Conservative Member of Parliament for Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt, Jim Bélanger, took to social media to address speculations about him switching parties. In a video posted on December 23, Bélanger adamantly refuted any claims of him defecting to the Carney Liberals, emphasizing his commitment to remaining a Conservative member and running in the next election under the same banner.
Recent weeks have seen two Conservative MPs switch allegiance to the Liberal party. Chris d’Entremont from Acadie-Annapolis joined the Liberals in November, followed by Michael Ma from Markham-Unionville in December, bringing the federal Liberals within one seat of a majority government.
Nipissing University’s political science professor, David Tabachnick, noted the changing dynamics within the Conservative ranks, attributing the shifts to the Liberals’ centrist approach under Mark Carney. While Bélanger has assured his loyalty to the Conservative party, Tabachnick anticipates further floor-crossing occurrences in 2026, potentially altering the political landscape.
Tabachnick highlighted the allure of being part of a majority government for MPs considering switching sides, speculating that the prospect of influencing legislation and governance may entice some to make the move. The professor refrained from predicting specific individuals who might switch parties but suggested that the desire for governance could prompt more defections in the upcoming year.