A high-profile member of Canada's opposition Conservative party has unexpectedly defected to the ruling Liberal cabinet to improve the odds that Prime Minister Paul Martin's government will survive a crucial budget vote this week.
Belinda Stronach, who was considered a leading light among the Conservatives, joined Martin's cabinet as minister of human resources and will vote with the government on the budget on Thursday.
If Martin loses that vote, there will be an election.
The startling development leaves the Liberals and their allies with 152 legislators in the 308-seat House of Commons - plus the speaker - compared with 152 for the Conservatives and the separatist Bloc Quebecois.
As a result, if one of two undecided independent members of Parliament votes for the Liberals and the other goes with the Conservatives, the outcome would be a 153-153 tie, and the Liberal speaker would cast the deciding vote. One seat is vacant.
Stronach's defection is a big blow to Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who says a government corruption scandal shows Canada should go to the polls immediately.
"Obviously, Belinda's actions today make the defeat of the government on Thursday much less likely," Harper told a news conference. He said Stronach had left because she realised she could not become leader of the party.
Harper's serious demeanor and unsmiling persona attracted heavy media fire and Ottawa was awash in rumors that other Conservatives might be wavering.