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If 15% of a caucus applied in writing for a leadership review, that would open the door for a review vote in caucus. A simple majority of 50% plus one would mean a leadership campaign.

As well, the bill would entrench in the Parliament of Canada Act the right of a caucus to review, eject and readmit MPs.

I think the decades of changes over many, many years have created a system where we have imposed a presidential style of government over top of our Westminster parliamentary system

They would also have the right to elect and eject their caucus chair.

Chong argues that these rights have always existed by convention, but have not been exercised for decades. The British Conservative party and the Labour party in Australia use this procedure.

Chong said his bill is about restructuring the Canadian system.

“I think the decades of changes over many, many years have created a system where we have imposed a presidential style of government over top of our Westminster parliamentary system,” Chong said.

This is a notion of how Parliament works regardless of who the prime minister might be and regardless of who might be leading the other parties

“That needs to rebalanced and that’s exactly what the Reform Act proposes to do.”

The third part of the bill would give electoral district associations the power to approve electoral candidates. Nomination papers would no longer require a leader’s signature.

These measures would theoretically embolden MPs to vote as they want in the Commons, without fear of being turfed from caucus by the leadership or of being dropped as the candidate in the next election.

Chong insists the bill is not a response to criticism over the Prime Minister’s Office’s handling of the Senate expenses scandal.

The legislation would not come into effect until after the 2015 election.

Segal said he is prepared to sponsor the bill in the Senate should it pass the Commons and he wants a free vote.

“I think it would be in the interest of all three party leaders to facilitate a free vote on this issue, because frankly, if you hear the chatter from other caucuses as well as my own, there would be people in other caucuses who are frustrated with the level of top-down control which they have to face,” said Segal.

“This is a notion of how Parliament works regardless of who the prime minister might be and regardless of who might be leading the other parties.”