This morning, apparently quite out of the blue, Conservative MP Belinda Stronach defected to the Liberal party. Dreamy! The move means that the Liberal minority government that has been in power since June 2004 may actually have a chance of surviving the summer.

This is what I've been waiting for since the Liberals won the election. Finally, finally, the NDP will have a chance to affect national policy. This is great news for those of us who have no money, and those of us who make our livings in the not-for-profit arts world (explaining why we have no money). The government has to care what we think, and has to think before they act.

The Conservative party's leader, Stephen Harper, is livid, of course. He claims she's just doing it for the power, and that she's screwed her career. Well, like any good strategist, she's taking advantage of a very good opportunity. I mean, hello! Has he never watched even one episode of Survivor? I hope the budget passes this Thursday and her ballsy move pays off.

I knew she was good people when she appeared on Monday Report all those times. Mmmm . . . Rick Mercer. . . .

Monday Report on CBC
Belinda's one-page website