Peter MacKay says floor-crossings are a ‘body blow,’ as poaching attempts continue on Parliament Hill

Former Minister of National Defence under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay at the the official portrait unveiling ceremony for the former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia

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OTTAWA —  A former Conservative cabinet minister who is no stranger to floor-crossings says Pierre Poilievre ought to “double his efforts” in the wake of a fourth member crossing the floor to join the Liberals — a move that now leaves him more exposed. 

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Peter MacKay, a co-founder of the Conservative party after having led the former Progressive Conservatives before it merged with the Canadian Alliance to birth the modern party, offered harsh words for those behind the practice, calling it “morally repulsive.”

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Still, he says, “it’s a body blow” for the federal Conservatives.

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“Some might even call it a torpedo into the side of the Conservative party and, certainly, the captain of the ship, Pierre Poilievre is, you know, is more vulnerable now than ever,” he told National Post in a recent interview.

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The act of switching political parties has marked modern Canadian politics more than once, with MacKay having a front row seat to some of the biggest. After helping merge the country’s two political parties, MacKay criticized his former MP Scott Brison for defecting to Paul Martin’s Liberals shortly after in 2003.

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Two years later, Belinda Stronach, whom MacKay had been dating at the time, made a stunning defection from the Conservatives to the Liberals that ensured the minority Martin government’s survival.

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He was also in Parliament when the former Progressive Conservatives under Joe Clark struck a deal with disaffected Canadian Alliance MPs who broke off from their party over concerns with their leader at the time, Stockwell Day.

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“I’ve seen it all before,” MacKay said, adding it “doesn’t make it any more palatable.”

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On Monday, Edmonton Conservative MP Billy Morin told reporters gathered for a press conference that the Liberals were trying to “poach him.” Global News shared a clip of the interaction on social media, where Morin can be heard making the comments off-camera. National Post was also in the room when it occurred.

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“I am proud to be apart of a Strong Opposition — something Canadians are owed,” Morin later posted to social media.

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“Instead of being 1/8 voices being used in a shameless Liberal power grab that degrades democracy. I am proud of the support I receive by our Leader (and) Conservative caucus. I stand by my constituents.”

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Other Conservative MPs on Parliament Hill said the party remained united behind Poilievre.

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But Marilyn Gladu’s surprising defection from Poilievre last week brings Prime Minister Mark Carney within a one-seat striking distance of forming a majority government. Chris d’Entremont, Michal Ma and Matt Jeneroux each individually crossed from the Conservatives to the Liberals earlier, same with Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, who defected from the New Democrats.