Canada’s Liberal government, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, is actively courting three Quebec Conservative MPs to cross the floor, a move that could further solidify the party’s newly secured parliamentary majority. Joël-Denis Bellavance, a journalist for La Press, spoke of the matter on CPAC’s Primetime Politics show Friday.
Bellavance indicated that while these MPs remain reluctant to switch sides for now, dissatisfaction within the Conservative caucus in Quebec is mounting, potentially setting the stage for defections in the coming weeks.
The revelation follows days after Carney’s Liberals achieved a majority in the House of Commons, now holding 174 of 343 seats following a sweep of three byelections on Monday and a series of earlier floor crossings. The byelection victories included Danielle Martin’s decisive win in University-Rosedale, Doly Begum’s commanding 70% of the vote in Scarborough Southwest, and Tatiana Auguste’s tight triumph in Terrebonne. This success, coupled with five prior defections from other parties, marks a shift from a minority to a majority government without a general election.
The focus on Quebec MPs comes as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces growing internal dissent. A recent speech by Poilievre, which criticized Carney’s credentials in a personal attack over resumes, failed to resonate with Quebec voters or reassure Tory MPs in the province. Political observers note that if even one of these MPs defects—either to sit as an independent or join the Liberals—it could deal a severe blow to Poilievre’s leadership.
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Meanwhile, the Conservatives saw their vote share plummet by double digits in all three byelection ridings, including a historic low outside a major Quebec city. Poilievre condemned the Liberal majority as a product of “backroom deals” rather than electoral mandate, vowing to continue fighting despite the party’s reduced 140 seats. National polls now show the Liberals far ahead, a stark reversal from the Conservatives’ near-majority position less than two years ago.
Carney, speaking after the byelection results, called for unity and collaboration, pledging to build a Canada that is “strong for all.” His government, now in control of parliamentary committees, is prioritizing economic measures like suspending the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel from later this month until early September to offset rising fuel costs driven by the US-Iran conflict.
With an election likely three years away and trade negotiations with the United States on the horizon, the potential defection of Quebec MPs remains a critical wildcard. The Liberals’ strategic outreach in the province could reshape the political landscape further, as Carney’s administration moves to cement its legislative dominance with 174 seats already secured.
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