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In a major parliamentary shift, the ruling Liberal government has moved closer to obtaining a majority following a opposition Tory Member of Parliament crossed the floor, dealing a further setback to the struggling Tories.

A First-Term MP's Unexpected Defection

Rookie MP Michael Ma announced Thursday evening that he had decided to leave the Tory party. He cited his preference for the pragmatic and stable leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney's government, claiming it would better address key concerns like the cost of living and the economy.

"Following careful consultation to the constituents of Markham–Unionville in the past few weeks and deliberating with my family on the future path of our country, I have informed the speaker and the opposition leader that I will be joining Prime Minister Mark Carney in the government caucus," Ma declared. "This is a moment for unity and decisive action for Canada’s future."

Timing of the Switch

Interestingly, Ma delivered his decision the day after being present at the Conservative Christmas party and posing for a photo with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. He subsequently attended a gathering hosted by the Liberals the next evening, taking the stage on stage Carney to raucous applause.

This move leaves the governing party now have 171 seats in the House of Commons: a single seat away of a majority.

Opposition Reaction and Wider Implications

Via a statement on social media, Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said that Ma had "chosen to endorse the very policies he was voted in to fight against." He continued, "His constituents he let down the most are the ones who elected him to fight for an more affordable future. He will have to answer to them."

This defection is a painful blow for the Tories, who have now seen depart three lawmakers. A previous member crossed to the government benches in November, and another has said he will resign in the coming months.

Potential More Shifts

The next day, Government House Leader Stephen MacKinnon remarked he thought there were more discontented opposition members who could consider defecting to the Liberals.

"All of my colleagues here have the same experience of conversing with opposition members, sadly a group which is in the minority in their caucus, who are extremely frustrated with the direction of their party," he stated during a media briefing. He added that members were being forced to participate in a "charade of blocking tactics" that constitutes a "soul-destroying situation for many Conservatives."

Internal Tensions Persist

Although the addition of a new member to their caucus has buoyed the Liberals, Prime Minister Mark Carney has simultaneously been dealing with discontent within his own party.

Just weeks ago, a high-profile cabinet minister, Steven Guilbeault, stepped down from his cabinet role. His resignation was in opposition to Carney's decision to support a contentious oil pipeline project from Alberta to the Pacific Ocean.

Guilbeault, a longtime environmentalist, had cited that the project "would have major ecological damage ... contribute to a significant increase in climate pollution, and set Canada back from its greenhouse gas reduction targets." He also cautioned that ending the moratorium on oil tanker traffic would dramatically heighten the risk of spills in the region.