Conservative MP Larry Brock to resign next month, triggering eighth federal byelection
By Ellie Hutchings
National Post · 1d ago
Brock was first elected to Parliament in 2021, replacing longtime Conservative MP Phil McColeman, and was re-elected in 2025 with more than 52% of the vote share
Conservative MP for Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations, Larry Brock, announced he’ll be resigning as a Member of Parliament next month, marking the latest in a string of departures from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s caucus.
In a letter announcing his intention to step down, which was shared on social media on Thursday, Brock said that he will officially resign his seat Sept. 18 to “return directly to the front lines of justice” at the Crown attorney’s office in Brantford, Ont.
“My commitment to community safety hasn’t wavered one bit, and getting back into the courtroom means I can keep being tough on crime, making sure real justice happens right here at home,” he said in the statement.
Brock, who served as shadow justice minister before being replaced in June by Ontario MP Arpan Khanna, previously held a position with the Brantford Crown attorney’s office and was a prosecutor for almost 19 years before running for federal politics.
The Ontario MP said he was “honoured” to hold the position of justice critic, “given my commitment to reforming the criminal justice system, holding criminals accountable and restoring trust and confidence in our legal system.”
In an interview with The Brantford Expositor on Friday, Brock expressed frustration being part of the party in Opposition, saying “you can only do so much.”
“In Opposition you’re trying to do the right thing – to leave your mark on the Canadian justice system. I tried my best, but I was running into a brick wall,” he said.
Brock was first elected to Parliament in 2021, replacing longtime Conservative MP Phil McColeman, who had been in office since 2008, and was re-elected in 2025 with more than 52 per cent of the vote share.
In the 2021 election, Brock won 40 per cent of the vote, with the Liberal candidate coming in second with a 28 per cent share.
During his time as an MP, he was critical of the Liberals’ justice policies, particularly around bail and sentencing reforms, and told The Brantford Expositor he was “very disappointed” that suggested changes weren’t included in Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, and Bill C-16, the Protecting Victims Act, calling them “flawed pieces of legislation.”
Poilievre responded to Brock’s resignation letter on social media, thanking the Ontario MP for “fighting to end Liberal bail, to lock up criminals, to restore safe streets and to support victims.”
Elsewhere on social media, Brock received support from other Conservative colleagues. Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas thanked him for “exemplify(ing) the very best of public service,” while Saskatchewan Senator Denise Batters highlighted “his work over the last 5 years to try to toughen the Liberal Govt’s weak criminal laws.”
His resignation will trigger a federal byelection in the Ontario riding, which will be the eighth held between Aug. 31 and mid-April.
It also makes him the seventh MP to leave Poilievre’s caucus since the 2025 election, after Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux and Marilyn Gladu all crossed the floor to join the Liberals, and Cathay Wagantall announced plans to resign her seat effective August 31.
Quebec Conservative MP Richard Martel was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Mark Carney last month, with a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office confirming that he will sit as an Independent.
Martel’s riding of Chicotoumi-Le Fjord will hold a byelection at the end of the month, along with byelections in North Vancouver-Capilano and Beaches-East York in Toronto to replace former Liberal cabinet ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Nate Erskine-Smith.
Other byelections have not yet been called in several ridings where the incumbents have said they will resign, but they must be called between 11 and 180 days after a seat becomes vacant, with formal byelection campaigns lasting between 36 and 50 days.
The combination of floor crossings and three byelection victories earlier this year means the Liberals’ seat count currently stands at 173 — up from the 169 the party won in last year’s federal election.
According to political forecasting website 338Canada, Brock’s riding is currently listed as “leaning” Conservative, with a projected vote share of 44 per cent, compared to 41 per cent for the Liberals.
In the event an election was held immediately, 338Canada puts the Conservatives’ odds of winning at 71 per cent, as of Aug. 2. The riding of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations has been Conservative for 18 years, since Liberal Lloyd St. Amand was ousted by McColeman in 2008.
“I have full confidence that the team will keep delivering for this community for the years to come with the soon-to-be next Conservative MP for Brantford-Brant South,” Brock’s statement said.
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Originally published by National Post.