. It contributes to knowledge by differentiating the motivations of this class of legislator from those who switch political parties.

Authors

• Alex Marland, Memorial University of Newfoundland

• Mireille Lalancette, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

• Jared Wesley, University of Alberta