Ministers' Rumoured Departure Shows Lack of Confidence in Tories' Electoral Chances

Grumblings among cabinet ministers could be a sign that there’s little hope the Conservatives will form a stable government at the next election.

The surprise resignation of former environment minister Jim Prentice, recent antics from Defence Minister Peter MacKay, and rumours that Heritage Minister James Moore will defect to the B.C. Liberals are fueling speculation that top Conservatives feel their chances of forming a stable government in the near future are very slim. Current polls show that the Tories could win as little as 103 seats in the next election, which would leave them extremely vulnerable to ouster by a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition. At best the Tories will have a shaky minority government, and there are increasing signs the most talented ministers would rather try their hands at other ventures than take the rudder of ship in such uncertain waters.