Interesting proposals on accountability from (gasp) the NDP

The "Wolfman" Jack Layton unveiled his platform for accountability in Montreal today.

Among the highlights were provisions that floor-crossing MPs would have to face their constituents in a byelection, and also that a mixed proportional representation/first-past-the-post system should be implemented in Canada.

I would like to hear more details on what Layton is proposing. I think that the byelection idea is an good one, as long as the turncoat MP has to win a nomination battle first. For instance, if Belinda Stronach or Scott Brison decide to run as an NDP candidate in their respective ridings after being elected as Liberals, I don't think they should get the NDP nod automatically. Other candidates should be allowed to contest the nomination for that party.

On the mixed system, I think it may have merit. However, my one concern with proportional representation, whereby parties are given a percentage of seats based on the percentage of votes received in the election, is that the people who end up sitting in the House would be party hacks and the like rather than those who democratically fought and won a nomination battle at the local level. There has to be a guarantee that the lists of candidates that parties would put forward would be somehow democratically constructed instead of just coming out of the leader's office.