Harper, a resolute conservative who has clashed with the more moderate Stronach on social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, appeared ashen-faced when he met reporters after her announcement.
"There's no grand principle involved in this decision: just ambition," he said.
The Conservatives badly needed the young suburbanite from Ontario to help them carry seats in the traditionally Liberal province.
"It's really, really gotta hurt," Simeon said, noting several other Conservatives may now vote to pass the budget, which promises new spending for infrastructure and social spending in their electorates.
Stronach warned two weeks ago that defeating the federal budget might backfire. She said critical portions of the budget -- particularly the billions of dollars promised for municipal infrastructure -- were extremely important to her north Toronto constituency.
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