Small group of Conservatives frustrated with Poilievre: Liberal House leader

OTTAWA — Government House leader Steven MacKinnon said Friday there are other MPs in the Conservative caucus who are “extremely frustrated” with the political direction being taken by their party, as Conservatives denounced the latest floor crossing from their caucus.

Questioned by reporters the morning after MP Michael Ma left the Conservatives to join the Liberal caucus, MacKinnon said a handful of Conservatives have shared their frustrations with Liberals privately.

“All of my colleagues here have the same experience of speaking to Conservative members, unfortunately a group which is in the minority in their group, who are extremely frustrated with the leadership of their party,” MacKinnon said at a high-speed rail announcement in Gatineau, Que.

“Look, they realize, like we do, that we’re at a turning point. They realize, like we do, that we’re in a trade war and that serious solutions are required. And they are required every day to go through this charade of obstruction.”

MacKinnon said this obstruction is evident in the “soul destroying” practice of Conservative MPs repeating the same question “40 times a day” during question period.

The Liberals issued a press release Thursday evening announcing Ma’s surprise departure from the Conservative caucus, just one day after he’d attended the Conservative Christmas party and posed for a photo alongside leader Pierre Poilievre. About an hour after the statement was released, Ma appeared at the Liberal Christmas party, where Prime Minister Mark Carney introduced him as the party’s newest member, prompting a standing ovation.

Ma was first elected in April, winning the Greater Toronto Area riding of Markham—Unionville by about 1,900 votes.

Ma said little from the stage on Thursday, except to issue holiday greetings and “a great 2026 coming to all of you.” In his statement Ma indicated he made the decision after hearing from constituents and consulting with his family, and that he believed Carney offers “the steady, practical approach we need to deliver on the priorities I hear every day while door knocking in Markham—Unionville.

The move puts the Liberals at 171 seats, one shy of a majority government, after Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont also defected from the Conservative ranks last month. The Conservatives dropped to 142, the Bloc Québécois have 22, the NDP have seven and the Green Party, one.

MacKinnon said he wouldn’t speculate on whether the Liberals will court more MPs to cross the floor to secure a majority.

“You’ve seen two to date … Others exist, but as I said, it’s an incredibly personal and in many cases disruptive decision that a person has to make, after in some cases spending decades or years of active involvement in the Conservative party,” he said.

Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux was rumoured to be considering following d’Entremont to the Liberal bench, but instead he announced plans to resign as MP in the new year. Jeneroux has not voted since he made that announcement.

Poilievre said on social media Thursday night Ma was elected to oppose the Liberal policies he is now endorsing.

“The people he let down the most are the ones who elected him to fight for an affordable future,” he wrote. “He will have to answer to them.”

Several other Conservative MPs issued similar statements criticizing Ma for crossing the floor after dancing at the Conservative Christmas party and taking part in the Secret Santa gift exchange.

“I gave him an Amazon Fire Stick just hours before he crossed the floor,” Ontario Conservative MP Kurt Holman posted on X Friday morning. “Now I want my gift back, just like the people of Markham—Unionville want their votes back!”

Poilievre faces a leadership review at the party’s convention in Calgary at the end of January. Thursday afternoon, before Ma’s decision was made public, Poilievre said he was very confident he will survive that vote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025.