Michael Ma’s Stunning Jump to the Liberals Sends Shockwaves Through Ottawa
So, here’s what’s been unfolding in Ottawa — and it’s one of those political moments that gets everyone talking. Conservative MP Michael Ma, who represents Markham–Unionville, has officially crossed the floor and joined the Liberals. And the timing, the reactions, and the political impact of this move have all combined to create a dramatic day on Parliament Hill.
What makes this such a big deal is not just the defection itself, but how suddenly it happened. According to insiders, Ma met privately with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday afternoon. The conversation clearly went well, because only hours later, Ma announced that he would be joining the Liberal caucus. By the time the party’s holiday gathering kicked off that evening in Ottawa, Ma was being welcomed onstage by a smiling Carney, with a raucous crowd cheering him on.
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With Ma’s move, the Liberals now hold 171 seats — just one shy of the 172 needed for a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons. This puts the government within striking distance of a stability they haven’t had, and it adds even more pressure on the Conservatives, who were reportedly blindsided by the announcement. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s team had no idea this was coming, especially since Ma had attended their own holiday party the night before. He was posing for photos with Poilievre and his wife, smiling, wearing a red tie — nothing that suggested he was hours away from changing parties.
In his written statement, Ma explained that he believes the Liberals under Mark Carney are offering the “steady, practical approach” his constituents need. He pointed to issues like affordability, economic growth, community safety, and creating opportunities for young families as priorities he feels the current government is better positioned to address. It was a calm, measured explanation, even though the political fallout was anything but calm.
Poilievre, unsurprisingly, fired back quickly. He criticized Ma on X, saying that Ma had been elected as a Conservative to oppose Liberal “inflationary spending,” and accused him of betraying the voters who wanted a more affordable future. It was a sharp and pointed response, reflecting just how much this defection stung — especially because it’s the second one in just over a month.
The move was kept so tightly under wraps that even senior Liberal officials didn’t know it was happening until the press release dropped. And for Ma, a first-time MP who won his riding by about 2,000 votes, this shift marks a significant moment, not just for his political career but for the balance of power in Ottawa.
With Parliament now on break until late January, the aftershocks of this move will continue to ripple. And all eyes will be on whether Carney can secure just one more MP — the final piece he needs to claim a majority.
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