The actions of politicians have a profound impact on democracy, and the experience of Canadian MPs highlights major challenges related to hyper-partisanship and the concentration of executive power. Since 2008, the Samara Centre for Democracy has gathered testimonies from over 160 former parliamentarians, shedding light on the evolving role of MPs and the obstacles to balanced governance. Interviewed Members of Parliament in the context of the Samara Centre’s MP Exit Interview Project express growing concerns about the dominance of partisan interests over their parliamentary functions, limiting their autonomy and ability to represent citizens. To address these issues, several reforms are proposed: countering toxic behavior, strengthening the role of the caucus, fostering multi party cooperation and establishing permanent constituency offices. These changes aim to create a more dynamic and inclusive democracy.