Conservative MP EXPOSES Liberal tactics to recruit floor-crossers

Well, Prime Minister Carney says world leaders that he has spoken to have quietly expressed regret at having signed trade deals with the Trump administration.Carney himself promised to deliver a trade agreement by last July.Having failed to deliver, he says other countries made deals they now regret.

You know, a lot of countries rushed into deals with the U .S.They weren't really worth the paper they were written on.Like which ones?Well, I'll put it back to you.Tell me which country you've bumped into that's pleased with their deal with the U .

S.

You don't think there are any?Well, certainly not in private.

Well, Carney didn't really name any of those other countries or provide specifics.He also says the actions of Premier Doug Ford have undermined efforts to get a trade deal with the Americans.He points to the provincial ban on U .S.

wine and spirits, and the Reagan ads as examples.

Cooperative federalism.Cooperative but also independent -minded.I mean, we talked about it a little bit.The ad, you know, not putting American booze back on.How frustrating is that, or how encouraging is that?

Well, I would say, look, they have their own responsibilities, and they're elected, and they make decisions, and sometimes it makes life a little more difficult.Did Doug Ford make life a little more difficult?With the ad?Yeah, well, yes.Yes, he did.Yes, he did.

I mean, but he knows that.And Doug, don't yell at me for pointing out the obvious, but that was true.

Carney's $25 billion Sovereign Wealth Fund is under more scrutiny today.According to Canada's finance minister, the taxpayer -backed fund will all be borrowed, albeit at the best rates available.

Let's listen.Can you explain a little bit more where the money for this fund is coming from?and specifically how much of this 25 billion dollar endowment will be debt versus equity from the government.

Well that's a very good question.So what we said in in in our release today is that we will invest the 25 billion billion as seed capital in the fund.As you know, Canada, because we're one of the very few countries in the world, I would say there's only two countries in the G7 which have a AAA credit rating.Canada can borrow on the international market at some of the lowest rates that you could see.And therefore, by putting the seed money, we will be able to invest in these projects and these Canadian companies.and generate higher returns for Canadians.

As you heard there, the fund is intended to provide financial support for Canadian start -ups.But not everybody is impressed.Conservative party leader Pierre Polyev says it makes no sense for government to bankroll businesses that can't attract private funding.

If a project has a business case, why would the government need to fund it?If it doesn't have a business case, why would the government want to fund it?And why can't projects get funding now?Is it because investment doesn't exist?Of course not.There's a trillion dollars of investment from Canada now invested outside of Canada, according to Royal Bank.

In fact, Statistics Canada reported in Q3 of last year that trusteed Canadian pension funds held $1 .33 trillion in foreign assets.That is, a majority of Canadian pension funds are now invested outside of Canada.There are more Canadians opening businesses out of Canada than in Canada.The investment exists.It comes from our country.It just can't get a return in our country.

Putting another $25 billion on the national creditcard to pad a liberal slush fund will not change that.

We have a clearer picture today of how the liberals are luring opposition party members to cross the floor.So far, four conservatives and one new Democrat have joined the carny liberals, having failed to win a majority government at the ballot box.Liberals have been using a combination of threats, flattery, monetary incentives, and spending commitments to attract floor crossers.We know this because conservative MP Kelly DeRidder of Kitchener Center was targeted in this way and is speaking publicly about it.She'll be our guest today on Straight Up.One of the floor crossers, Michael Ma, was just handed a plum assignment on.

The Public Accounts Committee conservative Stephanie Kusie posted this video on X. You won't believe who the latest member of the Public Accounts Committee is.

It is Michael Ma, the undemocratically elected liberal member who floor crossed.So this committee spent four hours telling us how important this committee is in terms of oversight and the democratic process, and we should work together.And then they appoint the floor crosser, the one with suspicious ties to foreign interference, to this prestigious oversight committee.You can't make this stuff up, but it happened.

And our guest today is the conservative member of parliament for Kitchener Center, Kelly DeRidder.Welcome to the show, Kelly.Appreciate it.

Thank you very much.Thanks for having me.

All right.So thanks to you, we're getting a glimpse into how the liberal floor crossing machine actually works.And, you know, I think those types of details are very helpful when people want to figure out why is this person making the jump?And it seems very calculated.It seems like they've got a plan.It includes

things like threats, then flattery.And I guess if that doesn't work, then certain subtle incentives are provided, monetary and otherwise.Could you take us back to the start of how it began when the liberals reached out to you and said, hey, you know, maybe you should consider joining our team?

So it was a phone call between a liberal member of Parliament and myself.And As I posted in my video, it started with fear that a person would be put into my riding that would be supported by both the Liberals and the Greens.And so as a Conservative, I didn't stand a chance to win in the next election.And when I responded with OK, the next was flattery.They see what I'm doing on the Science and Research Committee and the interest I've taken in AI and digital policy and that they feel there's a spot for them on their team under that portfolio.And so I thanked them for pumping my tires a little bit, but still the answer is no.

And then it went into, well, you know, as a technology hub, Kitchener Centre is Canada's innovation capital.And as a technology hub, it would be good for your riding to be a part of government.And so, again, thank you for, you know, your words, but no.And then the conversation ended there and said, it won't be brought up again from this point forward unless you reach out to us, was how it was left off.

So it sounds like the Liberals did not take no for an answer, at least for a while.Can you tell us which Liberal MP reached out to you?

So there is a level of, you know, parliamentary respect here in the House of Commons.And while I'm willing to share my story, I do want to respect my colleague on the other side of the House.

and not bring them forward as the individual who approached me. I don't want to get into, you know, is it bigger than a breadbox type of thing?Was it a cabinet minister, can you say, or was it somebody, a backbencher?

I'd rather just focus on the tactics that were used in my conversation instead of putting out there who it was.

Understood.OK, so it started with threats saying, you know, we're going to beat you.I mean, the obvious answer is, well, that's what you are supposed to be trying to do is to defeat me, you know.But you know what?I'll leave that to your head that, you know, we're coming after you next election and you're not going to win.And so you might as well come over to our side.

Is that pretty much the way you read it?

Yeah, when they say my writing has been both liberal, then conservative, then liberal, then green before me and now back to conservative.When they say that they're going to put someone who's supported by the two parties that it has also been in my writing, then yes, I take that as though, you know, trying to say, well, then we'll just take you out the next go around.So you might as well join us.And, but I say, uh, I'm going to leave that to the voter.Right.

So you must have some thoughts about the people who went the other way and said, Oh, it sounds like a good deal.Michael Ma for instance, I just handed a.Plum Assignment on the Public Accounts Committee.And we heard from Stephanie Kusey, your colleague in caucus, put a video out of that.So this is obviously a message sent out to people like you.You know, you play ball with us.

Come over to our side and you know, you're going to get a sweet sweetheart deal, too, just like Michael Ma did.

Yeah.So in my opinion,conversation it was very carefully worded as there was no offer on the table of a ministry or a parliamentary second secretary position or anything like that but the words to me of it would be good for your riding to be a part of the government is a way of reading between the lines to say we'll do we'll splash some cash into kitchener center if you cross sides.That's how I read it.

Typical pork barrel politics.You know, that's that's what that's all about.And so it sounds to me like they were trying not to break the law, because as you're aware, I mean, it is a criminal code offense to bribe or offer financial incentives for somebody to do something, an elected official to do something that benefits somebody else and possibly yourself.So they're trying to just be on this side of the law by the sounds of it.What do you think?

What I think is that we need to concentrate on democracy in this country, and the voices of the people are what matter in this country, and I don't think that we should be actively recruiting members of an opposition to form a government.I just think that this is the threat of our democracy right now, and this is what's happening, and I'm hearing you know, in main media news streams that you that this is a problem with the Conservative Party or a problem with our leadership.And I just was really honestly tired of hearing that.And so I wanted to come out with my story to say it has nothing to do with the Conservative Party and it has nothing to do with our leadership.These were individual decisions that were made through activerecruitment.

Could you tell us when this happened?Was this a recent thing?Like this was after the last floor crosser?

No, actually it was before the last floor crosser.It was the last time that we were in our ridings before we went back to sit this go around.

So we're talking about a month ago, two months ago.About a month ago.And yeah, I mean, the media seems to be using the floor crossers as a way to bash your leader, Pierre Polyev.And so I think this is probably one of the things that the liberals particularly like about this.You know, the more people we can get across, the more we know that our friends in the legacy media are going to just blame it all on Pierre Polyev.So not only do we get a floor crosser and add to our numbers, but we also turn up the heat on the guy we really don't like, which is Pierre Polyev.

What do you think?

So I think that's exactly what's happening.But the problem with that, though, is that it's not OK when the national news is holding the opposition to account more than the actual government.But really, our freedom is at stake here when this starts to happen.And the question should be asked is, why are you actively recruiting members of the opposition to form a majority government?And even for the committee reshuffle, I just saw on the news recently, we're talking about an overreach of the committee reshuffle.You only need six.

Why are you putting in seven?And the question was asked of the Conservative Party.Well, if you had a majority government, wouldn't you have committees structured for a majority government?Listen, the answer is yes.When elected as a majority government, we will have committees structured for to a majority, but the question that isn't being asked is, if you were elected a minority government, would you recruit members of the opposition to form a majority government in Parliament?And that answer is no.

no.As a conservative party, we would not do that because we respect the voter's choice.We work for the people, not the other way around.We believe in democracy and we believe in these institutions.

I mean, there was a liberal floor crosser when Harper had his minority, I think it was Keith Emerson.I don't know if that was a case where he was recruited though, or did he just, volunteer to come over.I don't know.I mean, it's kind of a fuzzy line.But I take your point that Canadians did not vote for a majority government.And yet they're getting one anyway.

And in fact, they have one now.And it seems like the prime minister has an extra skip in his step these days because he knows that he's not going to have to be held to account in these ethics investigations that have started.And, you know, the whole issue around him, his relationship with Brookfield and stock portfolio and insistence that he sell it.All these pressures on the prime minister.A lot of that is going to be eased up once he's got the numbers on on committee.So that's provided them, I think, a huge incentive to get that majority by hook or by crook.

And unfortunately, it's added a great deal to the level of cynicism, I think, by the electorate.And I mean, in a way, I tip my hat to you and others, because I'm sure you've got many colleagues who say, yeah, they tried the same thing with me.Have you done a head count on how many of your colleagues in caucus were approached?

I don't know specifically how many were approached.I know I think we're at about seven right now who've come forward to say that they have been.I don't know beyond that for the ones that have come forward.I just know my own personal story and I thought it was time I shared my personal story so that Canadians can see the truth of what's actually happening here.And it was important to me to share what had happened for me and also very important for me to say unequivocally, no.

So let's let me get this straight here.If I do the checkbox of their approach, because I assume it's the same with every MP or very similar.They started off with threats.They moved on to flattery.Is that right?Then it was incentives.

of one type or another.That's correct.

Carefully worded.

Yeah.And then it was we can help your writing.Yes.Which I guess, you know, according to Marilyn, glad you was the thing that pushed her over the edge, I suppose, is she said, well, you know, I'm going to be able to get so much help for my writing.That's how she thought she could justify it.And she's encountered all sorts of backlash in Sarnia and the surrounding area.

Do your constituents Are they aware?I guess they're getting more and more aware of of what you've gone through.Have they approached you and said, you know, one thing or another good for you or have they made any comments regarding what's happened to you?

Yeah, the constituents that have voted for me have come out to say thank you.Just thank you.Thank you for keeping your integrity.Thank you for allowing our voices to stand in this riding.Just thank you for not falling for the recruitment trap.and being our representative in kitchen or something.

I mean, that must make you feel pretty good.It does.

Well, it does.Yes.But I will always lead with integrity.You know, I didn't do this for personal gain.I did this to be voices for the people who feel voiceless.I did this to support

the residents of Kitchener Center.And I and I do truly value that members of Parliament should be working for their writings and not the other way around.

When this started, I'm going to assume that you put in a call to the leader's office and said, you know, this is happening.I want you to be aware of it.I've already said no.Hey, can you recall what they responded to you with?

Again, thank you.What else is to be said other than thank you for taking the path of integrity instead of, you know, self need or want or whatever the reasons are that the other members chose to cross?

I mean, could there be and I want to watch my words carefully, but a quid pro quo down the road.In other words, you know what?We remember you.We remember that you stuck by us when we were in opposition.And, you know, we're going to reward you because you've earned it.by sticking with our team rather than crossing the floor.

Do you think that that might be a factor down the road sometime?

No, I did not do this, again, for my own gain or benefit.I did this because I needed Canadians to know what's actually happening here and that a person with integrity sitting here today is saying, I'm not going to be recruited.My answer is no.And that I had to bring this story forward.This has nothing to do with any sort of personal gain or anything to do with the party.I individually made this decision to come forward on my own and talk about my own story.

So, no, I don't think that there's going to be anything coming in the future because of nor do you expect anything.

I nor do I expect anything about integrity.How many calls did you get from the liberal person?You're, I guess, the person who was trying to lose the election.across?

Just the one.

Just the one call?

Yeah.I think I was definitive enough to say, don't call me again.

Yeah.And so what are your thoughts about those who caved?Michael Maas of the world and the Chris Donthra Maas of the world, Marilyn Gladius of the world.

What I personally think is each individual member has come forward to tell their reason why they think that it was good for them to cross.But at the end of the day, Marilyn Gledo won with almost 52 % of the vote.So when she says it's about her constituents, I don't believe it.Chris D 'Entremont came forward.and said that he didn't like the democratic process of for the to become the deputy leader and that if he had a became the deputy leader, we wouldn't maybe be in this situation right now.So that speaks for itself.

And at the end of the day, Michael Maw owes his seat to Pierre Poliev as long as well as I do and 25 other new members of parliament and to our leadership.And so he went against that and chose his own path.

Kelly Derrida, thank you so much for coming on the show.We really appreciate what you've done and you've been able to come out and talk about it.

Thank you so much again for having me today.

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