Ottawa — In a stunning political reversal that has rocked Parliament Hill, veteran Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu of Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong announced Wednesday she is defecting to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government, becoming the fourth Conservative MP to cross the floor since the 2025 election.
The move pushes Carney’s Liberals to 171 seats — just one short of a majority — days before critical byelections that could seal their control of the House of Commons. Gladu, a four-term MP and former Conservative leadership contender, cited the need for “serious leadership” and a plan to counter U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty as her reason for the switch.
Gladu’s defection follows a clear pattern set earlier this year by Matt Jeneroux, the Alberta MP from Edmonton-Riverbend. Jeneroux, who had initially announced plans to retire from politics, surprised many by crossing to the Liberals in February 2026, becoming one of the first high-profile Conservative defectors under Carney’s leadership. His move from deep-blue Alberta territory was seen as a symbolic blow to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and helped open the floodgates.
Since then, Chris d’Entremont and Michael Ma have also left the Conservative benches for the Liberals, with Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout adding to the exodus last month. Gladu now joins this growing list of opposition MPs bolting for the government side.
The timing and optics have raised eyebrows. Gladu, who in past years used social media to sharply criticize Liberal governments over scandals involving sealed documents, the WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, and the invocation of the Emergency Measures Act, now finds herself aligning with the very party she once accused of abandoning basic principles.
In her statement to constituents, Gladu emphasized listening to her riding’s call for stronger economic direction amid external pressures. Prime Minister Carney welcomed her warmly, stating she brings “tremendous experience” to the Liberal team.
Opposition voices were quick to react, with some Conservatives framing the repeated floor-crossings as a calculated effort to manufacture a majority without facing voters in a general election. Political observers note that such defections remain rare and often controversial, frequently sparking demands for byelections from those who argue MPs owe their seats to the platform on which they were elected.
With byelections looming next week, including in a Quebec riding, Gladu’s switch positions Carney tantalizingly close to governing with full majority powers. Whether this latest crossing strengthens or ultimately undermines public trust in parliamentary democracy remains to be seen as Canadians digest yet another high-profile party switch in a rapidly shifting political landscape.
