Terry Newman: Conservative MP speaks out about how the Liberals tried to poach her

ParlVu image of Conservative MP Kelly Deridder speaking to the House about the Liberal Party's recent attempts to poach Conservatives. April 27, 2026

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On Monday, Conservative MP Kelly DeRidder stood up in Parliament and confirmed that the Liberals have been trying to poach Conservatives, including herself.

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On Tuesday, I spoke with her over the phone to hear her story. It includes intimidation, flattery, a hint of career advancement and zero respect for the wishes of the voters in her riding of Kitchener Centre.

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“I rise today because what we’re witnessing is not just another procedural move in this House. It’s something deeper and far more concerning,” DeRidder told the House on Monday.

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“Over the past months, opposition members have come forward to say they’ve been approached … that conversations have happened behind closed doors; pressure, subtle or otherwise, has been applied and Canadians have not heard about it.”

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She continued: “These are not rumours.… These are conversations taking place behind the scenes, away from public view, away from accountability, and I can tell this House, I was one of those members who was approached. I was asked to cross the floor. I was asked to leave behind the people of Kitchner Centre who elected me as a Conservative, in exchange for aligning myself with the government.”

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She shared her speech on X on Tuesday afternoon, with the comment: “Canadians voted for a minority government, not for backroom deals to gain power. I was asked to cross the floor. I said no because your vote isn’t something to trade behind closed doors.”

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In an interview, DeRidder said that the Liberals used a combination of intimidation and flattery to try to get her to cross the floor.

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Three weeks ago, she said she received a phone call from someone within the Liberal party telling her that in the next election they would run somebody supported by Liberals and Greens in her riding, and that she wouldn’t stand a chance.

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To which she replied, “OK …”

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According to DeRidder, the individual then switched to flattery, saying that they were impressed by the work she was doing on the standing committee on science and research, and that “there could possibly be a great spot” for her working on that portfolio with the Liberals.

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The call ended with the Liberal operative saying, “You know that Kitchener Centre is a technology hub, it would be good for your riding if you were with the government.”

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DeRidder did not accept the offer.

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So there you have it. Intimidation, flattery and a hint at career advancement. This was the method employed by the Liberals in attempting to poach DeRidder from the Conservatives. As DeRidder put it in her speech, voters deserve transparency, accountability and a government that reflects their choices at the ballot box.

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MPs from any party who have been approached to cross the floor should come forward with their stories. Going forward, a rule should be made that any desire to change parties should trigger an automatic byelection.

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Our democracy now appears to depend on the creation of such a rule.

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National Post

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