CTV's Question Period

Sunday, 3 November 2002

TEASE: Pierre Trudeau once described backbench MPs as "nobodies" - after the events of the last week, that description no longer applies!

INTRO: Tuesday afternoon MPs will vote on a plan to elect committee chairs by secret ballot. Mike Duffy thinks this vote marks a turning point in Parliamentary history. Here's Mike:

MIKE DUFFY: That great Canadian parliamentarian, Pierre Trudeau, once dismissed backbench MPs as "nobodies" once they were 50 yards away from Parliament Hill. John Diefenbaker compared Liberal MPs to "trained seals" whose only job was to vote as they were told by the Prime Minister and to applaud on cue in the House of Commons. Well, nobody is calling Liberal backbenchers nobodies these days.

From changes to the immigration act, to the way in which committee chairs will be selected, Liberal MPs are feeling their oats.

They don't have power, but they do have influence and they're increasingly prepared to use it, even at the risk of angering Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

(VO PIC Telegdi)

For more than three years, Kitchener-Waterloo MP Andrew Telegdi has fought to deny the cabinet the right to revoke Canadian citizenship.

Telegdi says citizenship is sacred, and mere politicians should not have the power to take it away.

The new amendments to the Immigration Act meet his demands. Chalk one up for a determined Liberal backbencher. And Telegdi isn't alone.

(VO John Bryden)

Hamilton area MP John Bryden has made himself unpopular for demanding accountability from Canadian charities;

(VO McTeague)

Dan McTeague has bucked the establishment on gasoline prices;

(Roger Galloway)

Roger Galloway is questioning the government`s approach to Kyoto.

(VO Parrish)

Mississauga MP Carolyn Parrish risked the wrath of the Prime Minister by voting with the opposition and against her own party on the issue of selecting committee chairs by secret ballot.

(MIKE OC)

The next test of backbench backbone comes Tuesday when the full house votes on the committee chair issue.

Paul Martin says Parliament is suffering from a "democratic deficit." We'll see how many backbench Liberals agree with him when the votes are counted on Tuesday.

Backbenchers trained seals? Nobodies? No longer!

I'm Mike Duffy.