Embattled Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day moved quickly Wednesday to fill holes in his party's front bench left by high-profile resignations this week.

He made the appointments during a closed-door caucus meeting in Ottawa, where his leadership was expected to be debated.

The new faces are: Grant Hill as deputy leader, John Reynolds as House leader, Randy White as caucus chair and Cheryl Gallant as deputy House leader. Dick Harris replaces Reynolds as party whip.

Earlier, Day's supporters rallied around him as they headed into the meeting.

Reynolds told CBC Morning that in spite of Tuesday's resignations by top caucus members, Day still has solid support among Alliance MPs.

"An overwhelming majority of our caucus supports the leader," Reynolds said.

MPs who spoke publicly as they went into the meeting backed up that assessment.

Said another MP, as he ran the gauntlet of reporters and television cameras packing the hall outside the caucus room, "You don't stop farming because of one hailstorm."

"There will be no disintegration of the Canadian Alliance party," MP Howard Hillstrom declared. But he admitted that the resignations were "a blow."

Dissidents stand firm

The caucus meeting was expected to hear from dissenters such as Art Hanger and Val Meredith, who have both publicly called for Day to step down, saying the party is floundering.

Before the meeting, Hanger told CBC Morning, "Our party has gone from a position of strength prior to the election to one that is now floundering in the basement. If these issues aren't addressed as to why and I believe they focus around Mr. Day's leadership then we will continue to keep going from crisis to crisis, from pillar to post."

"Quite frankly, the problem seems to be the leader's office," said Meredith. "And so we need to deal with that. The easiest way, of course would be for Mr. Day to step aside, to allow an interim leader to take over."

Senior lieutenants step down

On Tuesday, the Alliance was rocked by news that party stalwarts Deborah Grey and Chuck Strahl were leaving their senior posts as deputy leader and House leader, respectively. They were joined shortly after by Grant McNally, who quit as deputy House leader.

Day has said he has no intention of stepping down.