Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux will join the Liberals, he says, giving the governing party more power in the House and representation in deep-blue Alberta.
Here’s what to know about Jeneroux’s defection:
How many Conservatives have crossed?
Jeneroux is the third Conservative to defect to the Liberals in three months.
Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor in November, and Michael Ma left Conservative ranks in December.
Is this a surprise?
There was speculation Jeneroux might join d’Entremont shortly after the latter’s move to the Liberals. Instead, he announced he would resign altogether. At the time, his office sent a statement to CTV News saying he was not crossing the floor.
On Wednesday, he wrote that he would continue to serve in Parliament alongside the Liberals.
“I will be working with Prime Minister Mark Carney as a part of his new government to help build our country’s strength as we face the challenges ahead,” reads Jeneroux’s statement.
Do the Liberals now have a majority?
No. Despite several members of the Conservative Party joining their ranks, they are still shy of the 172-seat threshold to form a majority government.
If Jeneroux follows through on his promise to switch sides, the Liberals will have 169 seats to the Conservatives’ 141. For context, the Bloc Quebecois has 22 seats, the NDP has seven, the Greens have one, and there are three vacancies.
Instead, the Liberals will hold on to their minority government, which means they have more seats in the House of Commons than any other party, but not a majority of the 343 available seats.
Weren’t the Liberals close to a majority?
While Conservative Party members have been switching sides, the Liberal Party has also undergone some attrition since the last election.
Former cabinet minister Bill Blair resigned his seat after he was appointed as Canada’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom. Former justice minister David Lametti took on the role of Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, replacing Bob Rae, in November.
Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s former deputy prime minister, announced her resignation to take on an economic adviser position for Ukraine.
And last week, the Supreme Court invalidated the election result in Terrebonne, Que., where Liberal MP Tatiana Auguste had won by a single vote. That riding will be headed for a byelection.
What does Pierre Poilievre think?
Jeneroux has “betrayed” his constituents, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote in response to news his MP was crossing the floor.
“Matt Jeneroux has betrayed the people of Edmonton Riverbend who voted for affordable food and homes, safe streets, and a strong resource sector,” wrote Poilievre.
The party leader accused Carney of trying to get a majority government through “dirty background deals.”
With files from CTV News journalist Spencer Van Dyk
