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Canadians will be given a chance this spring to weigh in on the latest floor-crossing MP or any other matter relating to the country's democratic peculiarities.

No, a federal election has not yet been called. The Conservative government indicated Tuesday it wants to begin public consultations by March 9 on "the challenges facing Canada's electoral system and democratic institutions" and have a draft report completed before the end of May.

The timeline is laid out in a $500,000 tender for services posted on a contract website. The entire project, including all expenses, is not to exceed $900,000.

The results of the survey won't be formally released, but will be available to the public once they are filed with the Library of Parliament.

The tender calls for a private think-tank to join forces with a polling firm to canvass a cross-section of Canadians on five specific topics:

-"political parties (e.g., their role in policy development);"

-"the electoral system (e.g., particular characteristics that are important for citizens, such as the link between elected representatives and a particular geographical area);"

-"the House of Commons (e.g., decorum);"

-"the Senate (e.g., the role it should play and the powers it should possess); and"

-"the role of the citizen (e.g., civic engagement)"

While the tender does not specifically mention the hot-button topic of floor-crossing - highlighted last week by the defection of former Liberal MP Wajid Khan to the Conservatives - the project is open-ended.

"Participants will also have the opportunity to signal other issues of concern to them in relation to renewing Canada's democratic institutions and practices," says the tender.