It was a full house at Memorial University’s Bruneau Centre last night as a discussion titled Navigating Party Discipline shed light on challenges in our current political system.

Panelists, Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, Hon. Jane Philpott, local MHA Paul Lane and former MP Ryan Cleary spoke about their experiences while both working within political parties or as independent members and also took questions from the audience.

Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpot were a central part of the controversial SNC Lavalin Affair last year, which saw them both kicked out of the Liberal caucus.

Wilson-Raybould would later make history in the fall federal election as the first independent woman MP to be elected since party labels first appeared on ballots in 1972.

Wilson-Raybould says she learned a lot from the SNC Lavalin Affair, and that she is more motivated than ever to make sure that she exercises her voice. Panelist and local MHA Paul Lane says that he has more influence as an Independent member because he is finally able to speak his mind.

Lane says during the last budget he was a part of in a political party he did not have any input. He says he was handed the budget and an envelope detailing services that would be cut in his district as an FYI.