OTTAWA — Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont has resigned from the Conservative caucus, raising speculation about a possible shift to the Liberal Party. His departure coincides with the minority Liberal government's first budget presentation on Tuesday.

In an interview with Politico earlier in the day, d'Entremont indicated he was contemplating crossing the floor to the Liberals and would announce his decision in the coming days after reviewing the budget.

Following the publication of the Politico story, two Conservative sources confirmed to other media that d'Entremont left the caucus. One source stated that he submitted his resignation in a letter to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. These sources requested anonymity to discuss internal party matters.

D'Entremont's exit could ease the path for the Liberal government, which is currently three seats short of a majority in the House of Commons. The government is seeking to secure enough votes to pass the budget introduced on Tuesday.

Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman criticized d'Entremont's decision, stating, "Chris made a choice and I think the choice is to not fight inflation, not to fight to lower grocery prices like his constituents elected him to do."

D'Entremont has a long history with the Conservative Party, having previously served in provincial politics before being elected to the House of Commons in 2019. His resignation marks a significant shift in the political landscape as the government navigates its budgetary challenges.