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Ontario Conservative MP Larry Brock set to resign at end of summer, sources say

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Originally elected in 2021, Larry Brock will be the seventh MP to leave the Conservative caucus since the last federal election.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

Conservative Larry Brock is resigning as the MP for the Ontario riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations, three sources told The Globe and Mail.

One of the sources said Mr. Brock is informing his riding association later Thursday night of his decision to leave at the end of the summer.

The Globe is not naming the sources as they were not authorized to publicly discuss Mr. Brock’s decision. The MP did not return calls from The Globe.

His departure is another twist in the road for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose caucus is becoming increasingly restive in the face of dismal polling numbers, a drop in fundraising and public spats within the conservative movement about the party’s future.

Mr. Brock was first elected in 2021. The former Crown prosecutor had served as justice critic but was shuffled out of that position by Mr. Poilievre in June.

At the time, Mr. Brock said he was stepping aside for personal reasons.

“I continue to put my full support behind Pierre Poilievre – he is the leader Canada needs and will make an amazing Prime Minister,” he said.

“I remain dedicated to serving in the Conservative caucus, to representing my constituents of Brantford–Brant South–Six Nations and to standing up for an affordable, safe, and secure country for all Canadians.”

Fundraising gap between Conservatives, Liberals shrinks

Mr. Brock won his riding in the last election with 52 per cent of the vote; in the 2021 election, the riding nearly split three ways between the Tories, the Liberals and the NDP. But, in the latest campaign, the NDP vote collapsed there.

The riding is currently listed as “leaning” Conservative on 338Canada.ca, a poll aggregation and modelling website.

Mr. Brock will be the seventh MP to leave Mr. Poilievre’s caucus since the 2025 election.

Four have crossed the floor to the Liberals.

A fifth, Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall, had said last year she wasn’t going to run again but would serve out her term, then instead announced she would step down on Aug. 31.

A sixth, Quebec’s Richard Martel, was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Mark Carney. A by-election for his former riding of Chicoutimi-Le Fjord is scheduled for the end of August.

Carney ‘not interested’ in narrow U.S. trade deal

Taking questions from reporters Thursday after touring an aluminum facility in that area, Mr. Carney said the Liberals’ choice of former dairy producer Daniel Gobeil to run in the riding shows the government is “loyal” to supply management.

The United States has cited Canada’s supply management as a key irritant in trade negotiations.

Mr. Poilievre visited the riding earlier this week.

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