Member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, Michael Ma, has announced his decision to leave the Conservative Party to join the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Mark Carney. This announcement marks a significant shift in the political landscape within the Markham-Unionville constituency.
In a statement, Ma expressed that he has been listening to the concerns of his constituents in Markham-Unionville and has reflected on the future direction of Canada. He informed both the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition of his decision to join the government caucus. Ma emphasized the need for unity and decisive action, stating, “This is a time for unity and decisive action for Canada’s future.”
Michael Ma explained that his decision was influenced by his belief that Prime Minister Mark Carney offers a "steady, practical approach" necessary to address the priorities that residents of Markham-Unionville express during door-to-door campaigning. He highlighted key issues such as making life more affordable, enhancing the Canadian economy, ensuring community safety, and creating genuine opportunities for young families working towards their aspirations.
Ma initially won his parliamentary seat in 2025, defeating Liberal candidate Peter Yuen in a closely contested election. His switch to the Liberal Party has not been well-received by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who criticized Ma for allegedly endorsing policies he was elected to oppose. Poilievre stated, “The people he let down the most are the ones who elected him to fight for an affordable future. He will have to answer to them.”
Michael Ma was elected as a Conservative by the constituents of Markham-Unionville to fight against Liberal inflationary spending driving up the cost of living in his community.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) December 12, 2025
Today, he chose to endorse the very policies he was elected to oppose. The same policies driving up…
Michael Ma's background adds a personal dimension to his political career; he immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong at the age of 12. Tragically, shortly after his arrival in Vancouver, his father was killed in a car accident involving a drunk driver. Ma later became a successful executive in the technology and business sectors before entering the political arena.
With Ma's departure from the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party is now only one seat away from achieving a majority government, holding 171 seats in total. This strategic move follows a similar transition by Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont, who left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberals shortly after the government presented its latest budget.
In his previous statement, d’Entremont indicated that Prime Minister Mark Carney's new budget aligns with the priorities he has heard from his constituents, focusing on building strong community infrastructure and fostering a robust economy.
This wave of defection from the Conservative Party signifies a potential shift in political dynamics as Canada moves forward with pressing issues that impact everyday citizens. As the political landscape evolves, the impacts of these decisions will likely be closely watched by both constituents and political analysts alike.
