Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont resigns from Conservative caucus to join the Liberals

Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont resigned from the Conservative caucus Tuesday — and he's joining the Liberals.

In a statement disseminated by the Liberal Party, d'Entremont said he decided to leave the Conservatives after "serious consideration and thoughtful conversations with constituents." 

"I came to a clear conclusion: there is a better path forward for our country — and a better path forward for Acadie-Annapolis," he said.

d'Entremont won that eastern Nova Scotia riding by about one percentage point over his Liberal opponent in the spring federal election.

"Prime Minister Mark Carney is offering that path with a new budget that hits the priorities I have heard most in my riding, to build strong community infrastructure and grow a stronger economy. That is why I'm joining the government caucus," he said.

The longtime Conservative, who served in provincial politics before being elected to the House of Commons in 2019, said Canada's challenges demand people lead "not with complaint" — a thinly veiled swipe at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — "but with confidence in a strong future."

With this imminent floor-crossing, the Liberals will soon hold 170 seats — just two short of a majority.

d'Entremont's departure means the minority Liberal government needs fewer opposition votes to get the budget through the House of Commons.

Liberal whip Mark Gerretsen said his party is a "big tent" and there's "always seats on our side for people who want to join."

Gerretsen said d'Entremont was leaving the Conservatives because the party has become more stridently right-wing under Poilievre.

"The reality is what we're seeing in the Conservative Party is that the progressive movement is dead. Quite frankly, Chris is a Progressive Conservative," Gerretsen said.

Rob Batherson, a fellow Nova Scotian and past president of the federal Conservatives, said d'Entremont's departure is "the worst personal betrayal I have ever experienced in 30-plus years of politics."

"After the last election, Chris d’Entremont told me repeatedly that he would be Nova Scotia’s voice in Canada’s Official Opposition. He has deprived Nova Scotians of that voice and broke his personal word to me. I never imagined I would be in a position to not trust Chris d’Entremont," he said.

Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman meanwhile said d'Entremont was betraying his constituents.