By Joshua Errett

A couple interesting flip-flops in the new government today – namely a crossing of the floor and an unelected senator and Minister of Public Works and Government Service.
Although Harpsy is flipping and flopping like a fish out of water, these moves are not without precedent. According to our numbers, the last time there was a cross-over cabinet member was Belinda Stronach in the Martin tenure and the last unelected cabinet ministers were Stephane Dion and Pierre Pettigrew under Chretien.
These surprises are more notable since PM Harper has been rather adamant about similar Liberal moves in the past. From the CBC, here’s Stephen Harper on crossing the floor:

“We don’t go out of our way to romance MPs to get them to cross the floor. Liberals will do anything to win.
“We are trying to create a principled party where people act in a principled way, and obviously we’re fairly cautious about encouraging party jumping, because that’s the kind of thing that generates cynicism.
“And frankly, when someone jumps, once you’re not sure you can trust them the next time, so I would always handle that with an extraordinary degree of caution.”

And, Harper on electing senators:

“Some of our institutions have not kept up with developments in the democratic world. They are falling short of the expectations of modern, mainstream Canadians.
“There are three critical reforms. First, we need to get on with modernizing our upper house. We should get on with the job of electing senators…And finally we want to clean up internal party politics, beginning with grassroots democratic control of the nomination process. All three of these initiatives will strengthen democracy of Canada and require a Prime Minister willing to bring in legislation and enact reform.”

So far, the above transactions have been described as “odd” at best, so we’ll be among the first to use the dreaded flip flop charge. And don’t take issue with our liberal bias – Steve’s own MP reacted in a much more animated fashion. One day, two flip flops.