Floor-crossing has always been a feature of Canadian politics dating back to the first Parliament — and seeing four opposition MPs jump ship to join the government in a matter of months is rare but not unprecedented.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has only been in office for a year and is ranking near the top in terms of prime ministers who have had opposition MPs join his caucus during a parliamentary session.
John A. Macdonald, Robert Borden and Jean Chrétien attracted a swath of MPs to their respective governments — though all in vastly different circumstances.
