Chris d’Entremont’s move to the Liberals renews debate over floor-crossing in Canada, where history shows political risks and rare re-election success.
Longtime Conservative MP Joins Liberal Ranks
Canada’s political landscape shifted this week as Chris d’Entremont, the MP for Acadie–Annapolis and a long-serving Conservative figure, crossed the floor to join the federal Liberal caucus. The announcement, made in Ottawa, drew immediate reaction, with Prime Minister Mark Carney suggesting more MPs could make similar moves in the coming months. The switch has revived a longstanding Canadian debate: when politicians trade party colours, do voters follow?
A Tradition With Deep Roots and High Stakes
Floor-crossing reaches back to Confederation, but scholars say public tolerance for the practice has declined. Semra Sevi, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, has tracked every party switch in federal history up to 2015. She notes that while earlier generations of MPs often survived politically after switching parties, the landscape shifted dramatically in the 1970s, when party loyalty among voters solidified.
“As parties become institutionalized, the electoral cost of switching has risen dramatically,” Sevi said. “Political survival outside one’s original party has become increasingly unlikely.”
Why d’Entremont Says He Left
D’Entremont cited growing discomfort with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, claiming the party had adopted what he called a “negative” and divisive tone. He argued that his values align more closely with the Liberals on community-focused economic and social policy. Whether his constituents agree remains uncertain. In April’s election, d’Entremont held his seat by just 533 votes in a riding known for shifting between Liberal and Conservative representation.
“Switching is often seen as opportunistic, so it harms credibility,” Sevi explained. “The question is whether voters believe the explanation.”
No Rules Prevent Floor-Crossing
While critics frequently call for resignations or byelections, no law obliges MPs to seek renewed voter approval after switching parties. Several proposals over the decades have attempted to require floor-crossers to recontest their seats immediately, but none succeeded. For now, the only accountability check remains the next general election.
Past Crossings Show Mixed Outcomes
Recent decades offer a range of political fates. Jenica Atwin left the Greens for the Liberals in 2021 and held her seat that same year, before choosing not to run again in 2025. Leona Alleslev left the Liberals for the Conservatives in 2018, won re-election, but lost two years later. Eve Adams, who crossed from the Conservatives to the Liberals in 2015, failed even to secure a nomination.
The early 2000s saw a wave of defections during internal turmoil in the Canadian Alliance, contributing to its eventual merger with the Progressive Conservatives. Scott Brison, who left the same coalition to join the Liberals, went on to win repeated re-election in Nova Scotia — one of the few well-documented floor-crossing success stories.
The Public Reaction Factor
Some crossings have become political flashpoints. Belinda Stronach’s move to the Liberals in 2005 reshaped the balance of power and spurred national headlines. David Emerson’s jump to the Conservatives in 2006, just days after winning as a Liberal, ignited ethical questions and public outrage. He did not run again.
History suggests that the political fate of floor-crossers hinges not only on strategy, but on how voters interpret motives.
What Comes Next for d’Entremont
As Canada approaches its next federal election, d’Entremont’s future will likely depend on how persuasively he communicates his reasoning to voters in Acadie–Annapolis — and whether residents agree that the party he joined better reflects their priorities.
“It’s a rare move that succeeds,” said Sevi. “Time will tell if this will be one of them.”
