Opposition Lawmaker Defects to Ruling Party
Conservative member of Parliament Belinda Stronach defected to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal Party, greatly improving the chances that his government will win a confidence vote this week.
Martin called it a gutsy move and named Stronach the new Cabinet minister of human resources. Conservative leader Stephen Harper said Stronach’s move left the party feeling “devastated and quite betrayed.”
Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Canada in the midst of the domestic political turmoil, landing in western Saskatchewan.
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