Liberal house leader says some conservatives are privately frustrated with party direction

December 12, 2025

RED FM News Desk

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said Friday that several Conservative MPs have privately expressed deep frustration with their party’s direction, as the Conservative caucus continued to denounce the latest floor crossing.

Speaking to reporters the day after MP Michael Ma left the Conservatives to join the Liberal caucus, MacKinnon said a number of Conservative members have confided their concerns to Liberal MPs.

“Many of my colleagues have had the same experience — hearing from Conservative members, a minority within their caucus, who are extremely frustrated with their party’s leadership,” MacKinnon said during a high-speed rail announcement in Gatineau, Que.

He said those MPs recognize the country is at a “turning point,” particularly amid an ongoing trade war, and feel pressured to take part in what he described as a “charade of obstruction.”

MacKinnon pointed to question period as an example, calling it “soul destroying” to watch Conservative MPs repeat the same question “40 times a day.”