Conservative darling Belinda Stronach becomes a Liberal.

Of course, other Conservatives are outraged. Stephen “The Creepy Marionette” Harper said, “She’s buried herself.”

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Now for some “Belinda Stronach 101″, for all my USican readers…

She came onto the political scene in the latter part of 2003, not long after the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada merged with the Canadian Alliance Party (formerly the Reform Party). She made a run for leadership of the new Conservative Party but lost to Harper. However, she ended up becoming very influential within the party; she was the trade critic, and was one of their more leftist voices within the party (yep, you probably could’ve dubbed her a “red Tory”). Before her political life, she was CEO of her father’s auto parts company. As a nouveau-Liberal, she will become Minister of Human Resources. If you want more, click here.

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Now that that’s out of the way…

This also comes two days before the federal budget is up for a vote. If it does not pass, there will be an election. And it’ll be up to two Independent MPs (the third, the infamous Carolyn Parrish, is supporting the budget) to determine what happens next.

Meanwhile, there’s the whole sponsorship scandal going on. And the House of Commons passing a motion asking the Libs to step down.

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But back to the whole election thing.

If one happens, the Conservatives certainly won’t form the next government. They’ve been leaving a bad taste in Canadians’ mouths since Brian Mulroney. Of course, the Bloc Quebecois, while they’ll grab a ton of seats, won’t form it, either.

Which leaves the Liberals and the New Democrats (NDP). On a provincial level–particularly in BC and Ontario–the NDP has not faired well; and some may fear that what happened in both provinces under an NDP government may happen on a federal level. However, some voters may be so fed up with the Liberals but do not want to vote Conservative that they may go with the NDP.

But then, the Liberals have been in power of some kind for the last twelve years; and, to some people, the Libs–despite all their troubles–are still doing well by the country. So it’s also entirely possible that the Libs may get another term.

Whatever happens, there won’t be a lot of happiness in Ottawa.