MP Chris d’Entremont’s Party Switch Sparks Discussion in Nova Scotia
HALIFAX – Former Conservative party president Rob Batherson reacted with surprise after hearing about Chris d’Entremont’s departure from the opposition caucus. “I’ve known Chris for over 25 years. And then I saw the news of his resignation,” Batherson said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Batherson described d’Entremont’s decision to leave the Conservative party and join the Liberals as a harsh personal betrayal. “There’s no two ways about it,” he stated. D’Entremont, MP for Acadie-Annapolis, shocked political circles in Ottawa by crossing the floor in the House of Commons, switching from Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals.
Batherson reflected on their conversations since the election:
“Every time we talked since the election, he stressed both publicly and privately, that not only would he be the MP that the people of Acadie-Annapolis elected, but that he would be a voice for Conservative voters across Nova Scotia.”
He added, “Now Chris has deprived Nova Scotians of that alternate voice.”
Expert Insight on Floor-Crossing
Political scientist Alex Marland from Acadia University suggested that d’Entremont’s crossing might stem from feelings of marginalization under Poilievre’s leadership. Marland, co-author of a book on party loyalty and floor-crossing in Canadian politics, emphasized that such decisions are deeply influenced by a politician’s relationship with their party leader.
Key Points
- Chris d’Entremont switched from the Conservative party to the Liberals, causing a stir among political observers.
- Rob Batherson called the move the worst personal betrayal in his 30-year political career.
- D’Entremont was expected to represent Conservative voters in Nova Scotia but has now shifted allegiance.
- Feelings of marginalization in the party played a role according to political expert Alex Marland.
Author’s summary: Chris d’Entremont’s unexpected switch to the Liberals reflects deep tensions in party loyalty and leadership dynamics within Nova Scotia’s political landscape.