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By Keith Leslie, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Federal New Democrats were stunned Tuesday when one of their most well-liked and respected caucus members announced he's quitting to join Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal team.

Sudbury MP Glen Thibeault's surprise defection capped what's been a dispiriting couple of years for Tom Mulcair's New Democrats, whose claim to be the government-in-waiting has been usurped by Justin Trudeau's revived Liberal party.

In a statement announcing his intention to run for the provincial Liberals in a soon-to-be-called byelection, Thibeault stressed his belief that he can do more for his constituents as a member of the province's governing party.

He didn't mention the NDP but the implication seemed clear: Thibeault doesn't believe the New Democrats are likely to form the government after next year's federal election.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to serve my community for the past six years at the federal level but my time at the federal level has come to an end," Thibeault said.

"I am excited by the opportunity to continue that representation in a new, exciting way. I believe I can make an even greater difference for the constituents of Sudbury as a member of this Ontario Liberal government."

Late on Tuesday, Thibeault told the CBC's Power and Politics that it was no secret among those who know him that he hasn't "been seeing eye to eye on a lot of the things that have been happening at the federal level and with the NDP."

Thibeault said he told Mulcair on Sunday that he was considering some options, but didn't get a chance to tell him of his decision to jump to the Ontario Liberals before the news became public Tuesday morning, at which point he sent Mulcair an email informing him of his move.

Until recently, Thibeault was chair of the NDP caucus, an elected position that reflected his popularity among his fellow New Democrat MPs. He stepped down two weeks ago, citing the need to spend more time with his young children.

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New Democrats angry MP joins Ontario Liberals

Liberals Making the Difference - A Project on Roma Integration (trailer)
With a total number of 10-12 million, the Roma are the largest minority group in Europe. At the same time, they are arguably the least integrated ethnic group in most countries of their residence....

By: European Liberal Forum (ELF)

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Liberals Making the Difference - A Project on Roma Integration (trailer) - Video

OTTAWAJustin Trudeaus Liberals are in majority government territory, according to the latest survey from Forum Research.

The Forum poll, conducted Dec. 10 and 11, found that more than four in 10 respondents would vote Liberal if an election were held today.

The Liberals now sit at 41 per cent, a five-point jump from Forums polling in November. The Conservatives were second, with 33 per cent of respondents saying theyd vote for Prime Minister Stephen Harpers party.

The opposition New Democrats, led by Thomas Mulcair, are polling a distant third. Less than a fifth of respondents (17 per cent) said they would vote for the NDP, largely unchanged from November.

Forums poll positions have not changed since March 2013, when Trudeau took over the third-place Liberals. But over the last six months, the Conservatives have narrowed the gap.

Throughout the period, Mulcairs NDP has remained in third place. The Forum poll notes, however, that Mulcairs personal approval rating has increased to 42 per cent. Among approval for party leaders, Mulcair is polling second, with Trudeau at 46 per cent and Harper at 34 per cent.

The Liberals are polling ahead in Quebec and Ontario, two vote-rich provinces crucial for success in the 2015 federal election. Their lead in both provinces is narrow, however.

In Ontario, 42 per cent of respondents said theyd vote Liberal, with 38 per cent lining up behind the government. In Quebec, 37 per cent of respondents said theyd vote Liberal, while 25 per cent plan to vote NDP.

A separate poll released Monday for iPolitics had the race between Liberals and Conservatives much closer. Pollster EKOS has the Liberals at 31.8 per cent, the Conservative government at 30.8 per cent, and the New Democrats at 20 per cent.

The Forum poll surveyed 1,658 voting-aged Canadians on December 10 and 11, and is believed to be accurate within two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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Justin Trudeau's Liberals edge back up in new poll

Canadians know Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's father, Pierre, was the country's 15th prime minister. His grandfather, James Sinclair, was also a B.C. Liberal MP from 1940 to 1958 and a former minister of fisheries and oceans. But Trudeau is not the only current MP to follow in the footsteps of a family member all the way to the House of Commons.

Conservative Minister Maxime Bernier was first elected in 2006 in the Quebec riding of Beauce. The riding was held for years by none other than...

Gilles Bernier, Maxime's dad, represented Beauce for 13 years (1984-1997), first as a Progressive Conservative and then, briefly, as an Independent.

Peter MacKay has been an MP since 1997. He first represented the Nova Scotia riding of Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough but, since 2004, has been the member for Central Nova. Central Nova is a riding that was held for more than 21 years by...

Elmer MacKay, Peter's dad, represented Central Nova from 1971-1983 before stepping down so that Prime Minister Brian Mulroney could (briefly) take his spot. MacKay won again in 1984 and served until his retirement in 1993.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair was first elected in a 2007 byelection in the Quebec riding of Outremont. The win marked just the second time that the NDP had won a seat in Quebec. But, more than 100 years earlier, another member of Mulcair's family represented a different Quebec riding.

Mercier, Mulcair's great-great-grandfather, was briefly a Liberal MP from 1872 to 1874 in the Quebec riding of Rouville. Mercier later went on to become the ninth premier of Quebec.

Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc was first elected in the New Brunswick riding of BeausjourPetitcodiac in 2000. It likely didn't hurt that his father was one of the most accomplished politicians in the country.

Romo LeBlanc, Dominic's dad, was a Liberal MP from 1972-1984 in the New Brunswick riding of WestmorlandKent, which was replaced by the riding his son now represents. LeBlanc was also appointed to the Senate in 1984, where he later became Speaker. And, from 1995-1999, he served as the 25th Governor General of Canada.

Liberal MP Geoff Regan was first elected in the Nova Scotia riding of Halifax West in 1993. Though he lost his bid for re-election in 1997, he returned to the House in 2000 and has been there ever since. He also served as minister of fisheries and oceans. Like Trudeau, both Regan's father and grandfather also served as Grit MPs.

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Liberals In Majority Territory In One Poll, Neck-And-Neck With Tories In Another

A re-count of votes in the Fisher by-election in South Australia will begin this morning after Labor's Nat Cook claimed victory over the Liberals' Heidi Harris by 23 votes on Saturday.

The Liberals have raised concerns about whether ballots marked with crosses as well as numbers should be considered as valid.

Electoral Commissioner Kay Mousley said the re-count was approved to remove any doubt of a fair result.

"I think for transparency reasons it's best that we give a recount," she said.

"It is a close outcome and this way there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that we have got the right result."

She said the Liberals were concerned with some of the formality decisions.

"So we will go back through all of those informal ballot papers to ensure that there has been a determination made and it quite will be that we still won't agree, but that's fine," Ms Mousley said.

"We know the provisions of the electoral act and what is formal and what's not.

"So we'll discuss those on a case by case basis to ensure that everyone is comfortable that we've looked at the papers again and given due consideration to all those that might have been excluded from the count originally."

Political commentator Dr Clem Macintyre told 891 ABC Adelaide this morning the Liberals had nothing to lose by asking for a recount.

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Fisher by-election: Electoral commissioner Kay Mousley grants Liberal Party's request for recount of votes