Former Conservative MP Michael Ma Crosses Floor to Liberal Party

Photo Credit: Justin Tang/Canadian Press via iPolitics

Conservative MP Michael Ma has announced that he is leaving the Conservative Party to join the federal Liberals.

In a statement released on Dec. 11 by the Liberals, Ma said, “After listening carefully to the people of Markham–Unionville in recent weeks and reflecting with my family on the direction of our country, I have informed the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition that I will be joining Prime Minister Mark Carney in the government caucus.”

When Ma was elected to the Markham-Unionville seat, he pledged to continue focusing on the priorities he campaigned on, including tackling crime, lowering taxes, and easing the cost of living for local residents. In a statement on X, Conservative leader Pierre Poilevre said that “Michael Ma was elected as a conservative by the constituents of Markham-Unionville to fight against Liberal inflationary spending, driving up the cost of living in his community. Today, he chose to endorse the very policies he was elected to oppose.”

Ma’s floor crossing comes shortly after Chris d’Entremont, a previous Conservative MP, also crossed the floor to sit with the Liberals, leaving them only one seat away from a majority. Since the 2024 election, the Conservative Party has lost two MPs to floor crossing and one to resignation.

Adding to the surprise, posts on social media showed Ma attending a Christmas party hosted by the Conservatives with friends and family, less than a day before announcing his department to the Liberals. “ I didn't see it coming,” said one Conservative MP who had watched Ma “dance up a storm” with his wife at the Christmas party only the night before, according to the Toronto Sun.

On Dec. 11, Ma attended the annual Liberal holiday party, where he was officially welcomed by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Ma’s defection to the liberals didn’t only affect politics; it impacted holiday spirit as well. During the Conservative Secret Santa exchange, Conservative MP Jamil Jivani had Ma as his Secret Santa and was left without a gift. In an interview with the CBC, MP Jivani laughed it off, saying that after the news of the floor crossing broke, he inquired with the organizers and found out Ma was his Secret Santa and that "maybe he gave [the present] to a liberal.” 

London-Fanshawe Conservative MP Kurt Holman also posted on social media on Dec. 11 that he was Ma’s Secret Santa. “I gave him an Amazon Fire Stick just hours before he crossed the floor. Now, I want my gift back, just like the people of Markham-Unionville want their votes back!”