Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux Says He’s Resigning From Parliament

Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux says he is resigning from Parliament and vacating his seat as the representative for the Alberta riding of Edmonton Riverbend to spend more time with his family.

Jeneroux said on Nov. 6 that his exact resignation date will be determined later, adding that he’ll likely leave in the spring.

The four-term MP’s resignation comes two days after Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberals. Amid rumours that Jeneroux was considering a similar move, his office said on Nov. 5 that there is no truth to the speculations.

Jeneroux announced his resignation as an MP in a statement on Nov. 6, saying that his “focus must turn entirely to my family and to the responsibilities that come with that.”

In another statement posted on Facebook late on Nov. 6, Jeneroux said that there was “no coercion” involved in his departure, and that he is leaving caucus on amicable terms.

“I want to be clear that there was no coercion involved in my decision to resign. I consider my colleagues in the Conservative Party very close friends, and I will miss them dearly,” Jeneroux said.

“Since my resignation this evening, I had a great conversation with [Conservative Leader] Pierre Poilievre, who wished me all the best, as I do him. I ran under his leadership in hopes we could form a government that would offer hope to Canadians.”

Poilievre thanked Jeneroux for a “decade of service to the people of Edmonton Riverbend.”

“On behalf of our Conservative team, I wish you and your family all the best following your decision to step down as a Member of Parliament next spring,” Poilievre said in a Nov. 6 social media post.

In his first Nov. 6 statement, Jeneroux expressed hope that he can have the opportunity to address the House of Commons “one final time in the future.”

“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. I wanted desperately to play a role in that vision,” Jenereoux said.

“Although the outcome was not what I anticipated, I have great admiration for the many remarkable individuals who were elected to the House of Commons — on both sides of the aisle — who continue to dedicate themselves to the betterment of our nation.”

Jeneroux has represented his Edmonton riding since 2015 and previously served as a member of the Alberta legislature.

D’Entremont’s Floor-Crossing

In announcing his decision to join the Liberals earlier this week, d’Entremont, who represents the Nova Scotia riding of Acadie-Annapolis, said he wanted to support the government’s budget.

“After serious consideration and thoughtful conversations with constituents and my family, I came to a clear conclusion: there is a better path forward for our country,” he said in a Nov. 4 statement.

The Liberal government tabled its budget on Nov. 4, projecting a deficit of $78 billion, and saying that the government is focused on the priority areas of housing and affordability, infrastructure, defence and security, and productivity and competitiveness.

Carney welcomed d’Entremont to the Liberal caucus, calling his move an “exceptionally valuable, important” one.

Conservative MP and party whip Chris Warkentin said that d’Entremont had “personal grievances” over not being re-elected as a deputy speaker by MPs in this session of Parliament, and that he needs to answer to his constituents for switching parties. The Tories also criticized the Liberal budget, saying the government needs to cut spending and remove taxes such as the industrial carbon levy.

With d’Entremont joining the Liberals, the governing party now has 170 seats in the House of Commons, two short of the 172 needed to form a majority government.

When asked if the Liberals are in discussions with any other MPs to join their party, Carney didn’t confirm or deny.

“I will talk to anyone. Part of our job is to talk to each other,” Carney told reporters on Nov. 5. He added that it would be better for the country if his party forms a majority government before Christmas.

Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said on Nov. 6 that d’Entremont’s floor-crossing was an isolated event.

“There won’t be any other departures, that’s the reality,” he said.