Michael Ma

Michael Ma (Chinese: 馬榮錚; pinyin: Mǎ Róngzhēng¹) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of Parliament (MP) for Markham—Unionville since 2025. Currently a member of the Liberal Party, Ma was elected in the April 2025 federal election as a Conservative, then moved to the Liberal caucus in December 2025.

Ma was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada at the age of 12, residing in Vancouver, British Columbia.² He completed a BSc in computer science at the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the University of South Australia.

Ma unsuccessfully ran in Don Valley East in the 2019 election as a Conservative, losing to incumbent Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi.

Ma was appointed as the Conservative Party's candidate in Markham—Unionville on the day the general election was called.³ He initially ran against incumbent Liberal MP Paul Chiang, who withdrew from the race after suggesting to a media outlet that a political opponent, Joe Tay, could be turned into the Chinese consulate in return for a bounty.⁴ Chiang was replaced as the Liberal candidate by Peter Yuen. Ma ultimately defeated Yuen and flipped the seat for the Conservatives.⁵

On December 11, 2025, Ma crossed the floor to join the governing Liberal caucus, citing the "steady, practical approach" of Prime Minister Mark Carney. At the time, the move put the Liberals within one seat of a majority government.⁶⁷ He was the second Conservative MP to cross to the Liberals in the 45th Parliament, after Chris d'Entremont of Acadie—Annapolis crossed the floor in November.⁸

In January 2026, Ma joined Prime Minister Mark Carney on his trip to China and Qatar.⁹

On the March 26, 2026, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, an academic and former civil servant who specialises in Canada–China relations, testified before a meeting of the Industry Committee, which was in the process of investigating the use of forced labour in China. Ma asked McCuaig-Johnston if she had ever personally witnessed the use of forced labour in Shenzhen, and if her testimony on the issue was based on hearsay. McCuaig-Johnston later criticised these questions, saying that Ma was "overall trying to undermine" her testimony. Ma later released a statement condemning "forced labour in all its forms", but declined to speak about China specifically.¹⁰

On June 16, 2026, Ma sponsored Petition E-7523, which calls on the House of Commons of Canada to establish a Canadian Chinese Heritage Month "in recognition of the contributions of Chinese Canadians, the hardships that they have faced, and Canada’s constitutional commitment to multiculturalism."¹¹