Another MP switches to Liberal party, elections may be called in Canada

OTTAWA (Reuters) -- Another member of Canada's Parliament left the opposition benches to join the governing Liberals Wednesday, as rumors intensified that a snap election would be called.

Rick Laliberte, previously a member of the left-leaning New Democratic Party, was unexpectedly presented to reporters by a joyful Prime Minister Jean Chretien after the weekly Liberal caucus Wednesday.

Laliberte represents the Churchill River constituency in Saskatchewan in Western Canada.

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The Liberals, in power since 1993, now hold 160 of the 301 seats in the House of Commons. It would take a loss of only 10 seats in the next election for them to become a minority government. Two members of the Conservative Party defected to the Liberals earlier this month.

The Canadian Alliance party has 58 members of Parliament, the separatist Bloc Quebecois 44, and the Conservatives 15. The NDP has 19, and there are five independent members.

Laliberte, who is of aboriginal descent, said he was approached by the Liberals, and stressed he could contribute more to his country and people by joining the government rather than sticking with the NDP.

"The NDP has certainly not been able to make a government. It is a wake up call for them," he said.

He said it was also a personal challenge for him and promised to fight for aboriginal rights.

"To be in a government is a crucial instrument to making change to making changes. That is what I have to experience," he said.

Chretien, 66, is not required to call and election until the middle of 2002, and many of his own Liberals have told him he should have a compelling reason to go to the electorate this fall.

Laliberte said the timing was right for him to help seek a nomination meeting before the election call, but stressed it was very hard for him to explain his decision to the NDP caucus and party leader Alexa McDonough.

McDonough denounced his decision, saying she was "profoundly disappointed" by his dismissal of "the trust people placed in him as a New Democrat".

"He has chosen not to respect the will of his electors who chose to send an NDP member of Parliament to Ottawa," she wrote in a terse statement.

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