Mark Carney’s Liberal government moved within one seat of a majority after Markham–Unionville MP Michael Ma crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the government caucus.
In Ma’s statement, he said he informed the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition that he would be joining the government caucus “after listening carefully to the people of Markham-Unionville in recent weeks and reflecting with my family on the direction of our country.”
“This is a time for unity and decisive action for Canada’s future,” he said.
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Ma’s statement emphasized a personal narrative and a policy rationale, saying he came to Canada at 12, was “the youngest of seven,” and that those values guided him in business and Parliament.
“In that spirit, I have concluded that Prime Minister Mark Carney is offering the steady, practical approach we need to deliver on the priorities I hear every day while door knocking in Markham-Unionville,” he explained.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre responded by arguing Ma was elected “as a Conservative” to oppose “Liberal inflationary spending” and that Ma “chose to endorse the very policies he was elected to oppose.” Poilievre added Ma “will have to answer” to Markham–Unionville constituents.
The defection lands differently inside Conservative circles because it did not follow a visible break. It was noted that Ma was at the Conservative Christmas Party recently and “voted with the Conservatives at every vote this week,” which, if true, would make the jump a surprise.
The latest move follows an earlier Conservative-to-Liberal floor crossing when Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont joined the Liberals, moving Carney’s Liberal to two seats away from a majority at the time.
In d’Entremont’s earlier statement, he similarly framed the decision as a “better path forward” and praised Carney’s approach, while the reporting noted he had considered crossing around Budget 2025 and had recently clashed with his caucus, including around his bid for Speaker.
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