Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux joins Liberal caucus

Another conservativist MP has crossed the base to fall in the liberalist company, nudging Prime Minister Mark Carney closer to the line of a coveted majority.

Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux, who said last year that he planned to leave politics altogether after his name circulated as a potential defector, announced Wednesday he is joining the government after all.

He is the third Conservative the Liberals have picked up, starting with Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont in November and Toronto-area MP Michael Ma in December.

In a statement, the Edmonton Riverbend MP said he had conversations with his family over the holidays and reflected "on the gravity of the moment that our country is living through."

Sitting side-by-side with Carney during a brief photo op in Edmonton, Jeneroux cited Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January as a rallying cry.

"I think it opened a lot of eyes for Canadians, Albertans, Edmontonians, just how serious this national unity crisis truly is," he said. 

"For me it felt disingenuine and quite simply wrong to be sitting on the sidelines anymore. So I reached out to the prime minister's office and will be joining the caucus and I couldn't be more pleased."

Jeneroux says Carney's 'head-on' approach in Davos influenced floor-crossing

In his own statement announcing the move, Carney said Jeneroux will take on a role as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships.

"Building a stronger, more resilient and more independent country will require ambition, collaboration, and occasionally, sacrifice," Carney wrote.

"This is a time to come together — and together, we will build a stronger future for Edmonton, Alberta, and all Canadians.

Conservatives had harsh words for their former colleague.

Party Leader Pierre Poilievre said Jeneroux has "betrayed the people of Edmonton Riverbend who voted for affordable food and homes, safe streets, and a strong resource sector."

"Mark Carney is trying to seize a costly Liberal majority government that Canadians voted against in the last election through dirty backroom deals," he wrote on social media.

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British Columbia MP Frank Caputo said he "was lied to."

"[Jeneroux] will live with his decisions, character and broken relationships," the Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola  MP wrote.

"What do we have beyond our integrity? I’ll sleep fine, staying true to my principles while I continue to fight for my people."

Ontario MP Dean Allison added he's "not in the business of betraying my constituents who put their trust in me to be their Conservative voice in Ottawa."

In the days after d'Entremont left Conservative caucus, rumours swirled that Jeneroux would also defect to the government benches.

Instead, Jeneroux — who served in the provincial assembly before jumping to federal politics in 2015 — said he would resign as a member of Parliament and denied allegations he was coerced by his own party.

"For now, my focus must turn entirely to my family and to the responsibilities that come with that," Jeneroux said at the time.

Poilievre said Jeneroux planned to step down in the spring.

Since then, Jeneroux has not been spotted in the House of Commons since and has not voted with the Conservatives.

After announcing his plans to resign, Jeneroux said he would donate his salary to local charities.

Jeneroux's floor-crossing brings the Liberals seat count in the House of Commons to 169 Liberal MPs, against the 171 opposition MPs.

There are three vacancies awaiting byelection calls.

The Toronto ridings previously held by former Liberals Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair are largely considered safe Liberal seats.

And on Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada annulled the results of the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne, which the Liberals won by a single vote in last spring's election.

'MPs are attracted to what we're doing,' says Carney after 2 Conservatives join Liberals

Asked in December if he's comfortable securing a majority through floor-crossings, Carney said he's "comfortable commanding the confidence of the House of Commons."  

"We're in a Parliament, and when we pass legislation, we need more people voting for it than against it," the prime minister said.

"Last time I checked, that's the way Parliament works." 

Floor-crossing is a political phenomenon dating back to Confederation.

While public polling over the years suggests Canadians are mixed on the phenomenon, there is nothing in the rules preventing MPs from switching party affiliations.

The federal ethics commissioner recently ruled that d'Entremont did not violate the conflict of interest code for MPs when he joined Carney's Liberals.

Over the years there have been unsuccessful attempts to force a floor-crossing MP to seek re-election under the new party banner through a by-election, but those bills failed to become law.

Reporter

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