Canadian MP crosses from Conservative to Liberal party
{{date|May 22, 2005}}<br>

[[Image:Belinda Stronach at Leadership convention 2006.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Belinda Stronach]]
[[w:Belinda Stronach|Belinda Stronach]], Canadian [[w:Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[w:Newmarket-Aurora|Newmarket-Aurora]] [[w:Crossing the floor|crossed the floor]] from the [[w:Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]] to join the [[w:Liberal Party of Canada|Liberals]] just days before a scheduled confidence vote in the Liberal government. She was immediately rewarded by being appointed to the cabinet as [[w:Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development|Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]] and [[w:Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal (Canada)|Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal]].

"I've been uncomfortable for some time with the direction the Conservative party was taking," Stronach said. "I regret to say that I do not believe the party leader is truly sensitive to the needs of each part of the country and just how big and complex Canada really is."

She disagreed with the party on its stance on the federal budget, same-sex marriage, and Conservative leadership's alliance with the separatist Bloc Québécois to bring down the government.

Two days after Stronach switched parties, the ruling Liberals won a crucial vote for their [[w:Canadian federal budget, 2005|budget]] by a single vote. If Stronach had not joined the Liberals and voted for the budget, the government would have fallen, forcing a new federal election.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/stronach_belinda/index.html
|title=Belinda Stronach - Newly Liberal
|pub=CBC
|author=
|date=May 17, 2005}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Belinda Stronach]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Same-sex marriage]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada]]
[[Category:Conservative Party of Canada]]
Belinda Stronach
Belinda Stronach, Canadian MP for Newmarket-Aurora crossed the floor from the Conservatives to join the Liberals just days before a scheduled confidence vote in the Liberal government. She was immediately rewarded by being appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal.

"I've been uncomfortable for some time with the direction the Conservative party was taking," Stronach said. "I regret to say that I do not believe the party leader is truly sensitive to the needs of each part of the country and just how big and complex Canada really is."

She disagreed with the party on its stance on the federal budget, same-sex marriage, and Conservative leadership's alliance with the separatist Bloc Québécois to bring down the government.

Two days after Stronach switched parties, the ruling Liberals won a crucial vote for their budget by a single vote. If Stronach had not joined the Liberals and voted for the budget, the government would have fallen, forcing a new federal election.
North America Canada Belinda Stronach Politics and conflicts Same-sex marriage Liberal Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada