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On the day the budget was tabled, Chris d’Entremont, the lone Conservative MP from Nova Scotia, crossed the floor to the Liberals. Two days later, Matt Jeneroux, a Conservative MP from Alberta, announced he would be leaving politics altogether. His name had also been circulated as a potential defector to the Liberals. These moves overshadowed news of Carney’s first budget – and d’Entremont’s move gives him one more crucial seat ahead of next week’s confidence vote, which could trigger an election. Poilievre’s opposition benches, however, appear increasingly shaky.
Campbell Clark is the Globe’s chief political writer. He’s on the show to talk about what these moves mean for Poilievre and the Conservatives, why people cross the floor to begin with, and what past defections can teach us about the moment the Conservatives are facing now.
Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com