Tory MP to introduce bill to give backbenchers more power: report

In recent months, we've heard a lot rumblings about Conservative backbenchers being upset at the amount of power yielded by the prime minister and his office.

Well, according to the Huffington Post, it looks like there are actually some Tory MPs who intend to do something about it.

The Huffington Post adds that Chong is part of group of Tory backbenchers, "which numbers between five and 25 depending on whom you ask," who have been meeting regularly to discuss these new measures.

The full article can be read here.

[ Related: Former Conservative staffer asks Stephen Harper to come clean or resign ]

This isn't the first time that the Conservative Party's class of 2011 has publicly acted out against the PMO's leadership.

In 2012, Saskatchewn MP Brad Trost questioned the "ironclad" party discipline that prevails in Ottawa, saying it stifles debate and prevents independent thinking.

In March of this year, Tory MP Mark Warawa complained to the Speaker — with the backing of two other Tory MPs — about the Conservatives not allowing him to make a 'member's statement' in the House.

At the time, one Conservative MP — who requested anonymity — told CBC News that this had upset several backbenchers.

"If our rights continue to be trampled upon, as appears to possibly be happening [with the Warawa motion], at that point MPs are going to have to sit down and decide where their line in the sand is and what to do," the MP said.

And earlier this year, MP Brent Rathgeber left the Conservative caucus complaining about 'boys in short pants' — aka the young PMO staffers — who exert so much power.

"It’s difficult as a lawyer and as a member of Parliament to find my role to be subservient to masters half my age at the Prime Minister’s Office, who tell me how to vote on matters, who tell me what questions to ask of witnesses in committee, who vet my … one-minute member statements," Rathgeber told reporters, according to the Canadian Press.

"I think legislators like myself have to take a stand … that we’re not going to read these talking points that are written by PMO staffers, that we’re not going to vote like trained seals."

[ Related: Tories retain two seats but suffer big loss in voter support on byelection Monday ]

It's true: Canadian prime ministers do yield a lot of power over their backbenchers.

In fact, Ralph Heintzman, a professor at the University of Ottawa says Canada might just have the most centralized political system in the world.

"The Canadian prime minister is probably the most powerful political executive in the world because there is nothing, once he has a majority in Parliament, to restrain him or her," he told the Winnipeg Free Press in a 2011 interview.

"In most other Westminster democracies, there are peculiarities of the system, which act as checks, formally or informally."

Heintzman cited parliamentary systems in the U.K. and Australia where the party leaders are chosen by MPs, as opposed to party members like in Canada.

"That turns the power relationship upside down," he said. "The leader controls the caucus. The caucus does not control the leader."

[ More Politics: Liberals ask Mounties to investigate Conservative party's role in Senate scandal ]

A younger Stephen Harper might have joined this backbench movement.

As explained by the Toronto Star, the old Harper had some interesting things to say about backbenchers after his first term in Parliament.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!