Liberal MP Wajid Khan Crosses Floor To Conservatives

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Khan’s decision to cross the floor at a news conference Friday in Ottawa.

Khan, a former fighter pilot for the Pakistani military, serves as MP for the Mississauga-Streetsville riding. Last summer he was appointed as the PM’s ‘special adviser’ on the Middle East and Afghanistan.

“The more we worked together, we began to realize politically we have an awful lot in common. We both hold traditional views about the importance of family and community and we both think Canada needs to take a more assertive role in world affairs,” Harper said. “In time it became clear to me that Mr. Khan would be quite at home in the Conservative party and an excellent addition to Canada’s new government.”

Liberal leader Stephane Dion said Thursday he wouldn’t allow Khan to keep serving in the Tory post, saying it was “bizarre” for an MP to serve both the opposition and the government.

He added that it was time for Khan to choose a side. It’s unclear what part that ultimatum played in the MP’s decision.

“It has often been said, and no doubt it will be said again today, that politics makes strange bedfellows,” Khan said.

“But nothing about my decision to join the Conservative caucus feels strange to me – because I have come to admire the prime minister and his government during the last year.” 

His move is a significant one, as it shifts the balance of power in the 308-seat House of Commons to the New Democrats. The Tories, now with 125 MPs, only need the support of the 29-member NDP caucus to pass legislation.

NDP leader Jack Layton has said in the past that he’d be willing to work with Harper’s government to pass key legislation.

The appointment of Khan as special adviser was criticized as a Tory attempt to rebuild connections with the Muslim community, which were hurt when Harper supported Israel’s month-long attacks on Lebanon.

Liberals also complain that the PM took advantage of the fact that their party was without a leader at the time he offered the job to Khan.

Khan, 60, emigrated to Canada in 1974 and subsequently became a successful businessman in Toronto.

What do his constituents think of the sudden change of party venue? Not much.

“Flip-flopping is not something that I guess is considered desirable by the public,” sniffs Vik Nazarian.

“I don’t like that he crossed the floor,” agrees Robert Beaulieu. “But I think an MP should have the right.”

Party standing in the House of Commons on Friday after Liberal Wajid Khan crossed the floor to the Conservatives:

Conservative: 125
Liberal: 101
Bloc Quebecois: 51
NDP: 29
Independent: 2

Total: 308