Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux crosses the floor to the Liberals
OTTAWA — Edmonton Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor to the governing Liberals.
“I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X.
“I am grateful to Matt and his family that he will continue his service as a strong voice for Edmonton Riverbend in Parliament.”
Carney said Jeneroux, who has represented the riding of Edmonton Riverbend since 2015, will take on a new role as special advisor on economic and security partnership for the Liberals.
Jeneroux is the third Conservative to join the Liberals, after colleagues Michael Ma and Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor late last year.
A Liberal source says Jeneroux first met Carney back in November, which was the first of at least two conversations, with talks between Carney’s office and Jeneroux continuing since. That source added that it has been a “long journey” to Wednesday’s announcement.
d’Entremont crossed the floor to join the Liberals in November, which unleashed a wave of speculation as to who might be next, with Jeneroux’s name heavily floated. Jeneroux then announced his plans to resign from the Conservative caucus, citing family reasons. Since then, he has not voted with the Conservatives and did not attend the party’s recent convention in Calgary in late January.
After Carney’s announcement, the prime minister updated his daily itinerary, adding a stop in Edmonton to meet with Jeneroux before attending events in British Columbia.
The Liberals remain in a minority, with this latest floor crossing bringing the party to 169 members in the House of Commons, three seats shy from a coveted majority. There are currently three vacant seats due to recent resignations by Chrystia Freeland and Bill Blair, and a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision that nullified a closely contested race in the riding of Terrebonne.
In a statement on Wednesday, Jeneroux said he believes the country is at a turning point, with Canada facing unprecedented threats to its prosperity, sovereignty and unity. He added that he and his family have been having several conversations about how to best serve the country at this time and said the prime minister’s speech in Davos led him to reflect on the gravity of the situation.
“After further reflection with my family, and conversations with colleagues and constituents, I will be continuing to serve in Parliament — and I will be working with Prime Minister Mark Carney as part of his new government to help build our country’s strength as we face the challenges ahead,” he said.
In a statement on Wednesday, Leader of the Official Opposition Pierre Poilievre said Carney “is trying 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,” he added, in a social media post on X. “Conservatives will continue our fight for a Canada that’s affordable, safe, and self-reliant.”
Before entering federal politics in 2015, Jeneroux served as Alberta MLA under the former Progressive Conservative banner before the party merged with the Wildrose Party to form the current United Conservative Party.
In the last federal election, Jeneroux was re-lected to represent his riding with over 50 per cent of the vote, but his opponent from the Liberals was not far behind, securing 44.8 per cent of voters.
Back in November when Jeneroux announced his intention to resign, an internal message from Poilievre to members of his caucus said the MP remained a valued member of the party and that “it was always his intention to leave politics to spend more time with his family in B.C.” after his family recently moved to Victoria.
More to come.
I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) February 18, 2026
Building a stronger, more resilient, and more independent country will require ambition, collaboration, and occasionally, sacrifice. I am grateful to Matt and his family that…
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