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TORONTO, May 24: One of the richest members of the Canadian parliament crossed the floor Pakistan-style last week, breaking the heart of her boyfriend Peter MacKay, a deputy leader of the Conservative party. Mr McKay, emulating the Washington Times cartoonist, commented sardonically: A dog is always loyal and faithful.”
Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority government was facing a vote of no-confidence last week as his ruling Liberal Party had the support of 151 MPs against the opposition’s 153 before Belinda Stronach crossed the floor.
And within hours she was appointed minister for human resources. Her vote tied the number game. The speaker of the House of Commons broke a 152-152 tie with his decisive vote to avoid fresh elections. It was the first time that a speaker had broken a tie on a confidence vote in Canada.
Belinda Stronach, a rookie MP from Newxmarket, a small town, hails from a rich family which has strong ties with former US president Bill Clinton. Before last June’s elections, Ms Belinda had run for the Conservative Party’s leadership. She had finished second behind Stephen Harper.
The same year she was elected member of parliament. Her friend MacKay was baffled when he came to know about what he called Belinda’s blunder. A devastated Peter said in Ottawa later that he had been betrayed. “I’m returning home where I will see my dog. Remember a dog is always faithful and loyal.”
Ms Belinda, who is still talk of the town here, is now CNN’s Political Play of the Week.
“Stronach stunned a nation, broke her boyfriend’s heart, infuriated the federal Conservatives and almost singlehandedly saved Canada’s Liberal government,” commented CNN’s Bill Schneider.
Peter McKay’s comments regarding dog’s faithfulness recall Washington Times cartoonist Bill Garner’s reaction to the storm raised in Pakistan by his use of a dog to portray Pakistan’s role in the ‘war against terror’. Mr Garner said: “I did not intend to ridicule anyone. I was trying to tell readers that a dog is always considered a man’s best friend.”
