VERNON – A Conservative member of Parliament from British Columbia has publicly stated that he has been approached to switch allegiance to Mark Carney's Liberal government to help secure a majority. However, Scott Anderson, the MP for Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee, has firmly rejected the idea, asserting that he will not "betray" his constituents.

In a recent social media post, Anderson pointed out that the Liberal Party is "pulling out all the stops" to entice Conservative MPs to cross the floor. His remarks come in the wake of two Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) who have recently left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberals. Chris d’Entremont made the switch in November, followed by Michael Ma, who did so last month. Both MPs cited Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's leadership style as a significant factor in their decisions.

Anderson dismissed the narrative being propagated by the Liberals and the media that there is a substantial movement to remove Poilievre in favor of a more moderate "milquetoast Conservative leader." He argues that this claim is a myth aimed at undermining the Conservative Party's unity and direction.

Anderson contends that the governing Liberals have made a series of hollow promises regarding nation-building projects while simultaneously raising taxes and spending vast amounts of money to solidify their power. He accused the Liberals of attempting to "bribe" Conservative MPs to cross the floor, emphasizing that such approaches are not acceptable in his view.

In his post, Anderson made it abundantly clear that he will not entertain any offers to switch parties, as doing so would constitute a betrayal of his voters and core beliefs. "It’ll be a cold day in Hell before I even consider betraying my constituents, and you should probably stop asking because I will certainly advertise it every time you try," Anderson stated firmly on January 5, 2025.

This event unfolds against a backdrop of political realignment and discontent within the Conservative Party, as evidenced by the departures of d’Entremont and Ma. The implications of these shifts raise questions about the future leadership and direction of the Conservative Party in Canada, particularly under the current leadership of Pierre Poilievre.