Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux announces resignation from Parliament

Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux announced Thursday he is resigning from the House of Commons, according to a statement shared with CBC News.

The decision comes after rumours swirled this week that the Alberta member was considering crossing the floor to the Liberals. Conservative sources say Jeneroux was under pressure from some in the party over fears he was going to defect.

Jeneroux's resignation is the second announced departure from the Conservative caucus this week after Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont joined the Liberals on Tuesday.

It would also prompt a byelection for his Edmonton seat, which he won by a relatively narrow margin of five percentage points over his Liberal opponent in April.

Jeneroux, who was first elected in 2015, said he spoke with Chris Warkentin, the party's whip, earlier Thursday to tell him of his intention to resign.

"I hope to have the opportunity to address the House one final time in the future. For now, my focus must turn entirely to my family and to the responsibilities that come with that," Jeneroux said.

The MP said he was "deeply grateful" for those who have reached out to him in recent days while also urging people to "please not attempt to contact my family during this time."

Jeneroux said he ran in the last election "hopeful that Canadians would put their faith in a team led by Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives," and he "wanted desperately to play a role in that vision" but "the outcome was not what I anticipated."

Poilievre thanked Jeneroux for his service — and suggested the MP's official departure could still be months away.

"On behalf of our Conservative team, I wish you and your family all the best following your decision to step down as a member of Parliament next spring," Poilievre said in a social media post.

Once news of d'Entremont's floor-crossing broke, Conservatives moved to quickly quell any more departures, sources told CBC News.

The d'Entremont defection prompted panic inside the party that more MPs were poised to leave for the Liberals, possibly giving the government at least two more seats and a majority in the House of Commons, Conservative sources said.

In the hours since d'Entremont's decision to resign, Conservative party brass have been trying to persuade potential floor-crossers to drop their plans, sources said.

Former Conservative campaign manager Jenni Byrne, who is still an adviser to the party, has been involved in the party's efforts to quell possible floor-crossings, sources said.