Prime Minister Mark Carney greeted Markham–Unionville MP Michael Ma with a hug at a Liberal holiday event in Ottawa on Thursday, shortly after Ma left the Conservatives to join the Liberal caucus. The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed a new face into the Liberal caucus Thursday night. Ontario MP Michael Ma crossed the floor from the Conservatives to join the Liberals. The move came during the party’s holiday gathering in Ottawa. Carney used the moment to highlight growing support for his leadership.
“Some of you have been Liberals your whole life,” Carney told the crowd. “Others, like me, are new to politics.” He then pointed to Ma and added, “Some may have just joined our party. Like literally, just joined our party.”
A Public Welcome on Stage
Carney invited Ma onto the stage. He also thanked another recent floor crosser, Chris d’Entremont. The crowd responded with loud applause. Carney joked about holiday plans with his new members. “You are going to have a much better time spending Christmas with us,” he said.
The scene marked a sharp change from last year. At that time, the party faced internal tension and low morale. This year, the mood appeared upbeat and confident.
Conservatives Caught Off Guard
The announcement surprised Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Earlier that day, he spoke confidently about his upcoming leadership review. He said he felt “very” sure of the outcome. He also criticized Carney during his remarks.
“I told him, copy my ideas,” Poilievre said. “He did only copy the words.” He accused Carney of poor leadership and rising costs.
Ma Cites Unity and Solutions
Ma explained his decision in a statement released Thursday night. He stressed the need for unity and cooperation. He said politics should focus on solutions, not division. He described Carney as the leader best suited to move the country forward.
Just hours earlier, Ma attended a Conservative holiday event. Photos showed him standing beside Poilievre and his wife. By evening, he stood on the Liberal stage with his arm raised.
Parliament Wraps a Quiet Session
The floor crossing came as Parliament wrapped up its session early. Carney said government work continued to function well. However, lawmakers passed only one bill into law during the session. That bill addressed citizenship rules linked to a past court ruling.
Members also agreed to move two other bills forward. These included legislation on tax cuts and border measures. Several major bills remain unfinished, including crime and budget legislation.
Parties Trade Blame
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon defended the record. “We did get results for Canadians,” he said. He blamed delays on Conservative tactics. Conservatives rejected that claim.
“The failure is completely on the Liberal side,” said Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer. He said his party offered cooperation and improvements.
Election Pressure May Ease
Interim NDP leader Don Davies weighed in earlier this week. He said the Liberals lack a majority. He urged Carney to work more closely with other parties. He warned that progress requires shared support.
With Ma joining the Liberals, the government gained one seat. That shift may reduce immediate election pressure. For now, Carney appears focused on building momentum.
