Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont said Wednesday he left the Conservative caucus because he didn’t feel represented in leader Pierre Poilievre’s party anymore and bristled at his “negative” approach to politics.
D’Entremont said there are other Conservative MPs who “are in the same boat” and they may join him in crossing over to Liberals.
“In the last number of months, I wasn’t feeling I was aligned with the ideals of what the leader of the Opposition had been talking about,” d’Entremont told reporters of Poilievre after appearing with Prime Minister Mark Carney at a post-budget news conference, the day after he crossed the floor.
Asked what pushed him out, d’Entremont said: “It’s just looking at leadership styles and whether we’re doing the right thing for Canada.”
D’Entremont said Canada is facing challenges and he felt it was better to be part of the solution to some of those troubles as a member of the government caucus “and not continue to be negative.”
“It’s time to lead a country to try and make it better and not try to knock it down,” he said. “We have a great opportunity here in Canada and rather than knocking people down, we should try to find ways to work together, and that’s what I’ve always tried to do in my career.”
WATCH | Chris d’Entremont on why he joined the Liberals:
N.S. MP who left Conservatives explains why he joined Liberals
Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont, who left the Conservatives to join the Liberals on budget day, says in recent months he didn’t feel aligned with the ideals advanced by the Conservative leader — and wanted to work to build Canada and ‘not continue to be negative.’
A self-described Red Tory, d’Entremont said he was also swayed by Carney’s first budget, which includes more money for infrastructure, the fishery, farming and the military. Those are crucial industries in his rural Nova Scotia riding, which also includes a Canadian Armed Forces base that stands to gain from the government’s defence spending hike.
D’Entremont said the Liberals promised him nothing in return for crossing the floor.
In an interview with CBC’s Power & Politics on Tuesday, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman alleged d’Entremont left over a past disagreement over who should serve as deputy Speaker of the House of Commons — a position d’Entremont held in the last Parliament but one that’s now occupied by Conservative MP Tom Kmiec.
d’Entremont acknowledged discussions over who should serve in that role were an “awkward time” for him, but he did “move on” and that’s not what brought him to this decision.
He said he just felt Carney was a better leader for the moment.
Carney said he admires d’Entremont for making the decision to leave.
“This is a time where we need to act boldly,” Carney said, adding he and d’Entremont have “alignment” on what’s best for the country as it faces economic threats amid U.S. tariffs.
“This is the time for us to come together as much as possible in the interest of our country,” Carney said.
Asked if he has had conversations with other MPs about joining the Liberals, Carney said: “We’ll speak to anyone publicly or otherwise who can support us.”
“I’ll speak to members, deputies throughout the House.”
WATCH | PM says he admires Nova Scotia MP for crossing aisle from Conservatives:
PM says he admires Nova Scotia MP for crossing aisle from Conservatives
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he admires Chris d’Entremont’s decision to cross the aisle during ‘this crucial time for our country.’ D’Entremont spoke later at the event, saying he didn’t align with the ideals of Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre. Carney’s government tabled its first budget on Tuesday.
Later on Wednesday, Liberals warmly embraced d’Entremont as he entered the party’s caucus meeting alongside Carney.
The MPs assembled gave the Nova Scotian an enthusiastic standing ovation, cheered “Chris!” Chris! Chris!” and some of them hugged him as he entered that space for the first time as a Liberal.
Carney and d’Entremont were smiling broadly as they both shook hands with a caucus that seemed jubilant about adding another member, which brings the party to just two seats away from a majority in the House of Commons.
Liberal MP James Maloney, the party’s caucus chair, said d’Entremont is an “outstanding MP, he’s a great guy.”
“This isn’t about politics, it’s about people. The decision he made is a difficult one and people need to support him.”
Maloney said he’s had conversations with other MPs — but he’s “not actively recruiting” other floor-crossers.
WATCH | Conservative MPs react to Chris d’Entremont crossing the floor:
Conservative MPs react to Chris d’Entremont crossing the floor
Conservative MPs reacted to the news of the Acadie—Annapolis MP crossing the floor to the Liberal Party ahead of caucus meetings on Wednesday.
Conservative MP Aaron Gunn, meanwhile, said d’Entremont’s decision to leave was “shameful.”
“I could never imagine doing something like that — to misrepresent yourself to voters, to lie to your volunteers. It’s only been six months since the election, the leaders are the same, the policies haven’t changed. He campaigned against budgets that look just like this,” Gunn said.
MP Ted Falk said he was “very disappointed” in his former caucus mate for making the leap to the other side. “It’s a betrayal of the team.”
MP Michael Chong, another Conservative, said voters delivered a minority government at the last election and now Carney is trying to “manipulate that result and get a majority that Canadians did not elect.”
