Another Conservative MP crosses floor to Liberals, brings party closer to majority

OTTAWA — Conservative MP Michael Ma, who represents the Ontario riding of Markham-Unionville, is crossing the floor to the Liberal Party, according to a statement released Thursday night.

Ma, who was first elected in this year’s federal election, now brings the Liberals one seat shy of a majority with 171 seats.

“After listening carefully to the people of Markham–Unionville in recent weeks and reflecting with my family on the direction of our country, I have informed the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition that I will be joining Prime Minister Mark Carney in the government caucus. This is a time for unity and decisive action for Canada’s future,” he writes.

In his statement, Ma also says Carney is “offering the steady, practical approach” needed “to deliver on the priorities I hear every day,” which he says includes affordability and the economy.

• IN PICTURES: Canadian politicians who crossed the floor or left their party

According to a post by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, Ma attended the Conservative Party Christmas party on Wednesday night and posed in a photo with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Ma, meanwhile, received a raucous welcome Thursday night at the annual Liberal Party of Canada holiday party in Ottawa.

Ahead of Carney taking the stage, the party faithful cheered when one of the emcees, Liberal MP Mona Fortier declared: “171” – a reference to the number of seats the Liberals now hold, and her colleague and Liberal caucus chair James Maloney suggested they’ll get to 172.

Then, soon into the prime minister’s address, Carney spoke about how the Liberal tent is growing, noting some in the room had been Liberals their whole lives, while others “may have just joined our party.”

“Like literally, just joined our party,” he said, smiling. “So lets give a warm welcome to our newest member of the Liberal party, Michael Ma.”

As the prime minister said this, Ma came on stage, and said a few brief words, including wishing “a great 2026 coming to all of you, thank you.”

Carney then grabbed his arm, linked hands, and raised their arms overhead, in a seeming show of victory, before the prime minister carried on with his speech.

Three MPs leave since November

Ma is the third MP since November to leave Conservative ranks.

Hours after the federal budget on Nov. 4, Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont defected to the Liberals, saying he no longer “aligned with the ideals of what the leader of the Opposition had been talking about.”

That same week, Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux was rumoured to be crossing the floor until he announced he would be resigning from the Conservative Party next spring.

At the time, two sources told CTV News that Jeneroux had conversations with senior staffers from Carney’s office in early November and following that meeting, the impression among all those involved was that Jeneroux would be crossing the floor.

Amid that speculation, a source close to Jeneroux told CTV News that Conservative Party officials made it known to him that there would be consequences if he did floor cross, which ultimately led to his decision to resign.

Ma ‘will have to answer’ to constituents: Poilievre

In a post on X, Poilievre said Ma “chose to endorse the very policies he was elected to oppose.”

“The people he let down the most are the ones who elected him to fight for an affordable future. He will have to answer to them,” he added.

Poilievre is set to face a leadership review at the end of January in Calgary.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Thursday prior to Ma’s floor crossing, Poilievre was asked if he is confident that he will get a good number in that review, and he simply answered “very.”

Meanwhile, in an interview with CTV Question Period back in September, Poilievre said there is not a specific level of support he is looking to secure in that leadership review.

“No, I don’t believe in magic,” Poilievre said when asked if he has a “magic number” in mind.

With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello and Vassy Kapelos