Nova Scotia M-P Chris d’Entremont left the Conservative caucus to join the Liberals, saying at this point in Canadian history it’s time to try to lead a country, try to make it better and not try to knock it down.

He says the Liberals did not provide enticement to get him to cross the House. D’Entremont says it had to do with his riding itself which he describes as a big rural riding with lots of fishery and lots of agriculture and a military base.

“I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing for them. I have to make sure they have the housing and infrastructure they need, and I felt this budget was going to provide that.”

Describing himself as a “red Tory” D’Entremont says he believes there are other Conservatives who feel the same way.

D’Entremont told that press conference he didn’t believe his values as a “red Tory” were being represented in the current Conservative caucus.

“I didn’t find I was represented there my ideals of an easterner, of a red Tory and quite honestly of trying to find ways to find solutions and help the community rather than trying to oppose everything that’s happening,” d’Entremont said.

D’Entremont and Carney spoke at a post budget event at a public transit yard in Ottawa on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mark Carney says he’s honoured to welcome Chris d’Entremont to the Liberal caucus. With d’Entremont crossing the House, the Liberals now only need two votes to pass their budget.

The federal budget goes big on capital spending and has a projected annual deficit of $78.3 billion, which is nearly twice as large as last fall’s economic forecast.

The additional spending is an attempt at making Canada less reliant on the United States. While there is $280 billion over five years for so-called “generational investments” in housing, infrastructure and defense, there isn’t much to help Canadians struggling with cost-of-living concerns.