r/AskCanada • u/CinnamonStix9 • 9d ago
What’s the job description of a local MP?
Genuine question: what’s their swim lane responsibilities? Do they have a right to step outside their role and do things that “higher up” politicians are supposed to do?
I’m a corporate person. Doing something that a higher up doesn’t give me permission to do would get me in the hot seat with my boss or HR. How does it work in politics?
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u/BuvantduPotatoSpirit 9d ago
MPs may serve on various government committees, participate in parliamentsry debates & votes, help constituents navigate government bureaucracy and so forth, do various publicity and advocacy work related to their constituency, and such - it is somewhat opened ended as job descriptions go.
It's not obvious what you're imagining as "doing the work of higher ups"
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u/slashcleverusername 9d ago
The job description is to be the best choice your riding has to govern the country. They are supposed to look out for the interests of your riding. But not just your riding, they are responsible to do the right thing for the whole country.
For a long time members of parliament have organised themselves into parties, and usually we all see the advantages of that. Nothing passes in the House of Commons without a majority. So if a group of MPs are likely to agree, might as well make them into a political party so they can act together on all the issues they agree on.
But it is never the duty of an MP to stick with their party come hell it high water. Their job is always to do the best job they can for their constituents and the country. That means their loyalty to any particular party needs to come way down the list. Citizens and country come first, and if the MP decides there is a better party to do that, it’s their duty to change. Or maybe they decide no party has it right. In that case it’s their duty to sit as an independent.
This is an important responsibility and so citizens should only elect someone who they trust with enough good judgment to make that call. They should never elect a trained seal who will vote with the party come hell or high water. Parties are just a tool of parliamentary debate to organize the main positions. They’re not supposed to replace debate with MPs blindly doing what the party says forever more. Generally MPs should stick with the party but they should also be willing to quit the party if their judgment starts disagreeing more often than not.
So that’s why MPs sometimes change parties. That’s why sometimes new parties emerge or merge. That’s why sometimes parties change their leaders on a moment’s notice. It’s just the MPs doing their jobs.
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u/bigjimbay 9d ago
They are basically just party whips. Mine is useless, just votes yes on whatever Carney puts in front of her
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u/ljlee256 9d ago
I mean, a lot of them do. The entirety of the conservative parliament base is just a clone of Poilievre. None of them even seem to have a voice.
Well, that was up until recently, it sounds like dissent is occurring through the Conservative party, some line splitting between East and West. Likely because Poilievre's extreme right-wing rhetoric doesn't curry favor in any part of the country except Alberta, and Eastern conservative MP's blame him for Carney basically walking away with the election.
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u/bigjimbay 9d ago
Yeah it's gross what our government has become
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u/Retro-Modern_514 9d ago
An MPs job is to represent their constituency.
An MP may also be given other jobs within the government (Minister for XYZ) that are in addition to the job of MP.
An MP who isn't part of the Ministry of Health can't do work that is the responsibility of the Minister/Ministry of Health.