Conservative MP says he’s resigning next spring, denies ‘coercion’ involved in decision

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Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux resigns as first federal budget confidence vote is defeated

Alberta Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux says he’s resigning as a member of Parliament, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the resignation won’t come into effect until “next spring.”

“I ran in the last election hopeful that Canadians would put faith in a team led by Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, offering a chance to change Canada’s perception in our own country and around the world,” Jeneroux said in a letter obtained by CTV News. “I wanted desperately to play a role in that vision.”

In the statement, Jeneroux does not elaborate on why he is resigning, but says he hopes “to have the opportunity to address the House one final time in the future,” adding, “the outcome was not what I anticipated.”

Following the resignation letter, Poilievre thanked Jeneroux for his “decade of service” and said he wished his family “all the best following your decision to step down as a Member of Parliament next spring.”

His resignation from Parliament comes one day after Jeneroux shut down speculation that he may be considering crossing the floor to the Liberals.

In a statement to CTV News on Wednesday, his office said: “Despite the rumours being circulated in Ottawa, MP Jeneroux is not crossing the floor and is remaining a member of the Conservative caucus.”

But two sources tell CTV News that Jeneroux had conversations with senior staffers from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office as recently as Wednesday morning. Following that meeting, the impression among all those involved was that Jeneroux would be crossing the floor.

As speculation ramped up around Parliament Hill over his potential floor crossing, a source close to Jeneroux tells CTV News that Conservative Party officials made it known to him that there would be consequences if he did floor cross. That led to a statement from his office that insisted he would not be leaving the party.

By Thursday, two sources tell CTV News the Liberals were still in talks with Jeneroux, but he ultimately decided against crossing, as he was concerned about whether he could ultimately “trust” the Liberals.

Jeneroux did not vote on the budget’s first confidence vote on Thursday, which the Liberal government survived.

Jeneroux is the second MP to quit the Conservative ranks in as many days, joining Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont, who crossed the floor to the Liberals on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, d’Entremont told reporters he left the party because he “wasn’t feeling that I was aligned with the ideals of what the leader of the Opposition had been talking about.”

Jeneroux was first elected in 2015 to represent the Alberta riding of Edmonton Riverbend and has held his riding ever since.

Jeneroux says ‘there was no coercion’

In another statement posted to social media late Thursday, Jeneroux pushed back against claims there were threats made against him.

“I want to be clear that there was no coercion involved in my decision to resign,” Jeneroux wrote, adding that he had a “great conversation” with Poilievre on Thursday evening and emphasized that his decision to step down solely reflects his “desire to spend more time with my family.”

He also echoed Poilievre’s statement, saying he would “likely” be departing “this spring.”

Conservatives praise Jeneroux, dismiss claims of internal pressure

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill late Thursday, many Conservative MPs expressed support for Jeneroux’s decision to resign.

Alberta Conservative MP Michael Cooper called him a “valued colleague” and described the resignation as “a loss for our caucus.”

Pat Kelly, who also represents Alberta, said Jeneroux was “ready to move on.”

“He supports this party. He supports our caucus. We all wish him well,” Kelly said. “I’m sure (he will) do great things as he returns to private life.”

Ontario Conservative MP Andrew Lawton, meanwhile, said the party is “here to do real work.”

“We have an important mission to do to stand up for Canadians. We want people who are committed to that mission,” Lawton added.

While sources have told CTV News that Conservative party brass made it known to Jeneroux that there would be a price to pay if he crossed the floor, many Conservative MPs dismissed any claims of internal pressure or harassment.

“It’s disappointing to hear some of the silly rumors and speculation that is out there about a personal decision that he has made,” Kelly said, adding that the media is “looking for something more complicated.”

Alberta Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar agreed.

“I think a lot of the press wants to make it political. I think this is an opportunity for the press to pile on,” Majumdar said. “But here’s a man with a record that is undeniably a very strong one for the people of Edmonton, for the people of Alberta and for all Canada.”

In an email sent to Conservative MPs on Thursday night and seen by CTV News, party officials said “it was always (Jeneroux’s) intention to leave politics to spend more time with his family in B.C.”

The email also says the “recent attention over a fake floor crossing rumour expedited his decision to announce his future plans.”

‘No way this was just a coincidence’

Following news of the resignation, some Liberals criticized the direction of the Conservative Party and speculated that Jeneroux didn’t feel at home within that party’s caucus.

“We’ve seen the Conservative party move to the hard right over many months under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership and it’s a shame,” Ontario Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull said. “It’s a shame to see the Conservative party is not what it used to be.”

Fellow Ontario Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen, meanwhile, claimed there is “no longer room” in the Conservative party for progressive views.

“I think there’s no way this was just a coincidence. It was literally a day after another colleague did it,” Gerretsen said. “This again comes back to the fact that the Conservative Party of Canada no longer has room within its party for progressive views, and that’s why you’re seeing progressive members of Parliament who are Conservatives, systematically, one by one, resign from the party.”

Gerretsen also said he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see more defections from the Conservative Party in the future.

With files from CTV News Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos, CTV News Senior Political Correspondent Mike Le Couteur, CTV News’ Abigail Bimman and CTV News’ Spencer Van Dyk