Conservatives accuse Canada’s Carney of being ‘undemocratic’ as MP resigns
A senior member of Canada’s conservative opposition has accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of being “undemocratic” by pressuring Conservative MPs to join the Liberals, after the party lost two caucus members this week.
Alberta Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux resigned from Parliament on Thursday, saying he wanted to spend more time with family. Rumors had circulated earlier that he might defect and join Carney’s Liberals.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters that Jeneroux resigned in part because of “liberal pressure tactics” after being asked about his party’s internal stability.
Another Conservative MP, Chris d’Entremont, crossed the floor to join the Liberals this week.
Speaking to reporters Friday, Scheer dismissed reports in Canadian media that Jeneroux was meeting with Carney’s office before his resignation.
He accused Carney of “attempting to assemble a majority through undemocratic means, with backroom deals and pressure tactics.”
The BBC has contacted Prime Minister Carney’s office for comment.
Scheer’s remarks come as questions revolve around the state of the Conservative opposition and the future of its leader, Pierre Poilievre.
In an initial statement to the media Thursday evening, Jeneroux said he ran in last April’s election with the hope that conservatives would form the government.
“I desperately wanted to play a part in that vision,” he said.
He added that quitting “was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one.”
Poilievre thanked Jeneroux in an article on X and said his resignation would take effect next spring.
Jeneroux later issued another statement clarifying that “there was no coercion” in his decision to resign, apparently responding to speculation that his departure was linked to rumors that he had defected.
“I repeat, this long-standing decision reflects my desire to spend more time with my family,” he said.
The former Conservative MP for Entremont gave way to the Liberals earlier Tuesday, citing his frustrations with his former party and what he called Poilievre’s “negative” leadership style. He said other members of his party “are in the same boat.”
He was welcomed by Carney, who also called for more allies.
“We will speak publicly or otherwise to anyone who may support us,” he said Wednesday.
Opposition Leader Poilievre is due for a leadership review in January. He has received criticism that his combative political style contributed to the Conservatives’ electoral defeat earlier this year.
He lost his own seat in Ottawa, prompting a Conservative MP from a safe Alberta riding to step aside and allow him to run there. Poilievre won this seat in August with more than 80% of the vote.
As the partisan drama plays out, the Carney government struggles to pass its first budget through the House of Commons. The Liberals are two seats short of a majority, meaning they need support from other parties to pass their budget plan.
Failure to pass the budget could risk a federal election. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the budget in mid-November.
