Carney says having a Liberal majority would be “better for Canada”
Prime Minister Mark Carney said it would be “better for Canada” if the Liberals held a majority government, a day after a Conservative MP crossed the floor to join the party.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said it would be “better for Canada” if the Liberals held a majority government, a day after a Conservative MP crossed the floor to join the party.
“It’s better for Canada to have a (Liberal) majority before Christmas,” Carney told reporters in French during a Wednesday press conference.
Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont left the party to join the Liberals after officially resigning from the Conservative caucus. He joined the Liberal government hours after the budget was released.
“Mr. d’Entremant and I had a discussion in advance of his decision as was appropriate because he wanted to test what we were going to do in the budget, and in the scope of what’s required. And to see if there was alignment, and you can see that there is that alignment,” the prime minister said.
However, Carney remained coy about whether he has been trying to court other opposition members behind closed doors to cross the aisle and help the Liberals pass their newly unveiled budget.
“Are you or any members of your team actually in conversation with other members of the opposition to try to get them to join?” asked CBC News’ Tom Parry.
Carney responded by saying, “I’m in conversation with you right now, so I can’t be talking to anybody else.”
He added that Parliament “works well” when different parties talk to each other.
“Last spring, Canadians elected a minority parliament and put a check and balance on the power of an untested prime minister,” Conservative MP Micheal Chong said Wednesday. “Mr. Carney is trying to manipulate that result and get a majority Canadians did not elect.”
D’Entremont’s departure marks a loss of representation in the House of Commons for the Conservatives and potentially fewer opposition votes to pass the Liberal budget.
According to d’Entremont, he wanted to do what was best for his constituents after winning his riding by only 1.1 per cent against his Liberal counterpart.
The Nova Scotia MP, a former deputy speaker, allegedly had a falling out with his party after the Conservative caucus refused to back him for Speaker of the House of Commons.
He had been a long-time Conservative, serving as a Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative MLA for 16 years before being elected to the House of Commons in 2019.
Meanwhile, Conservatives and their supporters have accused d’Entremont of betraying his constituents and his values in pursuit of his own ambitions.
Rick Perkins, a former Conservative MP for South Shore—St. Margaret’s, another Nova Scotia riding, challenged d’Entremont to resign altogether and allow his constituents to vote in a by-election.
He also claimed that the former Conservative told him last weekend, “If an election is held now, I will lose my seat. I might as well not run.”
“Make no mistake. There is nothing in his floor crossing about principles,” Perkins said. “It was about keeping his job.”
Of course Carney would like a majority government! Then he could do whatever he wants to. This floor crosser will regret his decision if he has any conscience at all.