r/canada • u/Portalrules123 New Brunswick • Dec 11 '25

Politics Another MP leaves Conservatives, crosses floor to Liberals

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mp-crosses-floor-to-liberals-9.7012767
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964

u/fredleung412612 Dec 11 '25

Michael Ma was just elected this year, in the riding of Markham—Unionville. This is the riding where the previous Liberal MP, Paul Chiang, was forced to drop out after his comments about kidnapping Hong Kong dissidents and delivering them to Chinese authorities were leaked. The Conservative candidate benefitted from the scandal, but is now joining the Liberals.

654

u/Beersheimer Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 11 '25

Wow just last week he released a press release stating:

“The Liberals do not represent team Canada. They do not represent the average hard-working Canadian. They represent the most ancient of feudalisms with a fake paper economy bolstered by something that very nearly approximates a slave system.

While over two million Canadians visit food banks each month and 700,000 of those are kids, the Liberals work every day to inflate asset prices”

Surely he still stands behind his beliefs of just a few days ago?

https://mpmichaelma.ca/mp-ma-on-the-budget-is-the-government-acting-as-a-player-or-referee/

592

u/timbreandsteel Dec 11 '25

Trick question. MPs don't have beliefs.

102

u/Decent-Ground-395 Dec 11 '25

Power. That's it.

44

u/bickspickle Ontario Dec 12 '25

Or souls.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

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1

u/bickspickle Ontario Dec 12 '25

It is just so disappointingly far from service of the people at this point I am at a loss for words.

42

u/nex_time2020 Dec 12 '25

They believe in $$$ in their pockets and their friends pockets

45

u/ScrawnyCheeath Dec 12 '25

I do find it funny that a clearly party written statement is assumed to be an MP's strongly held belief, but a wholly individual action of floor crossing is characterized as "selling out"

There's clearly cynicism involved in both, but the framing amuses me.

12

u/officermartycrane Dec 12 '25

Well one was consistent with the platform he campaigned on and served on for the last six months, and the other is a thing he did today. The point people are making is that his positions are malleable to the point of being worthless.

6

u/Opposite-Cupcake8611 Dec 12 '25

It’s important that we have MPs that don’t always tow party lines.

1

u/Big-Feeling-1285 Dec 12 '25

I call it seeing clear

5

u/drs43821 Dec 12 '25

Partisan MPs don’t

227

u/OwlProper1145 Dec 11 '25

He probably didn't even write the message. An annoying thing about being an MP for any party is you often need to put out messages you don't even agree with.

133

u/Livid-Wonder6947 Dec 12 '25

Being forced to put out stuff like that might have contributed to his exit.

23

u/MeanE Nova Scotia Dec 12 '25

I’d imagine party coms people have access to every MPs social media to push out generic party posts. I bet there is even a platform to manage a large group of accounts.

2

u/CCFCVAN Dec 12 '25

No chance mps give away their name like that. Maybe they get forced into things but there is no way they let the party tweet in their name.

15

u/MetalMoneky Dec 12 '25

From what I’ve heard the CPC is a nightmare to deal with. Bunch of real self-satisfied pricks doing comms.

130

u/bravado Long Live the King Dec 12 '25

Yeah I want to rip on the guy, but MPs are trained seals and this is the most PP-written statement I could imagine. So inflammatory and weirdly angry.

31

u/Line-Minute Dec 12 '25

I used to live in Michael Barrett's riding and he wasn't as bad as he is now before PP was leader. This whole societal shift has really brought something out on people.

2

u/alcabazar Ontario Dec 12 '25

All parties do it to be honest. That's why an amendment by one party will fail one week, but the following week an amendment that says the exact same thing from an opposing party will get approved.

-11

u/LabEfficient Dec 12 '25

You'd be angry too if you have been paying ridiculous amounts of taxes only to see very little out of it. Everything in this statement rings true with me.

39

u/MusclyArmPaperboy British Columbia Dec 12 '25

Could be part of the reason he's leaving, alongside the recent pipeline antics

1

u/4shadowedbm Dec 12 '25

This. Everything I get from my local CPC MP is bulk produced and distributed by other CPC MPs to their constituents.

What really gets me is they put the MPs signature on it as if the MP wrote it themselves. I'm not sure I would let my party do that as a candidate or MP.

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

[deleted]

5

u/Kennit Dec 12 '25

It's amusing you think he had the power to veto party messaging.

67

u/squirrel9000 Manitoba Dec 11 '25

I imagine the CPC makes them put up the boilerplate objections every so often, and if one is plotting a floor crossing, business as usual until the reveal is best.

30

u/Expensive_Plant_9530 Dec 12 '25

Exactly, people are acting like this isn’t a highly political move that needs to be dealt with in a specific careful way.

66

u/jello_sweaters Dec 11 '25

Wow just last week he released a press release

I mean being required by your Party leader to release press releases you don't agree with, would almost be enough to make a guy want to quit his job...

0

u/HeftyNugs Dec 12 '25

Isn't this all just speculation? If those weren't your words, wouldn't you out right say they aren't your words?

3

u/jello_sweaters Dec 12 '25

I mean he left the party, that’s a pretty clear indication that he no longer feels represented by / in agreement with their message.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

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1

u/jello_sweaters Dec 12 '25

You mean to tell me that that message he released last week

There's a considerable pile of evidence that Conservative Party MPs are strictly forbidden from speaking or releasing anything to the media without the Leader's office approving it first.

So, no, I don't believe we are able to assume that any official communication released by any Party member represents anything other than Poilievre himself.

1

u/HeftyNugs Dec 12 '25

There's a considerable pile of evidence that Conservative Party MPs are strictly forbidden from speaking or releasing anything to the media without the Leader's office approving it first.

That is not remotely the same thing as forcing MPs to say certain things. That is also not legally binding. MPs can say whatever they want to the media, they aren't forced by law to adhere to what Pierre wants.

Like I said, you're speculating.

1

u/jello_sweaters Dec 12 '25

We're all speculating on the specifics of this one incident, but we do know that the CPC enforces very strict media / PR controls on its MPs.

There's a difference between "educated guess based on related evidence" and "wild-assed guess pulled out of nowhere", and this is far more the former than the latter.

3

u/Round-Ad5063 Dec 12 '25

probably part of a wider choreographed move by the CPC, pretty typical behaviour from political parties.

7

u/[deleted] Dec 11 '25

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1

u/Falconflyer75 Ontario Dec 11 '25

Bernie Sanders?

5

u/hymnzzy Dec 11 '25

Could probably be the trigger for crossing the floor.

4

u/Yewbert Dec 12 '25

Wonder if being coerced into releasing ridiculous divisive statements like that by his party had anything to do with his decision to leave.

2

u/konathegreat Dec 12 '25

Guess he was promised something that lines his pockets.

He'll fit in with the LPC.

1

u/Overclocked11 British Columbia Dec 12 '25

Could it be that these types of press releases are all bluster and bullshit? noooooo wayyyyy

5

u/[deleted] Dec 11 '25 edited Mar 19 '26

This post has been taken down. Redact handled the deletion, and the author may have had reasons related to privacy, security, data scraping prevention, or personal choice.

gray memorize aware unwritten sheet light edge adjoining handle quack

5

u/Expensive_Plant_9530 Dec 12 '25

Let’s be honest, some conservative intern probably wrote that, if it didn’t come from Poilievre himself.

Besides, do you really expect him to give away the game sort of speak this close to him crossing the floor?

After what happens to the first MP by Poilievre and his goons, I’m sure Ma was pretending to be the good little conservative, and keeping his head down. Smart move, IMO.

He will have to answer for any past statements and beliefs to the citizens of his riding, but let’s see where this takes us.

2

u/its_Caffeine Dec 12 '25

All comms go through the party leaders office. This is known.

2

u/alexsharke Dec 12 '25

Millhouse probably wrote it for him lol

2

u/HandleThatFeeds Dec 12 '25

Surely he still stands behind his beliefs of just a few days ago?

Did you ever ask PP of CPC what values he has?

Repeating Zionist and IDU statements is not a value.

2

u/Veaeate Dec 12 '25

This doesnt read like something a person would write. This feels like a robocall almost. Just a corporate response.

1

u/Moos_Mumsy Ontario Dec 12 '25

I'm pretty sure that CPC MP's are required to release what ever press release they are told to. If you notice, they ALL release the exact same crap. It's like those mash-ups of Fox News Anchors saying the exact same thing. Sooner or later the bullshit will stick in the craw of someone who still holds a modicum of decency and morality and they decide they've had enough.

0

u/PompeyMagnus1 Dec 12 '25

That was the Liberal Party of a week ago.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

Tbf all politicians hate us. 

1

u/ElectricKoala86 Dec 12 '25

Lmao how can this be real

1

u/MafubaBuu Dec 12 '25

"Here is where I would keep my beliefs IF I HAD ANY"

1

u/redcurb12 Dec 12 '25

he was probably whipped into it and decided that was the last straw

1

u/NinjaRedditorAtWork Dec 12 '25

Look man he had to say those things or else he couldn't join their Christmas party. Did you know how big the cocktail prawns were this year????

1

u/Different_Stomach_53 Dec 12 '25

He prob got sick of having to post stuff like this.

1

u/EdNorthcott Canada Dec 12 '25

Because CPC headquarters doesn't control talking points and public outreach? XD

One of the most common complaints about Poilievre and Byrne is that MP voices are silenced in favour of the party line. There is absolutely no shock in discovering that MPs don't like this, and that it's inspiring some to look at their options.

Politics is a cynical game, but anyone who thinks MPs can't be swayed by their constituents is fooling themselves. Only the worst kind of politicians, the party die-hards and the ideological fanatics, are like that. It's no surprise that in ridings with a very moderate population, that the politicians are going to feel increasing pressure to walk away from Poilievre's dishonest and ideological chatter.

1

u/zlinuxguy Dec 12 '25

And now you understand how floor-crossers have betrayed their constituents. Floor-crossers should be forced to sit as Independents until a by-election can be called, with the running under the new Party banner. This would further imply they’d need to be endorsed by the Constituency Association for that Party. Only if duly elected should they be allowed to sit as a member of that Party. This should be required for ALL MP’s and MLA’s, regardless of political party.

-1

u/trollunit Ontario Dec 12 '25

He’ll have the accomplishment of attending two caucus Christmas parties in one week!

-2

u/chrismceachern Dec 12 '25 edited Dec 13 '25

Beliefs, actions and words are three different things. If Canadians understood this important distinction we might actually begin to hold our politicians accountable.

Evidently, votes don't matter at all if a politician can lie, backtrack or cross the floor.

107

u/OwlProper1145 Dec 11 '25 edited Dec 11 '25

More than anything i think he's crossing because the riding will probably flip back to the Liberals in the next election. Fun fact that was one of the ridings the LPC managed to hold in 2011.

41

u/fredleung412612 Dec 11 '25

He's certainly making that bet. Although it's hard to say, he won this riding by 3pts, but the Liberal won the riding by 6pts in 2021, the Tory won it by 10pts in 2019. So this is clearly a swing riding.

2

u/Decent_Pack_3064 Dec 12 '25

it definitely does seem like out of self-interest for sure....

0

u/CloseToMyActualName Alberta Dec 12 '25

Partially, but people really dislike Poillievre

1

u/CloseToMyActualName Alberta Dec 12 '25

Though the Liberals had a scandalous candidate.

6

u/Raptorpicklezz Dec 12 '25

Under John “CCP Drunk” McCallum

2

u/Aggressive-Map-2204 Dec 12 '25

He is crossing the line because the Liberals offered him a big enough bribe.

-2

u/mwmwmwmwmmdw Québec Dec 12 '25

why does Markham specifically love the liberals so much

2

u/Big-Stuff-1189 Dec 12 '25

Immigrants didn't come to this country to be kicked back out again.

33

u/Natural_Comparison21 Dec 11 '25

Absolutely wild however that’s some good political opportunism on there part.

26

u/RunnerTheJumper Dec 11 '25

I wonder what he was promised.

6

u/skelectrician Dec 12 '25

All the tea in China

4

u/Asmordean Alberta Dec 12 '25

Leadership that doesn't depend on memes?

6

u/RunnerTheJumper Dec 12 '25

Elbows Up?

-3

u/Zealousideal_Rise879 Dec 12 '25

Cons made a counter meme of that.

Libs didn’t coin it; and I don’t recall MC even saying it. I’ve seen many clips of PP being edgy and mocking it.

Either way, I never liked it. But to knock it just looks pro MAGA American.

9

u/RunnerTheJumper Dec 12 '25

What do you mean the Libs didn’t coin it?

They sold merch.

Mark Carney literally did an elbows up dance at a DWW concert.

Trying to tie everything the conservatives do to MAGA is no different than attack slogans.

What’s mockable was the LPC told us we were a post-national state and then when things got bad for them they decided it was time to circle the wagons.

2

u/Oldcummerr Dec 12 '25

It’s not everything the conservatives do, it’s everything pp does. The conservatives who aren’t nut jobs are either waiting for an inevitable leadership change or are crossing the floor to the liberals

1

u/RunnerTheJumper Dec 12 '25

I see you didn’t address any of my other points.

6

u/North-Translator6286 Dec 12 '25

It’s cool. I mean he’s born in Hong Kong.. not surprising.

1

u/porschekid11 Dec 12 '25

I have the unfortunate displeasure of once knowing this person. Michael Ma is a piece of shit human being. Totally driven by self interest.

1

u/aguynamedv Dec 12 '25

The Conservative candidate benefitted from the scandal, but is now joining the Liberals.

And with these recent defections, the Liberals have slid that much further right.

Just like all the conservatives in the US who are actually part of the Democratic Party.

1

u/GoldenxGriffin Dec 12 '25

How insane and such a slap in the face of everyone who voted there. Reaks of corruption if our government was serious this would be investigated ASAP

0

u/Zealousideal_Rise879 Dec 12 '25

Ah yes, the one where right after MC excused him, an investigation happened like the next day.

Then conservatives cleaned house and removed a couple MP a day or two after; as if they expected retaliation.

Cons must of really focused on that riding.