On openings

One of the NDP's strongest pickup opportunities just got even juicier, as Stephane Dion has expelled Thunder Bay—Superior North MP Joe Comuzzi from the Libs' caucus for planning to support the Cons' budget:

Former cabinet minister Joe Comuzzi has been expelled from the federal Liberal caucus for pledging to support the Conservative government's budget.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says it's parliamentary tradition that MPs toe the party line on important confidence votes such as the budget. The Liberals plan to oppose the budget when it comes to a vote in the House of Commons soon.

Comuzzi, who represents Thunder Bay, Ont., will now sit as an Independent.

He is not planning to run in the next election.

With Comuzzi not planning to run again, the Libs won't face the danger of him taking another shot as an independent or jumping to the Cons. (And the latter course of action would seem to be the only way for the Cons to have much chance of winning a seat where they've never ranked higher than a distant third.)

But his expulsion is bound to divide Lib voters in the riding among those who have historically supported Comuzzi personally, and those whose primary allegiance is to the party. And that can only be good news for the NDP's chances of taking the seat.