Canada’s Carney on cusp of majority rule after another defection to his Liberals
Conservative MP Michael Ma swaps parties to join Canada’s Liberals, in the second such defection in a month
Canada’s governing Liberals were one seat short of a simple majority in Parliament after a Conservative lawmaker defected and joined Prime Minister Mark Carney’s party on Thursday.
Michael Ma was the second Canadian Conservative opposition lawmaker to join the Liberals in just over a month. Hong Kong-born Ma, who represents Markham–Unionville, said he entered politics “to focus on solutions, not division”.
“I have concluded that Prime Minister Mark Carney is offering the steady, practical approach we need to deliver on the priorities I hear every day while door knocking in Markham–Unionville,” Ma said in his statement.
His move puts the Liberals one seat shy of a majority government and being able to pass any bill without the support of an opposition party.
Carney joined hands and welcomed Ma at the Liberal Party Christmas party on Thursday night.
“Wow, such a big welcome,” Ma said.