Edmonton MP defects to Liberals, boosting party toward majority

Matt Jeneroux, the Conservative MP for Edmonton Riverbend since 2015, crossed to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal caucus, giving the Liberals 169 seats and leaving them three short of a majority. The defection marks the third Conservative to switch sides in recent months, drawing criticism from opposition leader Pierre Poilievre about backroom deals. Jeneroux cited family discussions and Carney’s World Economic Forum remarks as influences and will serve as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships; the move follows two other defections and several parliamentary vacancies.