Liberal MP says he was demoted for supporting NDP bill targeting arms export controls

Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says he was removed from his position as parliamentary secretary to the minister of veterans affairs because he voted against the government and supported an NDP private member's bill that targeted arms export controls.

P.E.I. MP says he was warned that move would mean losing parliamentary secretary role

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Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says he was removed from his position as parliamentary secretary to the minister of veterans affairs because he supported an NDP private member's bill that targeted arms exports to Israel.

In March, Casey said he was warned by the Liberal whip that if he supported NDP MP Jenny Kwan's Bill C-233, known as the No More Loopholes Act, then he would be relieved of his duties.

Although 15 Liberal MPs broke rank and supported the bill, Casey was the only parliamentary secretary to do so.

"The bill was targeted at closing the loopholes that allowed for Canadian military equipment to be sold to another country but end up in Israel, so end up being used to kill Palestinians," said Casey in an interview with CBC News.

• NDP's U.S. arms-control bill fails, 15 Liberal MPs break rank with government

• Crown corp. reviewed U.S.-bound arms exports over potential transfer to Israel

"That was the goal of the legislation. And that's what my constituents were concerned about."

Casey said he received a call from the Atlantic desk of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday saying that he was being replaced. He described the conversations with both the whip and the PMO as "direct" and clearly referencing his support for Kwan's bill. 

On Friday, the PMO announced that Quebec MP Sophie Chatel will replace Casey.

Parliamentary secretaries make $20,900 above their base MP salary of $217,700 and represent the minister at public events. 

Casey said over the past six months, he began to wonder whether he'd be disciplined at all.

"I kept my word to my constituents and I voted in favour of the legislation and didn't hear anything from anyone until yesterday," he said.

"It took so darn long, I was kind of wondering if they forgot about me."

Departure from Trudeau platform

Casey said his understanding was that Liberal MPs outside of cabinet were entitled to a free vote on private member's bills, except in cases that involve implementing the Liberal platform, traditional confidence matters like the budget or instances that affected protections guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

This was explicitly laid out in the 2015 Liberal platform that brought the Trudeau Liberals to power.

"Based on everything I knew in my 15 years here, there was a rule change that was unbeknownst to me and to many of my colleagues," he said.

The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The vote did not appear to be whipped, given that more than a dozen Liberal MPs did support Kwan's bill, which ultimately failed.

In a statement, Kwan said what happened to Casey is "distressing and should concern all Canadians."

She said it raises questions about the Liberal government's commitment to allowing MPs to exercise their judgment and represent their constituents freely.

"The prime minister talks a good talk, but in reality, he will wield his power to shut down dissent," she said.

Casey said this will not prevent him from reflecting the will of his constituents in the House, saying "if anything, I'm freed a little bit to not have to toe the party line as strictly as is now apparently required."

But he said he continues to have "tremendous" respect for the prime minister and affection for the Liberal Party.

"What has happened doesn't change that one iota," he said. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate McKenna is a senior reporter with CBC’s parliamentary bureau in Ottawa, where she covers federal politics. She previously worked for CBC’s The Fifth Estate and in the Halifax, Montreal and Charlottetown newsrooms. Her investigative and breaking news coverage has won five RTDNA awards. She is the author of No Choice: The 30-Year Fight for Abortion on Prince Edward Island.