PARTY AND FREE VOTES IN CANADA - ABORTION IN THE HOUSE-OF-COMMONS

This study extends the analysis of parliamentary free voting by examin ing a non-British example: Canadian MPs' voting behavior on Bill C-43, which attempted to establish a federal abortion law As in most previo us studies, we find that partisanship was by far the best predictor of voting behavior. Unlike previous research, however, we analyze free v otes at every stage of the legislative process and find different voti ng dynamics at different stages. In general, Canadian MPs felt at grea ter liberty to vote as their consciences dictated when their votes mat tered least. On the key roll calls leading to final disposition, howev er; when voting was most visible and outcomes most important, Canadian MPs re-coalesced around their parties.