Carney Poaches Conservative Mp, Putting A Majority Within Reach

OTTAWA — Canada’s Conservatives continue to bleed seats to Mark Carney’s Liberals, who are another step closer to forming a majority government.

Prime Minister Carney announced Wednesday that Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux, who is from one of Canada’s most reliably Conservative regions, has crossed the floor to the Liberals.

Jeneroux’s defection marks the latest in a series of high-profile Conservative floor-crossings that are reshaping Canada’s political landscape. The rare break in party ranks shows Carney is able to appeal with centrist and disaffected voters by successfully distancing himself from former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s progressive agenda.

“I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government,” Carney said in a statement on social media.

Jeneroux will serve as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships, Carney said. The two are set to meet on Wednesday afternoon on Parliament Hill.

“Matt’s leadership will contribute to strengthening Canada’s alliances and trade partnerships, advancing Canada’s leadership in global security cooperation, and building our strength at home,” Carney said.

Jeneroux reversed his decision to retire from politics altogether. Two Liberal MPs previously told POLITICO that Jeneroux was close to joining the Liberals in November and had even met with the prime minister.

After the Conservative Party caught wind of his plan, Jeneroux announced he would instead resign from the Conservative caucus.

In his statement, Jeneroux pointed to Carney’s speech in Davos, which led him to “reflect on the gravity of the moment" Canada is living through.

“The events of the past year, and even of recent weeks, have presented Canada with unprecedented new global pressures on our prosperity, and accelerated threats to our sovereignty and unity,” Jeneroux wrote.

Jeneroux, who was a Conservative MP since 2015, says like many families over the holidays, we held several conversations around the kitchen table about how he can stand up for each other, and the country “that we all love, and to which we all belong.”

Two previous Conservative caucus members, Chris d’Entremont and Michael Ma, have resigned under the watch of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and crossed the floor to the Liberals.

Although Poilievre received an over 87 percent approval rating at his party’s convention in Calgary last month, he remains deeply unpopular with the Canadian public.

Progressive Conservative Party Leader and Ontario Premier Doug Ford downplayed Poilievre’s convention results last week.

“You don't win elections at conventions. You win elections across the country. So let's see what happens if the prime minister decides to call an election,” Ford said.

Ford has criticized Poilievre’s handling of the federal election, accusing him of not pivoting to address voters’ concerns about President Donald Trump and his tariff threats, ultimately handing the Liberals their fourth mandate.

Despite courting three Conservatives to the Liberal side within four months, Carney remains three seats shy of a majority Parliament.

Three district seats have become vacant in recent weeks, including the seat of Chrystia Freeland, who is now an economic adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Special elections to fill those seats are expected soon.

A Liberal majority government would be able to pass bills and approve spending without support from any other party — and it would sideline Carney’s chief rival for another three years.