Sir Winston Churchill famously crossed the floor twice – that is, following his election as a member of one party, he then joined a different party. A recent surge of Canadian MPs crossing the floor, and the impact on the government and opposition, has highlighted the controversial nature of this issue.

We have three distinguished speakers for this program, each with unique insight into the issues. 

Leona Alleslev is a former Member of Parliament, Royal Canadian Air Force officer, and aerospace and defence executive. Elected as a Liberal in 2015 and re-elected as a Conservative in 2019 after crossing the floor in 2018, she brings first-hand insight into the tensions between public duty, party loyalty and parliamentary accountability in Canada. 

Dr. Semra Sevi is Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. Author of “Crossing the Floor: The Electoral Fortunes of Floor-Crossing MPs in the Canadian House of Commons, 1867-2015.”

Dr. Alex Marland is Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia University.  Author or editor of over a dozen books, including his most recent No I in Team: Party Loyalty in Canadian Politics.     

Program Chair: Dan Revington

Thursday, October 8

7:00 pm

Royal Canadian Military Institute

426 University Ave - Toronto, ON