Poilievre says Conservatives' affordability focus unites party as Tories manage latest defection

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says his party's focus on affordability "is what unites all Conservatives," as the Tories grapple with another MP crossing the floor to join the Liberals — bringing them one seat shy of forming a majority government.

"Affordability, affordability, affordability. Canadians cannot afford grocery prices because of [Prime Minister Mark Carney's] hidden Liberal taxes on food," Poilievre said when asked what he's telling caucus members to make sure nobody else defects.

The Conservative leader sat down for a year-end interview on Rosemary Barton Live just days after Markham-Unionville MP Michael Ma surprised Parliament Hill on Thursday and announced he was leaving the party for the Liberals.

Poilievre denied that his leadership was a problem. Instead, he accused the prime minister of "trying to manipulate his way through backroom deals to get that majority."

"My message to Mark Carney is that you want a costly majority government to drive up taxes and deficits, then you have to go to the Canadian people and have them vote for it, not do it by dirty backroom deals," Poilievre told host Rosemary Barton.

On Thursday evening, Ma said he made his decision after hearing from constituents in his riding.

"This is a time for unity and decisive action for Canada's future," Ma wrote.

"In that spirit, I have concluded that Prime Minister Mark Carney is offering the steady, practical approach we need to deliver on the priorities I hear every day while door-knocking in Markham-Unionville."

In November, Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont announced he was crossing the floor to join the Liberals. He said he felt he was "part of a frat house rather than a serious political party" when he was with the Conservatives.

A Liberal source told CBC News that Ma met with Carney on Thursday afternoon before announcing that he would join the government caucus. He attended the Liberal holiday party that night — leaving a Conservative MP without a Secret Santa gift.

In the time since, Liberals have claimed there are other Conservative MPs who are increasingly disgruntled with Poilievre's leadership and could soon be joining Carney's team.

"I think there are some that will do some soul-searching during the vacation, the Christmas period," said Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne in an interview that aired Sunday morning.

He said some in the Opposition "don't want to oppose" just for the sake of fighting the government at every turn.

"My sense is that some are at unease with this situation," Champagne said.