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Carney Defends Floor Crossings as Liberals Move to One Seat From Majority

The dispute has shifted to whether floor-crossing is a legitimate path in a system where governments survive by retaining House confidence.

Prime Minister Mark Carney raises the hand of Michael Ma, member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals hours earlier, at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney pumps his fist as he arrives to deliver remarks at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
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Prime Minister Mark Carney embraces Michael Ma who crossed the floor to the Liberals last week — putting the party one MP away from forming a majority government.

Overview

  • Two former Conservative MPs, Michael Ma and Chris d’Entremont, have joined the Liberals, lifting the government to 171 seats in the 343-seat House.
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney says the MPs “came to us” and were “attracted” to his agenda, adding he is comfortable so long as he commands the confidence of the House.
  • Pierre Poilievre calls a majority won through defections illegitimate and alleges “backroom deals,” as he heads into a mandatory leadership review in January.
  • The ethics commissioner ruled d’Entremont did not breach conflict rules, and floor-crossing remains permissible under parliamentary practice without a by-election.
  • Liberal ministers say there has been interest from other MPs, while protests in Ma’s Markham–Unionville riding show local backlash to his switch.