India, Dec. 12 -- The government of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is on the cusp of a majority in the House of Commons after a Greater Toronto Area MP from the opposition Conservatives defected to the ruling Liberal Party on Thursday.

Michael Ma, who was elected to the House for the first time in April this year from Markham-Unionville, sat in the Conservative benches in the House on the last day of the fall session but by evening announced that he was switching parties. That announcement via the Liberal Party. Ma stated, "This is a time for unity and decisive action for Canada's future."

"In that spirit, I have concluded that Prime Minister Mark Carney is offering the steady, practical approach we need to deliver on the prioritie...