OTTAWA — A federal Conservative party stung by the defection of Belinda Stronach has struck back with legislation aimed at curbing party-jumping.

One month after Stronach's departure sank their hopes of toppling the Liberals, her jilted former mates tabled a private member's bill Friday.

The bill would force a byelection call within 35 days in any riding where an MP switched sides to join a new party.

"It's about democracy, it's about integrity (and) restoring voter confidence,'' said Ontario Tory MP Helena Guergis, who co-sponsored Bill C-408.

"When voters elected that person they made the decision based on what they campaigned for and what party they were representing.

"If they're not going to continue to get what they voted for, then they should have the right to have what they want.''

Private members' bills are a longshot to ever become law. More than 200 pieces of private members' legislation -- mostly tabled by opposition MPs -- are currently before the Commons and almost all are doomed to fail.

Guergis hopes to improve her chances of success by also lobbying her own party to include the idea in its next election platform.

Her bill would also force a party-hopping MP to sit as an Independent for 35 days, until the election campaign began.

The MP could run under a new party banner or as an Independent.

Voters could then pass judgment on MPs and their new political parties.

"Canadians have become cynical of politicians who turn on a dime and switch their political allegiance,'' Guergis said. "If they agree with the move, they'll vote them back in.''

Stronach defected to the Liberal party just two days before a May 19 confidence vote that could have triggered an election.

She instantly became human resources minister. The Liberal government survived by one vote.

Guergis said she was taken aback while going door-to-door in the last election by just how disgusted Canadians had become with the political process.

But she was far down the list of MPs entitled to table a private member's bill.

She convinced her colleague, Ontario Tory MP Joe Preston, to use his spot atop the list for her legislation.