A Conservative Member of Parliament from British Columbia has publicly declared that he rejected an overture from the governing Liberals to switch parties, delivering a fiery rebuke in which he stated it would be a "cold day in Hell" before he betrays his voters.
A Chilling Rejection on Social Media
Scott Anderson, the MP for Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, took to Facebook to share his firm rejection of the Liberal courtship. He accused the government of "pulling out all the stops" in an effort to lure more Conservatives across the floor of the House of Commons.
Anderson's statement comes after two of his former caucus colleagues defected to the Liberals in late 2025. Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont crossed in November, followed by Ontario MP Michael Ma in December. These moves brought Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to within a single seat of securing a majority, which requires 172 seats.
Defections and Internal Unity
The earlier defections were met with sharp criticism from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his team. While Ma did not explicitly criticize Poilievre upon leaving, d’Entremont was more vocal. He told reporters he no longer felt "aligned" with the leader's "ideals" and expressed a desire to move away from a "negative" political style. D’Entremont also hinted that other Conservative MPs might be considering a similar move.
Anderson, however, sought to dispel any notion of widespread dissent within the Tory ranks. He suggested the narrative of a divided caucus is a myth perpetuated by the Liberals because "they are afraid of Pierre Poilievre."
"They’d prefer a milquetoast Conservative leader and not a fighter who stands up to their lies and omissions," Anderson wrote in his social media post.
Broader Criticism of Liberal Governance
Beyond addressing the defection attempt, Anderson used his statement to launch a broader critique of the Liberal government's performance. He accused them of a pattern of making grand, headline-grabbing announcements on "great nation building projects" but consistently failing to deliver tangible results for Canadians.
"Simply put, you’ve done nothing but make empty promises, increase taxation, and throw billions away trying to entrench your power," he asserted.
Anderson also took aim at the government's conduct in Parliament, accusing Liberal members of not taking serious issues to heart. He criticized what he described as a focus on "handouts" and unfulfilled promises on rental housing, while taking issue with the Prime Minister's attendance during Question Period.
An Unshakeable Commitment
In his closing remarks, the B.C. MP left no room for ambiguity regarding his political future. He reaffirmed an unbreakable commitment to the Conservative Party and the constituents who elected him.
Crossing the floor, Anderson stated, "would be a betrayal of my constituents, a betrayal of the office to which I have been elected, and a betrayal of my own personal core beliefs."
He ended with a final, unequivocal warning to the Liberals: "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." His public declaration effectively turns any future recruitment effort into a potential public relations setback for the governing party.
