The Liberals’ newest MPs were given a standing ovation as they each took to the stage at their party’s policy convention, but in the hallways some delegates quietly wondered whether the liberal umbrella is getting too big.
Former Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu was the first to address delegates. In her opening remarks Thursday, the Sarnia MP said the prime minister is building a big tent coalition with Canadians who are looking to build a stronger economy.
“I know how to look past the usual politics to step up for the constituents who elected me as part of this strong new team in government,” she said Thursday.
Once seen as a social conservative who supported the trucker convoy and was skeptical about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, Gladu’s entrance into the Liberal Party has not come without controversy.
Pressed by reporters Thursday about her voting record on issues including conversion therapy, Gladu said she’s pro-choice and anti-conversion therapy.
“I have been consistent when I said that women need to have the right to choose,” she said. “I obviously have my long faith traditions, but I’m ready to support the rights of women in this country.”
Carney has said Gladu, and the four other floor-crossers, will be expected to vote with the government if there are future votes relating to abortion or LGBTQ2S+ rights.
Asked about Gladu’s entrance into caucus, former environment minister Steven Guilbeault said he was surprised by the move.
“The Liberal Party is obviously bigger than one person,” he said. “The prime minister has been very clear we’re not changing the Liberal Party. We’re not changing our values.”
Guilbeault, who said he’s gotten into heated discussions with Gladu on the environment and climate change, suggested the tent is not being stretched too thin. He also said the Carney government has moved the Liberals more to the centre but said it remains very progressive.
“As long as people who come into the Liberal Party understand what they’re coming into,” he told reporters. “If you’re joining a political party, you should know what you are signing up for. She knows exactly where we stand on things like, like we’re pro-choice.”
Former Trudeau-era cabinet minister Karina Gould offered similar comments on Gladu’s entrance into the liberal caucus.
“We are absolutely a pro-choice party,” Gould said. “Now she has decided to join this party and that means that therefore, she supports the policies of this party.”
Former NDP MP Lori Idlout, and former Conservative MPs Matt Jeneroux and Chris D’Entremont were all introduced to delegates Friday before participating in different panels.
“I don’t know whether I should introduce myself as a recovering Conservative or just that I was a Liberal and I didn’t know it,” said D’Entremont.
What are delegates saying?
4,500 Liberals are in Montreal for the three-day convention. Half of them, according to a Liberal source, are attending a convention for the first time.
Kitchener’s Jeff Evans has always been a Liberal supporter but never thought about coming to a convention until Mark Carney was elected.
“We’re Mark Carney fans,” he said. “Straight up.”
Evans, who is in Montreal for the weekend with his wife, says the buzz around what Carney is doing compelled the couple to make the trip.
“Everything is new to us, and that puts a lot of shine on it too,” he said.
Liberal delegates largely described the vibe at the 2026 Policy Convention as “electric.” The last time the party gathered for the same kind of convention it was 2023 and the party, led by Justin Trudeau, was not doing well in the polls.
Manitoba’s Gloria Kelly was at the 2023 convention and described the energy this weekend as “vibrant.” In 2023, she said, delegates felt that the Liberals were “in trouble”
“The conversations are wonderful,” she said. “People are happy, which is really, it’s really good because that’s not always the case.”
Kelly said she believes delegates are so upbeat because of the 2025 election results, but also because of Mark Carney’s leadership.
“I think the feeling is that we are on the right track,” Kelly said.
But many delegates say the prospect of a majority government following Monday’s byelections in Ontario and Quebec are also amping people up and creating a sense of momentum.
How are the floor-crossers going over with delegates?
Delegates speaking to CTV News offered mixed opinions on the recent floor-crossings by four Conservative MPs and one NDP MP. Some believed the moves show the party is able to unite Canadians of diverse opinions, while others were concerned about having social conservatives in the party.
James McIntosh said he is glad to welcome members of the Conservative Party into the fold. He said Carney’s international reputation and background as an economist and banker has helped increase the profile of the Liberal Party.
“I think it’s very good that people in the Conservative Party are beginning to realize that who they were associated with wasn’t a really good idea,” he said. “That’s encouraging. I just hope that more people will come.”
Pooja Sinha said it was incredible to see four of the new Liberal MPs being introduced to delegates on stage. Sinha, who is attending her first convention to help advocate for seniors and care, said she enjoys seeing people with different opinions and thoughts coming under the same umbrella to support Liberal policies
“This moment of such intense geopolitical tension, you know, I think the most important thing is to have unity and find common ground for people to come together in community and everywhere,” she said. “It’s only this moment that has gotten all these diverse people together under one umbrella.”
Tanner Bergsm said he believes floor-crossers should have to win a byelection.
“Some constituents are often feeling that they’re voting for a party, not necessarily for a person,” he said. “But with that being said, we are reaching the majority and if we do reach a majority, I am confident in our leadership that we can do what’s best for Canadians.”
If that majority status is reached after Monday’s byelections, Bergsm said he wants Liberal MPs to work collaboratively with their Conservative colleagues to help unify Canada as a whole.
“I would urge our caucus to be able to consider what the conservatives are saying as well.”
Gladu has previously said she believes floor-crossers should have to win a byelection. Asked about that old statement, Gladu told reporters on Thursday that would require a change to the Elections Act.
“I also said that in order for that to happen, the Elections Act has to be changed,” she said. “And the Elections Act has to be changed to make sure that people have to either sit as independents or call a byelection, that law has not been changed.”
Gladu did not respond to a question about whether she has asked the prime minister to prioritize that change to the Act.
