A Conservative member of parliament has announced he will be switching parties to join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals, bringing the government one seat closer to a majority and delivering another setback for the opposition.
Michael Ma, an MP from Ontario, shared his decision to align with the Liberals in a statement on Thursday night, expressing that it is “time for unity and decisive action”.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre reacted by saying that Ma has “let down” those who elected him to challenge Liberal policies and “will have to answer to them”.
Ma’s switch comes just a month after another Conservative MP, Chris d’Entremont, also crossed the floor to join the governing Liberal party.
This defection arrives a few weeks before a planned leadership review for Poilievre.
In his statement, Ma noted that Prime Minister Carney is “offering the steady, practical approach” necessary “to deliver on the priorities that I hear every day” from constituents.
During the Liberal holiday gathering in Ottawa on Thursday evening, Carney invited Ma on stage, highlighting the “big, broad, and growing Liberal tent”.
“You are going to have a much better time spending Christmas with us,” he said.
In his own comments, Poilievre-who has focused heavily on affordability issues-stated that Ma “chose to endorse the very policies he was elected to oppose. The same policies driving up food prices and making life more expensive for all”.
Ma was first elected earlier this year to represent Markham-Unionville, an area north of Toronto.
He won against the Liberal candidate by just under 2,000 votes. The riding has alternated between Conservative and Liberal representation over time.
In early November, d’Entremont from Nova Scotia left his party and joined the Liberals shortly after Prime Minister Carney unveiled his initial fiscal strategy. At that time, he mentioned crossing because he felt unrepresented by Poilievre.
The Conservative Party responded by accusing him of breaking promises made to Canadians and acting out of “personal grievances”.
Another Conservative MP from Alberta, Matt Jeneroux, then stated he would resign later in November due to family matters.
Liberal government house leader Steve Mac Kinnon hinted to reporters Friday morning that some Conservative MPs are unhappy with their party’s direction.
“There are lots of Conservatives I assure you who do not like Poilievre’s approach,” Mac Kinnon said. “You have seen two so far. There are others as well.”
However some Conservative MPs expressed disappointment at Ma’s choice.
“When you join a team you work as a team” said Ontario Conservative MP Scott Aitchison in a post on X adding that Ma had voted alongside party members in Commons for months while also attending their Christmas event just one day before changing parties.
Laura Stephenson political science professor at Western University in Ontario told BBC that both Prime Minister Carney and Liberals likely aim for majority status in order push through their agenda without worrying about sudden elections.
“The long game is actually being able enact changes they believe necessary” Prof Stephenson stated.
She added some Conservatives choosing cross over hints at dwindling support for Poilievre’s style although she acknowledges he still enjoys considerable backing within caucus.
Poilievre’s aggressive political tactics were blamed when Conservatives lost elections earlier this year. Party members will vote regarding his leadership position during upcoming convention set for January.
He lost personal seat located Ottawa leading into safe Alberta representative stepping down enabling him run there where Poilievre won later August gaining over eighty percent voters.
Recent polling indicates Poilievres remains favored amongst most conservatives however margin decreases slowly as Angus Reid released poll stating fifty-eight percent recent conservative supporters back him dropping down sixty-eight percent previous August.
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