In light of another Conservative member defecting to join Prime Minister Mark Carney, Liberal MPs are revealing new insights into how they persuaded the initial floor-crosser, Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont, to switch sides. Kody Blois, a Liberal MP, disclosed in an interview with CBC’s “The House” that their efforts intensified in August when d’Entremont returned from a trip with a Conservative MP. Blois mentioned that their conversation was not forceful but aimed at highlighting the alignment of d’Entremont’s views with the Liberal party’s approach under the prime minister’s leadership.
D’Entremont also shared his perspective, stating that the meeting with Blois helped solidify some of his existing thoughts. Although he initially returned to the House of Commons as a Conservative MP in September, he was gradually approached by other Liberals over time, with Blois providing gentle follow-ups. One such Liberal was New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who revealed engaging in discussions with d’Entremont for about a month before his eventual crossing of the floor in November. Long also mentioned facilitating a meeting between d’Entremont and Carney promptly upon request.
During the meeting with Carney, d’Entremont highlighted the prime minister’s emphasis on federal investments for Acadian culture, which resonated with him. Their hour-long conversation covered significant topics related to Nova Scotia, leaving d’Entremont impressed with the candid discussion, ultimately leading to his decision to switch sides. When announcing his move, d’Entremont praised Carney’s budget priorities that aligned with his constituents’ needs for community infrastructure and economic growth.
Carney, commenting on the recent floor-crossers, expressed his usual unawareness until the final stages of their decision-making process. D’Entremont was the first of four Conservatives to join the Liberal government, followed by Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux, and most recently, Marilyn Gladu. Gladu’s decision to switch parties stirred reactions from both sides, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre advocating for constituents to have the power to petition for a byelection when an MP changes parties.
In a bid to strengthen their position, the Liberals also welcomed Nunavut MP Lori Idlout from the NDP earlier in March. With these defections, the Liberals now hold 171 seats in the House of Commons, just one seat away from a majority government. The upcoming byelections in Ontario and Quebec present an opportunity for the Liberals to secure a majority in the House.