Independent MP Kevin Vuong says he would be 'open' to joining Conservatives

Independent MP Kevin Vuong says he is "open" to joining the federal Conservatives and he doesn't think Canada "has been steered in the right direction."

Vuong, who was dropped as a Liberal candidate for Spadina-Fort York days before the 2021 federal election, made the comments during an interview with True North Centre.

He said the "door has always been open from my side" but added that "it's not just up to me. I think it's up to party brass and the leadership as well to find a fit and a path."

The Liberal Party dumped Vuong over his failure to disclose a sexual assault charge levelled against him in 2019 and withdrawn the same year.

The party's disavowal came too late to remove his name from the ballot as the Liberal candidate.

Vuong has denied wrongdoing and called the allegation behind the charge a "fantasy." He has citedthe withdrawal of the charge as evidence of his innocence.

He won the 2021 election and sat in the House of Commons as an Independent. He has voted against several government bills and has criticized the Liberals on social media.

After Vuong's electoral win, more than 5,000 people signed an online petition demanding that he step down.Vuong said would not resign and vowed to fight to clear his name.

WATCH: Independent MP Kevin Vuong speaks to media in February2022

Toronto MP Kevin Vuong speaks to CBC News

3 years ago

Duration 0:52

In a brief exchange with CBC's Ashley Burke, Independent MP Kevin Vuong lays out his priorities and is asked about calls for him to resign

During the interview with True North Centre, Vuong said that he thinks Conservatives "will form the next government" and if they want him to join their caucus or run as a candidate, he would be "open to it."

Vuong said he hopes for an opportunity to show "how I can add value as part of a team There is only so much you can do without the support of a party, of a caucus with a whole network of resources."

"There is,I think,a ceilingand there are a lot of challenges that Canadians are facing and I want to be able to contribute to that," he added.

When news of the withdrawn chargesurfaced in the media, the Conservatives called for Vuongto be dropped as a candidate.

Vuong, a naval reservist, was also fined $500 by a Royal Canadian Navy officialfor failing to inform his commanding officer of a criminal charge against him.

CBC News reached out to the Conservative Party for commentbut did not hear back in time for publication.