Prime Minister Mark Carney raises the hand of Michael Ma, member of Parliament for Markham-Unionville, who crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals hours earlier, at the Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

By The Canadian Press

Hodgson defers questions on Michael Ma to Prime Minister Mark Carney

Mar 27, 2026 | 11:24 AM

OTTAWA — Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said today the federal government is opposed to forced labour, a day after another Liberal MP cast doubt on China’s labour practices.

On Thursday, Michael Ma apologized after appearing to question reports of human rights abuses in China while engaging with a witness at a parliamentary committee hearing earlier in the evening.

Speaking to reporters in Markham, Ont., today, Hodgson deferred questions on whether Ma should remain in the party’s caucus to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who did not have a scheduled news conference during an event in Halifax today.

Hodgson also said Ma acknowledged his views did not reflect the views of the Liberal party.

Ma made no such acknowledgment in the apology posted to his social media or in his statement to The Canadian Press.

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Hodgson was reported to be involved in courting Ma to cross the floor to the Liberals from the Conservatives in December.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2026.

— With files from Dylan Robertson

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press