Another Conservative MP Crosses Floor to Join Liberal Caucus

Toronto-area MP Michael Ma has left the Conservative caucus to join the governing Liberals, the second former Tory lawmaker to do so in just over a month.

Ma, the MP representing Markham—Unionville, said in a statement on Dec. 11 that he made the decision after reflecting with his family and those in his riding “on the direction of our country.”

“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 said.

“That includes making life more affordable, growing a strong Canadian economy, strengthening community safety, and creating real opportunities for young people and families who are working hard to build their Canadian dream.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Ma’s departure is a betrayal of the will of voters who elected him as a Conservative.

“Michael Ma was elected as a Conservative by the constituents of Markham-Unionville to fight against Liberal inflationary spending driving up the cost of living in his community,” Poilievre posted Dec. 11 on social media.

“Today, he 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.”

Conservative MP Todd Doherty said that just the day before his announcement, Ma took part in the Conservative Party’s Christmas Party.

“Odd. He seemed to be fine as he posed for pictures and danced the night away at the Conservative Christmas Party last night,” Doherty wrote on social media on Dec. 11, sharing images of Ma at the party.

Later in the evening of Dec. 11, Carney brought Ma onstage at the Liberals’ holiday party in Ottawa to cheers from the assembled Liberal crowd. Carney praised both Ma and former Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont for their decision to leave the Conservatives.

“You’re family,” Carney said. “You are going to have a much better time spending Christmas with us than Christmas with the Kranks.”

Carney said he is “proud” to have Ma join his caucus and work to improve Canada going forward.

“Proud to welcome Michael Ma to our team tonight,” Carney posted on X the evening of Dec. 11. “Look forward to working together to build our country, protect our communities, and create more opportunities for the people of Markham-Unionville and all across Canada.”

Ma’s switch to the Liberals brings their seat count to 171, one short of the number needed for a majority government.

Previous Floor-Crossing

Ma’s announcement follows on the heels of d’Entremont’s decision in early November to join the Liberals.

D’Entremont said that his decision to join the Liberals was motivated by his desire to vote in favour of Carney’s Nov. 4 budget, which the Conservatives opposed. He said that Carney offered “a better path forward” for Canada. Tories said that D’Entremont was disgruntled after not receiving the nomination to run for the Speaker of the House.

The Conservatives are also poised to lose Edmonton Riverbend Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux, who announced two days after d’Entremont’s decision that he plans on resigning from Parliament.

Jeneroux, who has served as an MP since 2015, said his decision to quit was in order to focus on his family and added that he will likely vacate his seat by this coming spring. His resignation came amid rumours that he was also contemplating joining the Liberals, which he denied. However, he has been abstaining from voting on important bills in concert with the Conservatives in the House of Commons, including in the recent vote of confidence on the government’s budget.

Ma, who was born in Hong Kong and moved to Canada when he was 12, was an executive in the technology and business sectors before entering politics, according to his biography.

The first-time MP running on the Conservative ticket beat his Liberal rival Peter Yuen by fewer than 2,000 votes in the April 28 election, gaining 50.7 percent of the votes compared to Yuen’s 47.1 percent.

Yuen had replaced former MP Paul Chiang as the Liberals’ candidate in the riding. Chiang dropped out after revelations that he had called for Toronto-area Conservative candidate and Hong Kong democracy activist Joe Tay to be turned over to the Chinese consulate for a bounty. Carney condemned Chiang’s comments but stood by him, before Chiang eventually stepped down.