Nova Scotia

Liberal MLA Fred Tilley to cross floor to Tories: sources

Nova Scotia·Breaking

Multiple sources tell CBC News that Liberal MLA Fred Tilley will cross the floor to join the governing Progressive Conservative caucus in Nova Scotia. 

Tilley was first elected in Cape Breton district of Northside-Westmount in 2021

A man with glasses and a beard talks to reporters with outstretched microphones.
Fred Tilley has represented the Cape Breton district of Northside-Westmount since 2021. (Paul Porier/CBC)

Multiple sources tell CBC News that Liberal MLA Fred Tilley will cross the floor to join the governing Progressive Conservative caucus in Nova Scotia. 

Premier Tim Houston has scheduled a news conference at Province House for 1:30 p.m. today.

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.

He’s been a vocal critic of the government on issues such as economic development, health care and the government’s relationship with the mayor and council of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Now, with rumours swirling that Houston could call a snap election as early as this weekend, it appears Tilley’s next campaign signs will be blue instead of red.

Tilley would become the second member of the Liberal caucus to jump ship to join the government side this year.

In February, Halifax Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire left the Liberal caucus to join the Tories, immediately being named Community Services minister.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Gorman is a reporter in Nova Scotia whose coverage areas include Province House, rural communities, and health care. Contact him with story ideas at michael.gorman@cbc.ca

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