Liberal MP with Tory advisory role will not defect: Dion

Amid speculation that a Liberal MP is planning to cross the floor to join the Conservatives, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion told the CBC Friday he is confident there will be no such defection and that the MP is a "committed Liberal."

Contrary to reports that Mississauga-Streetsville Liberal MP Wajid Khan had been wooed over by the Tories, Dion said Friday, "in politics you hear many things and to me, Mr. Khan is a colleague. He will be part of the caucus; he will work in a positive way."

An apparentpoint of contention arose over Khan's dual role as a Liberal caucus member and special adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Middle East and Afghanistan affairs. Dion had reportedly told Khan he would have to give up the advisory role in order to remain a Liberal MP.

Khan accepted the appointment under Harper in August, stressing his role as an adviser to the Tory government would remain non-partisan and that he sought approval from then Liberal leader Bill Graham beforehand.

Speaking to the CBC Friday, Dion made clear his position that it isn't appropriate for MPs to accept mandates from the Prime Minister while in the opposition.

"To me, we co-operate with the government, but we are not the government," he said, also noting that "I cannot blame [Khan] for something that happened before I became the leader."

Using information from anonymous sources, Tory blogger Stephen Taylor posted a report on his site Thursdaysaying Khan "is expected to make a formal announcement tomorrow and will likely describe that he is switching parties because of the 'values' that the Prime Minister represents."

Khalid Sagheer, president of Khan's riding association, immediately denied any such announcement was forthcoming and Taylor followed up with an update commenting that Liberals were working hard to keep Khan in their caucus.

Dion acknowledged he was aware of the blog report, but he maintained Friday that he had "no indication" that Khan would leave and that he planned to meet with Khan to discuss the matter.