BREAKING: Ex-Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux crosses floor to join Carney’s Liberals
Carney has lured yet another Conservative MP across the floor, tightening his grip on Parliament and pushing his government to being within a single seat of a majority government.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has lured yet another MP across the floor, tightening his grip on Parliament and pushing his government to being within a single seat of a majority government.
On Wednesday morning, Carney announced that Matt Jeneroux, the former Conservative MP for Edmonton Riverbend, is joining the Liberal caucus.
Jeneroux becomes the third Conservative MP to defect to Carney’s government, following Chris d’Entremont and Michael Ma. The back-to-back losses leave the Conservatives down two seats in two days and the Liberals just one seat shy of a majority government.
Carney took to social media to frame the move as an act of national unity and economic necessity.
“I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government,” Carney wrote.
“Building a stronger, more resilient, and more independent country will require ambition, collaboration, and occasionally, sacrifice.”
Carney also immediately handed Jeneroux a new title, appointing him as a special advisor on economic and security partnerships.
“As a new special advisor on economic and security partnerships, Matt’s leadership will contribute to strengthening Canada’s alliances and trade partnerships,” Carney said.
Jeneroux has represented Edmonton Riverbend since 2015, after first being elected to Alberta’s legislature in 2012. He secured four consecutive mandates in Ottawa and held several high-profile critic roles under Conservative leadership, including supply chains, innovation, infrastructure, health, and housing.
He also served internationally as Vice-Chair of the Canada-UK Interparliamentary Association and founded the Canada-ASEAN Parliamentary Group.
The floor-crossing comes after announcing in November that he would be stepping down a series of conflicting public statements where he claimed he was not preparing to join the Liberals. A statement initially provided to CTV News flatly denied the reports: “Despite the rumours being circulated in Ottawa, MP Jeneroux is not crossing the floor and is remaining a member of the Conservative caucus.”
Jeneroux had also previously announced his resignation, saying: “For now, my focus must turn entirely to my family and to the responsibilities that come with that.”
I am so disappointed in Matt. I am in his constituency. I didn’t vote liberal. He needs to step down as he committed to in November and a by-election needs to occur. You want to be liberal knock yourself out. But earn that seat.
Another traitor, doesn’t have the fortitude to do what is right. He will make a good Liberal, he already knows how to lie!