OTTAWA — Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said conversations with dissatisfied MPs from opposition parties continue, just one day after his party secured its fourth floor crosser in recent months.
“I think very much so,” he told reporters on his way into a cabinet meeting on Thursday, in response to a question about whether his party is talking to more MPs.
“I think that Canadians who live in Conservative ridings look at their MPs and wish they would spend more time proposing solutions, participating in this great project on which we’ve embarked to build Canada more strong and to continue to diversify our supply chains, to continue to develop markets abroad and to continue to push our economy.”
MacKinnon’s comments came just one day after his party secured Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, who defected from the NDP. The governing party also convinced three Conservative MPs to cross the floor, including Matt Jeneroux, Michael Ma and Chris d’Entremont.
MacKinnon would not go into details about how Idlout’s decision to join the Liberals came about, but said he was very happy she has chosen the Liberal Party.
In response to a question about the potential for more defectors from her party, Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman said 41 per cent of the population voted blue last election and her party will remain focused on the work of the official Opposition.
“We have a job to do for our constituents, to make sure that we fight for a more affordable life, more affordable homes, safer streets, and a more resilient Canada where we can stand on our own two feet,” she said, during a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
“We’re going to continue to do that, and we’re going to continue to do that as conservatives.”
Idlout’s floor crossing brings the Liberals one step closer to a majority government, with the party now just two seats away from a 172-seat majority government. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced three byelections scheduled on April 13, which include two races in Ontario, in Scarborough Southwest and University–Rosedale. The seats were left vacant, following the resignations of Bill Blair and Chrystia Freeland, with the Liberals heavily favoured to win.
The third race will be held in Terrebonne, Quebec, which is expected to be a close race between the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois.
National Post
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