A prominent Canadian democracy watchdog has filed a formal ethics complaint following Conservative MP Chris d'Entremont's controversial decision to cross the floor and join the Liberal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Democracy Watch Challenges Floor Crossing
In a letter sent to Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein on Friday, November 14, 2025, Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher argued that d'Entremont's defection violated the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. The move brought the Carney Liberals one step closer to achieving a majority government.
The complaint centers on the fundamental principle of voter representation, with Conacher telling the Toronto Sun that "floor crossing is a fundamental violation of the right of voters to make an informed choice while voting." The Acadie-Annapolis MP was elected as a Conservative representative, yet switched allegiance to the governing Liberals without consulting his constituents.
Violation of Voter Trust Alleged
Conacher's letter detailed how d'Entremont's floor-crossing breached the trust placed in him by voters who elected him based on his Conservative platform and voting record. The democracy advocate highlighted the MP's previous pro-conservative speeches and votes in the House of Commons as evidence of the significant ideological shift.
"By switching from the Conservative Party caucus to the Liberal Party caucus, MP Chris d'Entremont has not fulfilled his public duties with honesty, and he has not upheld the highest standards so as to maintain and enhance public confidence and trust in his integrity," Conacher wrote in his formal complaint.
Timing and Rationale Questioned
The complaint also raises serious questions about the timing and justification for d'Entremont's decision. According to Conacher, the MP announced his defection just 20 minutes before the November 4 federal budget was tabled in Parliament, yet claimed his decision was based on that same budget.
Conacher challenged the Liberal statement that d'Entremont had examined the budget before making his decision, noting the physical impossibility of thoroughly reviewing the complex document in such a short timeframe. "He didn't do any meaningful, comprehensive or demographically-representative consultation with voters in his district," Conacher told the Sun.
The democracy advocate compared the MP's actions to dictatorial decision-making, emphasizing that in a democracy, voters elected d'Entremont specifically as a Conservative representative.
Call for Legislative Reform
This isn't the first time Democracy Watch has challenged floor-crossing in Canadian politics. The organization has previously filed complaints regarding high-profile defections, including Belinda Stronach's move from the Conservatives to the Liberals in 2005 and David Emerson's shift from the Liberals to Stephen Harper's Conservatives in 2006.
Conacher is now calling for new legislation that would prohibit floor-crossing under most circumstances. The proposed law would require MPs who wish to leave their party to sit as independents instead, ensuring they cannot immediately join another party without first facing their constituents.
The complaint now rests with Ethics Commissioner von Finckenstein, who must determine whether d'Entremont's actions violated the Conflict of Interest Code and what consequences, if any, should follow.
