‘The wheels on the bus for Mr. Poilievre are falling off’: MP Marilyn Gladu floor-crossing
Conservative political analyst Regan Watts discusses MP Marilyn Gladu crossing the floor to the Liberals and how this impacts the Conservative Party.
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MP Marilyn Gladu crosses floor to Liberals, party now one seat from majority
CTV News’ Rachel Aiello on Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu joining the Liberal party and what that means for the upcoming byelections.
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Political upheaval following Sarnia MP's floor cross | CTV London at 11, April 8, 2026
CTV News CTV News London at 11 with Travis Fortnum, April 8, 2026
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Carney's Liberals are attracting support from unlikely places
Government moves 1 seat closer to a majority with another Conservative defection
During his brief and ill-fated time as leader of the Liberal Party, Michael Ignatieff invited Canadians to join him inside the "big red tent."
This appeal obviously did not work out for Ignatieff. But perhaps he was merely ahead of his time.
Fifteen years after Ignatieff's time as Liberal leader came to a sudden end, Mark Carney is exploring just how big of a tent the Liberal Party can build.
In the past several months, Carney's Liberals have gained a remarkable five MPs who chose to cross the floor from other parties. That quintet includes an MP who was elected three times as a Conservative in Nova Scotia (Chris d'Entremont), an MP who was elected four times as a Conservative in Edmonton (Matt Jeneroux) and an MP who was elected twice as a New Democrat in Nunavut (Lori Idlout).
Very soon they may be joined by Doly Begum, the Liberal candidate in the Scarborough Southwest byelection, who was until recently a deputy leader of the Ontario NDP.
And if or when Begum makes it to Ottawa, she will find that the Liberal caucus includes, somewhat surprisingly, Marilyn Gladu.
"This all comes at a time when the country as a whole is uniting — uniting to move forward. And it's important that over there we unite to move forward as well," Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday, gesturing toward Parliament Hill.
The MP for Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong likely would not have made anyone's list of MPs most likely to cross the floor to the Liberal Party — or a list of Conservative MPs who would naturally fit within a Liberal caucus.
Collegial, but controversial
In 2016, Gladu was voted "most collegial" MP in a survey of her colleagues. But in the years since she has made headlines for different reasons.
She was elected four times as a Conservative and briefly ran for the party leadership in 2020. In April of that year she promoted an unproven treatment for COVID-19 and questioned the public health response to the pandemic. In 2021 she was criticized by the then leader of the Conservative Party — Erin O'Toole — for saying COVID-19 was less of a threat than polio (Gladu apologized for her comments).
In June 2021, Gladu voted against Liberal legislation that sought to ban conversion therapy. At the time, Gladu said she opposed the practice, but believed the wording of the legislation was too broad. (In a 2020 interview, she said "it's important that every part of the community is made to feel loved and accepted" and that she'd be willing to march in a Pride parade.)
It was also just three months ago that Gladu said any MP looking to switch parties should have to run in a byelection before doing so — a fact that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pointed to on Wednesday while criticizing her move.
Apparently none of that was a dealbreaker — either for Carney or Gladu.
Can a tent be too big?
For Poilievre, the obvious question is why MPs keep leaving the caucus he leads — and perhaps how many more will go.
For Carney, there is perhaps some question of whether it is possible to build too big of a tent.
As a simple matter of mathematics, the Liberals now have 171 seats in the House of Commons. If they win two of three byelections next week, they will get to 173, which would be enough to survive any confidence votes and allow the Liberals to gain a majority on House committees.
A majority in the House may be of such value that it doesn't matter as much how one gets there. And if an MP shows up at your caucus door and wants to join, perhaps you'd be foolish to turn them away (outside of some truly extreme cases).
Conservative floor-crosser will side with Liberals on any abortion vote, Carney saysBut could it become hard — either now or eventually — for Carney to keep his caucus united? Could some traditional Liberal supporters be turned off by the welcoming of someone with Gladu's track record?
The NDP, for one, leapt on Gladu's record to say that there were now two conservative parties in Parliament.
Prior to Justin Trudeau's leadership, it was not unusual for the Liberal caucus to have members who held socially conservative views on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. The breadth of additions to Carney's caucus may have something in common with that previous Liberal era.
Gladu will no doubt be asked at some point to account for her own views and stances. And Carney may hope that differences of opinion can be minimized — at least publicly. But the prime minister will be poked and prodded now to explain his values.
The notion of pitching a big tent no doubt has some appeal (even if it didn't work out for Ignatieff). And getting people into the tent is an achievement. But keeping everyone inside the tent might be the next challenge.
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Floor-crosser Marilyn Gladu embraced at Liberal convention with party on the cusp of a majority government
Carney needs to address Canadians' economic uncertainty during speech, says pollster
Floor-crosser Marilyn Gladu received a loud cheer when she took to the stage at the Liberals' national convention in downtown Montreal on Thursday night, ready to celebrate with a party she opposed in the House for a decade.
The former Conservative MP joined the policy convention, the largest in Liberal history say organizers, a day after helping the party inch within sight of a majority government.
"This is a moment for us to unite as Canadians, to do the work to build the nation in response to unjustified U.S. tariffs," she said. During her remarks she donned a red sweater matching the Liberal decor in the room.
"I'm ready to put my talents and experience towards the task as your newest Liberal MP."
But her past opinions — anti-abortion views, vaccine skepticism, support for the trucker convoy, opposing cannabis legalization and reservations about banning conversion therapy —are historically ones that Liberal MPs have called out, prompting many questions to Carney, Liberal MPs and members.
Gladu has not taken any media questions since switching party allegiances.
"She will vote with the government if there are votes relating to any aspect of that issue [abortion], as well as the rights of Canadians to be their whole selves, to love who they love," Carney said during a news conference earlier Thursday.
Asked about Gladu's previous comments, Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen said while he hasn't always seen eye-to-eye with his new caucus colleague, he argued Canadians expect them to work together.
"I think that if we start to hold things against each other in politics, we're never going to be able to find common ground," he said from the convention.
"I would argue that not only is democracy built on this, but our country expects this. That's what they expect of their leaders right now."
Gladu will vote with Liberals on issues like abortion: CarneyAttendee Madison Lalonde said she'll wait to see what Gladu does before forming an opinion.
"I look forward to seeing what she offers. Obviously it's a different opinion than what we've seen in the past, but it's still exciting," she said.
Reza Rashidi, another attendee, said he's also taking a wait-and-see approach.
"We saw the Liberal Party was able to change and revitalize with the new leader," he said. "Let's see if she actually is able to keep up with our policies and like the things that the Liberal Party believes in."
Fellow floor-crosser Matt Jeneroux, who also defected from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's benches earlier this year, said he believes Gladu's support for Carney's agenda is real.
"Regardless of what she's voted on in the past or what type of politics she'd be classified as, I think ultimately she's supporting a prime minister's agenda that I think is the right one for the country," he said.
"I'm happy to see her and welcome her."
Edmonton MP Matt Jeneroux joined the Liberals earlier this year. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)Pollara’s chief strategy officer Dan Arnold, who was the pollster for former prime minister Justin Trudeau, said it's a calculated risk taking on someone "who's maybe got a little more baggage than your typical Liberal MP" ahead of three key byelections on Monday.
"I think the bigger risk for him would be his government collapsing because he doesn't have enough votes," he said.
While the official agenda is dotted with panels, speakers, policy discussions and campaign training, it's Gladu's crossing and those byelections that are fuelling hallway conversations. The party is hoping those races will not only secure a majority government but add some breathing room to pass its legislative agenda.
Gladu's defection brings the Liberals up to 171 seats heading into the convention, short of the 172 needed for a slim majority when all seats in the House of Commons are filled.
It also means the party only needs to win one of Monday's three races to secure a narrow majority.
But because the Speaker is a Liberal MP, Carney's party would have an easier time controlling House business if it got to 173 seats.
Two of the byelections — the Toronto ridings of University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest — are considered Liberal strongholds.
The Quebec riding of Terrebonne, not too far from where the convention is being held, proved to be nailbiter during the election this time last year. It was won by the Liberals by just one vote, but those results were later annulled by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Liberals enter their national gathering with a challenge they haven't dealt with in years: don't seem too happy.
"If you're going into a convention in which you're riding high in the polls, I suspect the mood is going to be pretty good," said David Coletto, founder and CEO of the polling firm Abacus Data.
"The challenge will be not to seem too excited because the public is not feeling great about the state of the world, and the anxiety that world is causing in their lives."
Coletto said the Liberals need to contain "some of that optimism and joy" and "show that they're still focused on the priorities of the public."
"If the polls are reflective of how voters in those ridings are feeling, then the Liberals should have a really good day on Monday," he said.
Gathering comes amid global unrest
The gathering also falls against the backdrop of a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and instability in the global energy market.
Adding further economic uncertainty, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said this week he doesn't expect negotiations on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) on trade to be resolved by July 1.
Coletto said Carney needs to address Canadians' concerns when he takes the stage on Saturday.
"Any time that people feel that their day-to-day lives are getting harder, not easier, there's always a risk they're gonna blame the people in power," he said.
"One difference though this time versus what might've been post-pandemic is people still overwhelmingly believe that the cause of that pain is not Mark Carney or not the decisions that the Liberal government are making — it's Donald Trump."
Other keynote speakers include Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne, Man in Motion founder Rick Hansen, former federal Liberal cabinet minister and current Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and president of the Liberal Party of Canada Sachit Mehra.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau sent a recorded video welcoming attendees to Montreal.
Members will be debating 24 policy proposals, which touch on health-care reform, the economy, curtailing use of the notwithstanding clause and restricting teenagers' access to social media and artificial intelligence chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
The party said about 4,500 Liberals are expected to attend the convention which runs from from April 9 to 11. In a statement the party said more than half of the participants are attending for the first time and is expecting the most youth delegates in Liberal policy convention history.
With files from Ashley Burke
Questions swirl over MP Gladu’s switch to Liberals | CTV National News at 5:30 for April 9, 2026
CTV News MP Marilyn Gladu faces more scrutiny after crossing the floor to join the Liberals. Prime Minister Mark Carney says he spoke to longtime Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu before she crossed the floor to join the Liberals about her previous positions on social issues, and he’s been reassured that “she will vote with the government.”
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Floor crossings continue to ‘undermine the leadership' of Poilievre, political commentator says
CTV News CTV News Political Commentator Scott Reid on why he ‘wasn’t surprised’ about MP Gladu crossing the floor the day before the Liberal convention.
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'She is going to vote with our government on principled stances': AI minister on Marilyn Gladu
CTV News Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon discusses his conversations with new Liberal MP Marilyn Gladu about her stances on social issues.
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PM Carney pushes back against controversy surrounding MP Marilyn Gladu's previous stances
CTV News Prime Minister Carney pushes back on the controversy surrounding Gladu’s previous stances on vaccines and the ‘Freedom Convoy.’
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Carney's stay with Liberal critic not a conflict, bank says
The Bank of Canada tried to quell questions about its governor's impartiality and judgment Monday, saying Mark Carney was not afoul of conflict rules by vacationing in the summer at the cottage of the Liberal finance critic.
The central bank confirmed a weekend report that Carney stayed at Scott Brison's Nova Scotia cottage while key members of the Liberal party were courting him for the leadership.
Spokesman Jeremy Harrison said there was nothing improper in the visit, and that bank duties were not discussed.
"The Bank of Canada's general counsel, who is responsible for enforcing the bank's conflict of interest policy, has assessed that this visit does not breach the bank's conflict of interest guidelines in any way," Harrison said.
"Neither the Bank of Canada, nor governor Carney, have an actual or potential commercial or business relationship with Mr. Brison."
Harrison added that Carney and Brison had been friends for about a decade and that the visit to the MP's cottage at Cheverie, N.S., cannot "be defined as partisan or political activity."
Brison confirmed the friendship, which began in 2004 when Carney was an associate deputy minister at Finance and the Nova Scotia MP was the Liberal public works minister, but refused to elaborate about the visit.
"We entertain friends often at our Cheverie home. It is not our intention to publicly discuss personal time with friends in our private space," he said.
Carney was at a meeting of finance ministers in Meech Lake, Que. Monday to give an update on the state of the country's economy and the risk posed by the U.S. fiscal situation, but left without talking to reporters.
Carney's future was subject of speculation
Carney is used to being courted, most successfully by the finance minister of Great Britain, who has convinced him to become the next governor of the Bank of England in July.
But the report that Carney had been courted for the Liberal leadership — particularly the suggestion he did not immediately shut down the entreaties — has placed him and the bank in a murky area of ethics, causing some to review his past speeches and policy decisions for signs of taint.
Desjardins Capital Markets economist Jimmy Jean noted the "chatter," but called "reckless" one assertion that the central bank might have "intentionally kept monetary policy too restrictive (recently) such as to tarnish the Conservative party's economic track record."
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who appointed Carney to the job in 2008, shut down any questions on the issue when asked Sunday night, and refused comment during a press conference at the finance ministers' meeting Monday.
Several Bay Street economists, who asked not to be quoted, said they saw no evidence that Carney had conducted monetary policy in any way other than impartially.
Carney has acknowledged in the past to being approached by Liberals for the job, but maintained he was not interested, at one time jokingly responding: "Why not become a circus clown?"
In the Globe and Mail article, Carney said he had been approached by "different people, different parties."
The article quotes Carney as saying that he never sought the job and did nothing to encourage suitors.
"Nobody did anything on my behalf. I never asked anybody to do anything. I never made an outgoing phone call. I never encouraged anybody to do anything."
Liberal MP John McCallum, also a former finance critic and private sector economist, said he had a short conversation with Carney in August because he had heard the speculation, which he said he found "unusual."
He said Carney neither confirmed or denied interest.
"I wasn't lobbying, I just casually mentioned it."
The Bank of Canada's conflict-of-interest policy cautions against the "appearance of impropriety," and says employees offered hospitality or other benefits should ask themselves: "Does it feel right?"
Other questions to be considered: "Is there a chance that this could reflect negatively on me or on the Bank? What would a reasonable person think about my actions? Would I be embarrassed if others knew I took this action?"
The policy does not ban outside political activity. "Employees are not excluded from participating in political activities as long as their actions are not likely to be interpreted by the public as being representative of Bank policy."
Kody Blois's Post
Hants County's Kody Blois chosen as Kings-Hants Liberal candidate for upcoming federal election
WINDSOR, N.S. — WINDSOR, N.S. – The Liberal Party of Canada has selected its candidate for the riding of Kings-Hants, following Scott Brison’s departure from politics earlier this year.
Kody Blois, 28-years-old, with a background in law and public administration, of Belnan, Hants County, won the nomination, which was decided at Avon View High School on May 11.
Two other candidates vying for the nomination were Meg Cuming and Pauline Raven.
“I was up against two great candidates,” Blois said following his win. “Together, we have shown the Liberal Party in Kings-Hants is vibrant, competitive, and ready to win.”
The nomination was called following the resignation of Scott Brison, former President of the Treasury who left public office after 22 years as the member of Parliament for Kings-Hants.
Brison’s departure triggered a cabinet shuffle, which, after several moves and departures within cabinet, eventually erupted into the larger SNC-Lavalin scandal, which has left the Liberal party’s brand bruised leading up to an election this October.
Brison, who said he left public office to spend more time with his family, was also allegedly implicated in the Vice Admiral Mark Norman affair, which was recently stayed by federal prosecutors.
It’s alleged that Brison was lobbying on behalf of Irving Shipbuilding to get an earlier decision, awarding a supply vessel contract to Quebec-based Davie Shipbuilding, reversed. Mark Norman allegedly leaked these details to the Davie Shipbuilding and the press and the government charged Norman with breach of trust, but those charges have since been stayed.
Despite the political turmoil in Ottawa, Blois said he’s excited about the upcoming campaign.
“Lots of work to be done, but the support for the Liberal Party and my candidacy during the nomination was strong,” Blois said. “I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and allow the people of Kings-Hants to get to know me.”
“If you look at the government’s record, it’s certainly something I’m willing to run on,” he said. “There’s been a million jobs added since 2015, there’s been nearly a million kids lifted out of poverty, so there’s a lot of successes we can point to as well.”
Blois, a hockey and softball athlete, has coached minor hockey and in 2013 helped create the East Hants Sport Heritage Society.
He also founded Tidefest in 2016, a homecoming music festival, which invests funds back into community organizations.
“I’m passionate about the work I’ve done, and I see elected office as a chance to put more of my time and energy into serving other people,” he said.
The candidate says people have been “overwhelmingly positive” about his relatively young age.
“Most people are excited to see someone that’s young wanting to make a difference in their community,” he said.
Trump casts doubt on ceasefire as Iran maintains chokehold on Strait of Hormuz
Frustration mounts among corporate, world leaders over blockade, violence in Lebanon
Inside the U.S.-Iran ceasefire that everybody interprets differently | About ThatThe Middle East ceasefire appeared shaky less than two days after it was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, as Israel bombed more targets in Lebanon on Thursday and Iran showed little sign of relinquishing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump himself appeared to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the ceasefire, writing on his social media platform: "Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz."
"That is not the agreement we have!" Trump wrote.
Iranian negotiators were expected to set off later on Thursday for Pakistan for the first peace talks of the war, where they are due to meet a delegation led by U.S. Vice-President JD Vance on Saturday.
Iran has flexed its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for oil, fertilizer and other resources, demanding tolls for safe passage. Tehran said there would be no ceasefire deal as long as Israel launched its fresh strikes in Lebanon.
In response to Iran charging tolls for passage through the strait — an idea Trump himself has mused about — he wrote on social media, "They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!"
In a defiant statement, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that Iran was not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights.
The statement attributed to Khamenei was read on Iranian state TV. He has not been seen in public since he took over from his father, who was killed on the first day of the war.
Khamenei's statement said Iran will seek retribution for attacks against it and "will take management of the Straits of Hormuz into a new phase." He also vowed to avenge the deaths of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran's "martyrs."
Little movement in strait
Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy posted a map on Thursday showing alternative shipping routes in the strait to help ships avoid naval mines, the semi-official Iranian news agency ISNA said.
The futures contracts for delivery of oil in May or June, typically used as benchmarks for global oil prices, have eased since Trump announced the ceasefire. But the price of physical oil for delivery has shot up to record levels as refiners struggle to meet demand with one-fifth of the global supply knocked out for a month and a half.
Hormuz crisis a ticking time bomb for food security, IRC representative saysJust seven ships had passed through the strait in the past 24 hours versus about 140 normally, ship-tracking data showed. They included one oil products tanker and six dry bulk carriers, data from Kpler, Lloyd’s List Intelligence and Signal Ocean showed.
“If I were a shipowner or operator stuck in the Persian Gulf, I would wait a few days to see how the U.S., Israel and Iran respond to this planned ceasefire," said Roberto Giannetta, chairman of the Hong King Liner Shipping Association. "If it looks likely to be sticking, I may try moving my vessels out in the second week, or in a cluster or convoy together with other ships."
The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) said through a spokesperson on Thursday that there's no international provisions for introducing tolls on the seas, and that tolls would "set a dangerous precedent."
"According to the [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea], ships enjoy the right of transit passage through international straits. States bordering straits shall not hamper that right or suspend the transit passage," the IMO spokesperson said.
Trump announced the ceasefire on Tuesday night just before a deadline he had set to destroy Iran's "whole civilization" unless it unblocked the strait. Both he and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have since said the U.S. military is prepared to hit Iran harder than before if the ceasefire doesn't hold.
Trump and Hegseth have called on NATO countries to do more to support the war effort, but at a scheduled speech in Washington on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that "nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States has asked," through logistical support and the use of European military bases.
"The United Kingdom is leading a coalition of countries that are aligning the military, the political and the economic tools that will be required to ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz," added Rutte, referring to a group that Canada has joined.
Rutte said that coalition has to move "step by step," but "with speed," positing that minehunter ships, military frigates and radar technology could be utilized in such an effort.
Pressure over Lebanon
Israel, which invaded Lebanon last month in parallel with the war on Iran to root out the armed group Hezbollah, Tehran's ally, says its actions there are not covered by the ceasefire announced late on Tuesday by Trump. It is a position also held by the White House.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel had agreed to enter into direct talks with Lebanon that would focus on disarming Hezbollah and a possible peace deal. But in his video statement, the Israeli leader said Israel will keep striking Hezbollah until security is restored in northern Israel.
Trump said Thursday that he has asked Netanyahu to dial back the strikes in Lebanon, the same day Israel said it killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, an aide to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem.
Hezbollah did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 303 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in widespread Israeli strikes in central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon on Wednesday, adding that the toll was not final and was expected to rise.
Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike carried out in Ain Al Mraiseh in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday.
(Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)The ministry added that the total toll in Lebanon since March 2 was 1,888 dead and more than 6,000 wounded.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli operations on Thursday, which it said "undermine international efforts to establish peace and stability."
A host of countries, including prominent U.S. allies Australia, Britain and France, said the cesaefire should extend to Lebanon.
Government
supporters attend a mourning ceremony marking the 40th day since the
killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran,
Thursday. (Vahid Salemi/The Associated Press)Khamenei mourned in Iran
Inside Iran, where the halt to six weeks of U.S. and Iranian airstrikes has been portrayed as victory for the clerical rulers, huge crowds turned out for a commemoration to mark 40 days of mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed on the war's first day.
State TV showed crowds in Tehran, Kermanshah, Yazd and Zahedan, with mourners in black carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei and his son and successor Mojtaba, who has not been seen in public since his ascension.
Though Trump has declared victory, Washington did not achieve the aims he had announced to justify the war at its outset: to eliminate Iran's ability to attack its neighbours, destroy its nuclear program and create conditions that would make it easier for Iranians to topple their government.
Iran still possesses missiles and drones capable of targeting its neighbours and a stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
The core disputes remain unresolved, as far as publicly known, with each side sticking to competing demands for a deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.
LISTEN l Economist geopolitics editor David Rennie on a state of confusion:
With files from CBC Sports and The Associated Press
Poilievre slams PM Carney for 'fabricating' majority through 'dirty, back-room deals'
CTV News Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks about MP Marilyn Gladu's crossing of the floor to the Liberals, saying, 'I feel badly for Ms. Gladu's constituents.'
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Exposed: Why Marilyn Gladu Betrayed Conservatives for Ego & Attention
The National Telegraph - Wyatt ClaypoolWyatt Claypool talks about Marilyn Gladu crossing the floor from the Pierre Poilievre Conservatives to the Mark Carney Liberals and how a former MP informed Wyatt that Gladu is an "attention seeker" who left for petty reasons. Wyatt also talks about other issues inside the CPC and how the media is manipulating the floor-crossing to cultivate an fake alarmist narrative against Poilievre.
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Liberal Floor-Crosser GETS CAUGHT in awful press conference!
The National Telegraph - Wyatt ClaypoolWyatt Claypool talks about Conservative to Liberal Party floor-crosser Marilyn Gladu's embarassing press conference at the Liberal convention in Montreal where she fails to justify why she joined the Liberals and swtiched all of her positions overnight.
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Conservative MPs ‘being held back like children at a daycare’ amid floor crossings, Mulcair says
CTV News CTV News’ Political Commentator Tom Mulcair says Poilievre is a ‘control freak’ with his party during ‘unprecedented’ wave of floor crossings.
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A group of Conservative parliamentarians recently formed what they call a "civil liberties" working group to advocate for the unvaccinated.
While promoting the group's work during an appearance on CTV, Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu suggested that polio — a disease largely eradicated in Canada through vaccinations — posed more of a threat than COVID-19.
"In terms of the risk, people that got polio, many of them died and many of them were crippled, and that is not the same frequency of risk that we see with COVID-19," she said in an interview on the network's Question Period program.
"I'm just receiving the information from medical experts that talk about the relative risk. I'm not a doctor myself."
Between 1949 and 1954, 11,000 people in Canada incurred some degree of paralysis and 500 people died due to polio. More than 29,000 Canadians have died so far of COVID-19 since the onset of this health crisis in early 2020.
Gladu also said "multiple sources of data" must be reviewed to determine if vaccine mandates actually work to curb the spread of the virus. She said asking people to disclose their vaccination status is a slippery slope that could lead to "discrimination" against people with other health conditions.
"People are being forced to disclose and the question is, what is next?" she said.
In an interview with CBC's Power & Politics, Gladu said vaccine mandates "infringe on people's rights" and that politicians "need to hear from all sides," including those who choose to go unvaccinated.
WATCH: Conservative MPs forming 'mini-caucus' to talk about vaccine-related issues
![](https://thumbnails.cbc.ca/maven_legacy/thumbnails/109/938/gladu-digital_7000kbps_1280x720_1971505731968.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:* 510w")
Conservative MPs forming ‘mini-caucus’ to talk about vaccine-related issues
Asked about Gladu's comparison of COVID-19 to polio, O'Toole said Conservatives "take a professional approach to discussions on the safety of vaccines."
"That was not the case yesterday with Ms. Gladu. There is a big difference between the work you do as an MP for your constituents and questions involving reasonable accommodations and the matter of efficacy of vaccines. Vaccines are safe and effective," O'Toole said. "There is a big difference between the work done by MPs for constituents and creating confusion."
Gladu's comments not 'helpful,' says O'Toole
With more than five million eligible Canadians still choosing to avoid vaccination, O'Toole said, politicians should be focused on helping the hesitant find answers to legitimate questions.
"Ms. Gladu's interview yesterday added more questions and I don't think that's helpful," he said.
Gladu isn't the first Conservative MP to speak out about vaccine
policy. Newly elected MP Leslyn Lewis, who placed a close third in the
2020 Conservative leadership race, has emerged as a vocal critic of
plans to roll out COVID-19 shots to kids, saying Canadian children are
being "used as shields for adults."
Most health experts say vaccine coverage in this younger cohort will help Canada finally achieve some form of herd immunity against the virus.
Tory MP Dean Allison, who represents the Ontario riding of Niagara West, has invited speakers challenging the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines onto a show he broadcasts online. Those guests — some of them doctors — have suggested vaccines aren't necessary for those previously infected by the virus, a position that is not widely held by public health experts.
"It's a great example of why members of Parliament, of all stripes, should let the professionals, the public health officials, the physicians, answer questions about efficacy of vaccines or provincial programs on vaccines," O'Toole said when asked about the actions of these MPs.
O'Toole dodged questions about whether these MPs should be booted from caucus for questioning the advice f public health officials, saying caucus membership isn't a decision for the leader alone.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pounced on the Conservatives' disunity on vaccines ahead of a Liberal caucus meeting today. He said Conservative squabbling over vaccines threatens the country's pandemic recovery.
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Voters in three ridings hold the Liberal Party's hopes for a majority government in their hands.
MPs speak with reporters on Parliament Hill as they convene for the daily question period in the House of Commons.
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