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Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson makes his way to a Liberal caucus meeting on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Dec. 3, 2025. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
Energy Minister Tim Hodgson says he has been taking inquiries from Conservative MPs about crossing the floor.
Hodgson was asked by reporters on Dec. 15 whether there were more Tory MPs ready to defect to the Liberals after two Conservative MPs recently defected to the Liberal Party.
“Let’s say I’m getting lots of inquiries,” Hodgson told reporters.
The minister was also asked about the conversations he had with Michael Ma before the now former Tory MP defected to the Liberals, given there are rumours that Hodgson played a “vital role” in recruiting Ma.
“Let me say that our prime minister is a former businessman and a pragmatist. I’m a former businessman and a pragmatist. Michael Ma is a former businessman and a pragmatist,” Hodgson told reporters. “We all share a view that it is a time to unite, not to divide.”
Hodgson said he would let Ma speak for himself, adding that the Liberal Party is “proud” to have Ma as a new caucus member.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon made similar comments on Dec. 12, telling reporters that he is aware of other Conservative MPs who may also be considering crossing the floor, as they share Ma’s views.
The Conservatives have said in response to recent floor-crossings that they are uniting around their core principles and pushing for more affordability. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Prime Minister Mark Carney is “trying to manipulate his way through backroom deals” to get a majority government, adding that Carney should instead call an election if he wants a majority mandate.
“My message to Mark Carney is that if you want a costly majority government to drive up taxes and deficits, then you have to go to the Canadian people and have them vote for it, not do it by dirty backroom deals,” Poilievre said in an interview with CBC News aired on Dec. 14.
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani also told CBC that the floor-crossings are “not having a demoralizing effect” within the Conservative caucus but instead are allowing the Tories to rally together and become closer to one another.
Ma, the MP for Markham—Unionville in the Toronto area, announced on Dec. 11 that he had left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberal Party after reflecting with his family and those in his riding on “the direction of our country.” With Ma’s floor-crossing, the Liberals now have 171 seats in the House of Commons, which is one seat away from a majority government.
Ma’s announcement followed Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont’s decision in early November to cross the floor and join the Liberals. D’Entremont said his decision was motivated by his desire to vote in favour of Carney’s Nov. 4 budget, which the Conservatives opposed.
The Conservatives are also expected to lose Edmonton Riverbend Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux, who announced two days after d’Entremont’s decision that he plans on resigning from Parliament this coming spring. His announcement came amid rumours that he was considering joining the Liberals, which he denied.
Poilievre responded to Ma’s announcement on Dec. 11, saying the former Tory MP had been elected by the constituents of his riding to “fight against Liberal inflationary spending driving up the cost of living in his community.” He made similar comments regarding d’Entremont’s departure, with Tories saying the Nova Scotia MP was disgruntled for not getting the nomination to run as deputy speaker of the House of Commons.
Matthew Horwood and Paul Rowan Brian contributed to this report.
