By Taghreed Saadeh
Canada’s political landscape is witnessing notable shifts as elected Members of Parliament move from the Conservative Party to the governing Liberal Party, at a sensitive moment when Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government stands just one seat short of forming a majority.
Ontario MP Michael Ma recently announced his departure from the Conservative Party to join the governing Liberals. Earlier, Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont defected to the Liberal Party in November. Meanwhile, MP Matt Jeneroux resigned from his position without formally joining the Liberals, though he left the Conservative Party amid speculation about his future political direction.
Why are Conservative MPs gravitating toward Carney’s government?
Historically, Canada is not a traditionally right-wing country like the United States. It tends toward centrist policies, strong public services, and multiculturalism, an orientation that has long favored the Liberals. Since Confederation in 1896, the Liberal Party has governed Canada for more than 70% of the time.
Observers also note that Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney presents himself as an alternative to populist politics, advancing a calm, professional economic discourse focused on stability and restoring confidence among markets and the middle class.
For some Conservative MPs, particularly those representing large urban ridings such as the Greater Toronto Area remaining in an internally divided opposition party could carry significant political costs in future elections. There is also a broader parliamentary sense that Carney’s government, despite being a minority, represents a stabilizing option at a time of global and economic uncertainty.
Notably, the justifications offered by defecting MPs are strikingly similar: “unity,” “stability,” “a pragmatic approach,” and “avoiding polarization.” These are not emotional slogans, but deeply rooted concepts in Canadian political culture, often decisive for independent and undecided MPs.
What is particularly striking is that Carney’s government now holds 171 seats out of 343, needing only 172 to form a majority government. While there are no clear indications that another MP will soon cross the floor to secure that majority, the Carney government already appears parliamentary stable, capable of passing budgets, and less vulnerable to political pressure from opposition parties.
Canada thus seems to be entering a phase of renewed stability or a return to the familiar Canadian pattern, Liberals governing, Conservatives struggling with internal challenges, and MPs choosing to remain in the political center, where power and stability are found.
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