Newly Minted Liberal Matt Jeneroux Says He Won’t Criticize Tories Despite Party Switch

The Liberal government’s newest MP says he won’t disparage his former Conservative colleagues who have been critical of his decision to cross the floor.

Veteran Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux last week announced his intention to switch allegiances and join Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration, only a few months after he indicated his desire to retire from politics this spring.

The move brought criticism from his former Tory colleagues, including from Leader Pierre Poilievre who said on X last week that Jeneroux had “betrayed the people of Edmonton Riverbend,” the Alberta riding he represents.

Jeneroux told reporters prior to his first national Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill that he was still friendly with many Conservative members.

“I have no bad words to say about people on the other side of the aisle,” Jeneroux said during a Feb. 25 press scrum. “Many of them are friends, deep friends, and a lot of them continue to text me.”

He said he hoped his change of political allegiance would not impact those friendships, but acknowledged that “there’s some that don’t agree with it.”

Jeneroux said in a Feb. 18 statement he made the decision to join the Liberals after “conversations with colleagues and constituents,” adding that he will work with the Carney government “to help build our country’s strength as we face the challenges ahead.”

“I will continue the work that Canadians and the people of Edmonton Riverbend elected me to do: building a strong economy, bringing down costs, and making our country even more secure,” he said.

Several current and former Conservative MPs took to social media to criticize Jeneroux’s defection, including MP Frank Caputo, who said he felt Jeneroux had lied to him.

Caputo was referencing Jeneroux’s announcement last fall that he planned to leave politics this spring to spend more time with family.

“Jeneroux will live with his decisions, character and broken relationships.” Caputo wrote on Feb. 18. “What do we have beyond our integrity? I’ll sleep fine, staying true to my principles while I continue to fight for my people.”

Several Liberal politicians, including Carney, also took to social media, offering congratulations and welcome messages.

Carney called Jeneroux “a strong voice in international engagement and parliamentary diplomacy” and said he was “grateful to Matt and his family that he will continue his service as a strong voice for Edmonton Riverbend in Parliament.”

Jeneroux is the third Conservative to cross the floor in recent months, beginning with Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont in November followed by Toronto-area MP Michael Ma in December.

Jeneroux’s floor-crossing brings the Liberal seat count in the House of Commons to 169, three shy of a majority government. The Conservatives are down to 141 seats after the three defections.

New Role

Jeneroux made his return to the House of Commons on Feb. 25, where he was seen seated in the front row close to Carney for his inaugural question period as a Liberal.

Carney has also named Jeneroux “special advisor on economic and security partnerships,” and the former Tory MP will join the prime minister on a nine-day trade trip to India, Australia, and Japan that kicks off this week.

The Canadian delegation will make stops in Mumbai, New Delhi, Sydney, Canberra, and Tokyo.

Jeneroux told reporters that Carney has “an aggressive agenda around the world.”

“He’s asked me to help him in supporting that,” he said. “So, that’s absolutely what I’m going to do, and I think we’ll wait and see what comes out of the trip.”

When asked by reporters whether Jeneroux’s new role and invitation to join Carney on the Asia trip is a reward for crossing the floor, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said “absolutely not.”

“He brings much value to the team,” Sidhu said during a Feb. 25 press scrum, noting that Jeneroux sat on the parliamentary trade committee for a number of years while he was a Tory MP.

“I have a tremendous working relationship with him, and he’s well versed in the economic side of things, of course, on the security side of things as well,” Sidhu said. “I’m happy that he’s coming along because we can use the help.”

Shortly after crossing the floor, former Tory MP Michael Ma also accompanied Carney abroad. Ma was included in the prime minister’s trip to Beijing and Qatar earlier this year, less than two months after he crossed the floor. The PMO said his inclusion was due to his Markham-Unionville riding having one of the largest Chinese Canadian communities in the country.