MPs React to Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux Joining Liberal Party

Prime Minister Mark Carney and MP Matt Jeneroux meet in Edmonton after Jeneroux crossed the floor to join the Liberals on Feb. 18, 2026. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

The Liberals are welcoming MP Matt Jeneroux to their party after he announced he was crossing the floor, while the Conservatives are calling the move an act of betrayal of constituents.

Jeneroux, the MP for Edmonton Riverbend, announced on Feb. 18 that he is leaving the Conservative Party to join the Liberals after saying last November that he would resign his seat this spring to spend more time with his family. At the time, he denied rumours that he was considering joining the Liberals and said he ran under the leadership of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre “in hopes we could form a government that would offer hope to Canadians.”

Jeneroux said in a Feb. 18 statement posted to social media that, after further reflection with his family and conversations with colleagues and constituents, he decided to continue serving in Parliament and to join the Liberal government to “help build our country’s strength as we face challenges ahead.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in the Feb. 18 announcement that he is “honoured” to welcome Jeneroux to the Liberal caucus, noting that the Alberta MP has held different roles as a parliamentarian related to the economy and security.

Carney said Jeneroux will serve as new special adviser on economic and security partnerships. For his part, Jeneroux said he decided to join the Liberals due to recent developments, saying the country is faced with “unprecedented new global pressures on our prosperity” that requires ensuring Canadian sovereignty and unity.

Poilievre accused the Liberals of attempting to “seize a costly Liberal majority government that Canadians voted against in the last election through dirty backroom deals.”

“Matt Jeneroux has betrayed the people of Edmonton Riverbend who voted for affordable food and homes, safe streets, and a strong resource sector,” Poilievre said.

Conservative MP Frank Caputo referenced a social media message he posted last November after Jeneroux announced his resignation, in which he described Jeneroux as a “good friend who gave a lot in public service,” said he was “honoured” to have served with him, and wished him well.

“I won’t delete this,” Caputo said of the original post while reacting to Jeneroux’s announcement on X. “This was after I was lied to. More lies came after,” he added, saying Jeneroux will “live with his decisions, character and broken relationships.”

Conservative MP Matt Strauss said on social media that Canadians voted for change in the last election, with 43 percent voting for Carney and 41 percent voting for Poilievre to bring about that change. He said change has not come, citing ongoing issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, stalled resource projects, high crime rates, and declining U.S. relations amid tariff disputes.

“We’ve been hurtling toward the cliff’s edge and Mark Carney has merely tapped the brakes instead of stopping and turning around,” Strauss said in a Feb. 18 social media post. “Matt Jeneroux’s decision today entrenches this ‘brake tapping’ approach to change, anti-democratically, possibly for three years,” he added.

Shortly after the news of Jeneroux’s decision, Conservative MP Roman Baber said on X that just two weeks ago, Conservative Party members gave Poilievre an 87 percent mandate to lead the party into the next election following his leadership review. “That’s not going to change,” Baber said.

Former Harper government cabinet minister and Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Jeneroux had been elected as a Conservative four times in his Edmonton riding, and prior to that as a provincial Progressive Conservative MLA twice.

“A Liberal has never been elected in his riding. So this runs against the clear direction of his constituents,” Kenney said. “I have always regarded Matt as a good guy. But I hope he understands that these peculiar decisions will only increase public cynicism about politics.”

NDP Interim Leader Don Davies, whose party doesn’t accept floor-crossers, said both the Conservatives and the Liberals view the phenomenon “through their own partisan interests.”

“If an MP thinks they have a good case for crossing, resign and put it to the test of voters. That’s democracy,” Davies said.

In a statement, Jeneroux said he made the decision to join the Liberals after “conversations with colleagues and constituents,” noting that he will be working with the Carney government “to help build our country’s strength as we face the challenges ahead.”

“I will continue the work that Canadians and the people of Edmonton Riverbend elected me to do: building a strong economy, bringing down costs, and making our country even more secure.

Liberal MPs are praising Jeneroux’s decision, with several welcoming him to the party with public posts.

Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali said he looks forward to working with Jeneroux “to build Canada Strong,” while Liberal MP Ruby Sahota echoed the sentiment, welcoming him while saying, “Parliament works best when we work together.”

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather called Jeneroux a “friend and a wonderful parliamentarian” in a post on X, saying they have “always worked together to achieve pragmatic and centrist solutions.” Housefeather added that he is “so happy” Jeneroux is staying in Parliament and joining the Liberal caucus.

Carney said Jeneroux is a “a strong voice in international engagement and parliamentary diplomacy” and will help build a “stronger future for Edmonton, Alberta, and all Canadians.”

“Building a stronger, more resilient, and more independent country will require ambition, collaboration, and occasionally, sacrifice,” Carney said. “I am grateful to Matt and his family that he will continue his service as a strong voice for Edmonton Riverbend in Parliament.”

Seat Changes

Jeneroux is now the third Conservative MP to join the Liberals in recent months, after Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont left the Tory caucus last November and Toronto MP Michael Ma announced the same in December.

Jeneroux, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015, after serving in the Alberta legislature, announced he was planning to resign from his seat just two days after d’Entremont crossed the floor.

Now that Jeneroux has crossed the floor, the Liberals have 169 seats in the House of Commons, which is three seats shy of a majority government.

Although three Conservative MPs have joined the Liberals in recent months, the Liberals have also lost three seats this year.

Liberal MP Tatiana Auguste lost her seat last week after the Supreme Court nullified the results of the election in the federal riding of Terrebonne, Que. Auguste had won by a single vote in April 2025, but it was later discovered that a mail-in vote for the Bloc Québécois had not been counted due to Elections Canada printing a wrong return address.

Carney said on Feb. 17 that a byelection will be held “soon” in Auguste’s riding.

The Liberals lost two other seats when former cabinet ministers and Toronto MPs Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair left Parliament. Carney said byelections will be held in those ridings this summer.

The Liberals could secure a majority government if they are able to win back all three of their seats in the byelections later this year.

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.