Carney’s Liberals eye majority as Gladu defection headlines national convention

With the Liberals on the verge of securing a majority government, the party is holding a national convention in Montreal this weekend.

A recent wave of floor crossings has pushed the Liberals to within a single vote of a majority. Three federal byelections scheduled for Monday are expected to push the party across the finish line.

The Liberal Party’s latest addition, former Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu, says her move is what is best for the southwestern Ontarians she represents.

“In my view, this is actually the best thing for my riding, for the country, and for myself,” said Gladu, the MP for Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong. “We were a bellwether riding for 52 years before I got elected. So that means they always had the advantage of government support.”

Gladu told reporters at the Liberal convention that even her “strong conservative supporters” have expressed a need for government support regarding infrastructure and affordable housing.

The switch stunned some political watchers, as Gladu has previously held socially conservative positions that clash with Liberal policy. However, she has been welcomed by high-ranking party members, including Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon.

“The Liberal Party welcomes everyone who adheres to our program, our policies and our values. And we’re obviously extremely happy to welcome Marilyn,” MacKinnon said.

WATCH MORE: Carney says Gladu will vote with government on abortion, LGBTQ rights

Gladu is the fifth floor crosser to join the Liberals in as many months, and the fourth to defect from Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.

She follows former Nova Scotia Tory MP Chris d’Entremont, who was the first to cross the floor in November.

“I don’t know whether to introduce myself as a recovering Conservative or just that I was a Liberal and I didn’t know it,” d’Entremont told the convention in Montreal.

Other recent additions include Markham MP Michael Ma, who joined in December, and Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux, who switched in February. Jeneroux spoke during a panel today, stating he “hasn’t looked back” and has “slept well every night” since the move. Last month, Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout also joined the Carney Liberals.

The party expects at least one more seat following byelections Monday in two Toronto-area ridings and one Montreal-area riding.

A win in just one of the three would give the Liberals a slim majority. A win in two would secure a stronger mandate for the Carney government, removing the need to rely on a tie-breaking vote from the Liberal Speaker of the House.

Poilievre has painted all the Torys he lost as traitors to their constituents.

But Liberals have pushed back on the suggestion a majority secured through floor crossings isn’t legitimate. The party argues the country needs the stability brought by a majority government.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to address the convention as it wraps up tomorrow.

WATCH MORE: Ontario Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu joins Carney’s Liberals