People who live in Matt Jeneroux’s Edmonton Riverbend riding react to MP’s floor-crossing

Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jeneroux has left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberal Party, prompting mixed reactions from constituents and raising questions about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s leadership.

Constituent Reactions

Jeneroux, who has represented Edmonton Riverbend since 2015 and was re-elected in last year’s federal election, announced his decision alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney in Edmonton on Wednesday.

Carol Salisney, a constituent and former volunteer for Jeneroux, expressed disappointment. “I’ve worked for him the last three or four elections and he was very much a conservative,” she said. “I’m very disappointed. And I’m surprised.” Salisney believes it is inappropriate for an elected official to switch parties mid-mandate.

However, Doug Knight, another constituent, supported Jeneroux’s decision, citing economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. “I appreciate the turmoil that he must have gone through with all of this,” Knight said. “But I think on … behalf of Canada, I think it was a good decision to make. It’ll keep a little more stability I think in the country for a little while.”

Carney’s Davos Speech and Jeneroux’s Rationale

Jeneroux is the third Conservative MP to join the Liberals since the last election. He had previously announced plans to step down as an MP, but reconsidered after Prime Minister Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.

“I think it opened a lot of eyes for Canadians, Albertans, Edmontonians, just how serious this national unity crisis truly is,” Jeneroux said.

In addition to remaining an MP, Jeneroux will also serve as a special adviser on economic and security partnerships.

Questions About Conservative Leadership

Jeneroux’s move has sparked debate about support for Poilievre within his caucus. Lori Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, noted that despite Poilievre receiving 87 per cent support at a recent party convention, the attendees were party members committed to his leadership.

Williams pointed to Conservative MP Jamil Jivani’s recent meeting with U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and other American lawmakers as an example of Poilievre’s limited control over his caucus.

She views Jeneroux’s explanation, referencing Carney’s Davos speech, as a rebuke of Poilievre’s leadership. “The problem for Pierre Poilievre is how can he convince people who are looking at things like the Davos speech, that are looking at some of the challenges that Canada is facing abroad,” she said. “What can he do to address those issues and what can he do to address the divisions within his own party?”

Williams added that Poilievre performs better on domestic issues like housing affordability and crime, but Canadians appear to be looking to Carney for leadership on international challenges.

While Jeneroux has consistently won Edmonton Riverbend by significant margins, Liberal candidate Mark Minenko came within 3,300 votes of winning the seat in the last election.