(CP) Joe Clark, the embattled leader of Canada's Progressive Conservatives, got another dose of bad news today. In a massive defection, all 5 of Clark's Nova Scotia Tory MP's defected to Ottawa's newest party. No, not the Canadian Alliance, but the separatist Cole Harbour Separation Front.
Former Tory House leader, and now CHSF leader in the Commons, Peter McKay summed up the defections like this: "We all knew the Tory boat was sinking, and that nobody's seat was safe. So, we wanted to go to a party where we could be sure of re-election, and be able to focus on our business on the Hill. The CHSF, with it's strong roots here in Nova Scotia, was that party and we're glad to be a part of bringing better government and more devolution to the traditional homelands of the Cole Harbourite people." The move was received well by CHSF leader John DeWolfe, and helps give his party a presence in the Commons. There had been pressure on DeWolfe to run in the byelection in Saint John's East in order to raise his party's profile, but this raises CHSF prestige without putting DeWolfe in the possibly embarassing situation of losing a byelection.
The leaders of the fifth and sixth parties struck very different notes, with a jubilant DeWolfe saying "This marks a proud day in the history of Cole Harbour nationalism. We are a legitimate force in federal politics, we are here to stay.", while the Tories' Clark stated "Someone shoot me now, please." The defection leaves the Tories in fifth place in the Commons, but with only 12 seats - barely enough to be officially recognized as a party. The CHSF now has 5 MPs in Ottawa.
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