Canada’s Liberals edge closer to majority after Conservative lawmaker crosses floor

Prime minister Mark Carney raises the hand of Michael Ma, lawmaker who had crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals, at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa, on Thursday. Photograph: Canadian Press/Shutterstock

Canada’s ruling Liberals have edged closer to a majority government after a Conservative lawmaker crossed the floor, in yet another blow to the struggling Tories.

Rookie lawmaker Michael Ma said late on Thursday that he had decided to leave the Conservative party, for “the steady, practical approach” of prime minister Mark Carney’s government, which he said would “deliver on the priorities I hear every day, including affordability and the economy”.