Liberal MLA Fred Tilley crosses floor to Tories

Liberal MLA Fred Tilley says he's crossing the floor to join the governing Progressive Conservative caucus in Nova Scotia because it was becoming increasingly difficult to criticize the government.

Premier Tim Houston announced the move in a news conference Tuesday at Province House, a couple of hours after CBC News reported that Tilley was changing parties. 

Tilley, the MLA for the Cape Breton district of Northside-Westmount, was first elected in the 2021 general election that saw the Liberals fall from power and Houston's Tories form a majority government. 

Although he's been a vocal critic of the government since he entered the legislature, Tilley told reporters on Tuesday that he's been impressed with Houston's leadership and ability to get things done since he became premier.

"He's delivering results and won't settle for anything but speed and doing more for Nova Scotians."

Tilley said the government's willingness to act on opposition proposals, such as funding continuous glucose monitor devices, indexing income tax brackets and indexing income assistance payments to the rate of inflation, made it increasingly difficult to criticize the government.

"I want to be here delivering for Nova Scotia, not across the aisle criticizing for the sake of criticizing," he said. 

His decision is based on what he believes is best for his constituents, said Tilley. He said that after a major health event more than a year ago, he started reflecting on how best he could serve his community and the province more broadly.

He also wants to be in cabinet, and told Houston as much while the two were talking in recent weeks.

"I've made it clear that that's where I think I can make my best impact on the community, and on the province and on Cape Breton as a whole. The premier didn't make any promises to me with regards to cabinet, but I intend to work hard and someday get there."

Houston referred to Tilley as a "beloved constituency MLA" who has impressed him with his commitment to the province.

"He brings a lot to the table," Houston told reporters.

"He's someone that wants to work with us and we want to work with him."

Tilley said he does not expect his constituents to have a problem with his decision. In the last election, Tilley posted a resounding win at a time while Liberal seats around him were falling to the Tories.

"I think we've built up a reputation for being a strong constituency MLA office and all that's really changing is the colour on the door. At the end of the day, we're there for the people of Northside-Westmount and I think people will recognize that."

Liberal leader calls move a betrayal

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said he found out about Tilley's plan after reporters started reaching out to his party.

He called the departure a betrayal.

"Fred was in a position of trust and leadership in our caucus," he told reporters at Province House.

"He's the chair of our caucus. He's been helping us prepare for a campaign, so certainly to have this happen on what sounds like the eve of an election campaign is certainly a big blow to us."

Tilley is the second member of the Liberal caucus to jump ship for the government benches. Halifax Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire crossed the floor earlier this year and was instantly sworn in as Community Services minister.

Churchill said his message to members of his party is that they want people with "integrity, who are willing to fight through the hard days of opposition when you're not high in the polls and who do that out of conviction that they can make a difference for people" in Nova Scotia.

"I want people on our team that we can trust and that are fighting for the same things that we are fighting for," he said.

Churchill said Houston has approached other members of his caucus about crossing the floor, but they turned the premier down.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Tuesday's announcement amounted to "politics and political gamesmanship."

"I just think this is about who gets a cabinet post, who gets political advantage, who wins [and] who loses in this House when we know we have an election coming and the focus needs to be on Nova Scotians and what is this government's record," she told reporters.

"That's not what today is about."