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                                                                       May 15-21

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	Prime Minister Paul Martin tries to quell the cheers of his caucus after the Liberals turned back a non-confidence motion in the House of Commons May 19 by a vote of 153-152
	Conservative leader Stephen Harper consoles his caucus after a Tory motion of non-confidence in the government was defeated by one vote in the House of Commons May 19. "While tonight's vote is an unfortunate result for this country at the moment," he said," it will provide us Conservatives with persuasive arguments for change when Canadians finally and inevitably head to the polls."
	A small crowd gathers around the entrance to the House of Commons May 19 as the Liberal government survives a non-confidence motion by the narrowest of margins.
	Former Conservative MP Belinda Stronach, who crossed the floor May 17 to join the Liberals, was seated beside Scott Brison at the party's caucus gathering on Parliament Hill May 19.  Brison defected to the Liberals in 2003.

File photo

Conservative MP Belinda Stronach crossed the floor of the House of Commons May 17 to join Liberal MPs under Prime Minister Paul Martin. The move came  just two days before a budget vote that could topple the government. In doing so Stronach was named to the cabinet as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal.

File photo

Former Opposition Leader Preston Manning has received an honourary Doctor of Divinity degree from Tyndale University College & Seminary. The honor was conferred at the university's graduation ceremony at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto on May 7. It is in recognition of his "long-standing commitment to politics, faith and community," said Archie McLean, chair of the Board of Governors. "In awarding Mr. Manning the Doctor of Divinity, the board recognizes the importance of Christian faith in all of life," he said.

"ALONG CAME A SPIDER" A giant spider appears to be headed toward Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa May 15. In reality it is Maman, a 9.25 metre bronze sculpture, erected over the weekend outside the National Gallery of Canada opposite the cathedral. The work of art by Louise Bourgeois cost the gallery $3.2 million.

	(As above)
	Princess Margriet of the Netherlands walked past seas of tulips at Commissioners Park in Ottawa for a ceremony May 13 unveiling a plaque commemorating the liberation of the Netherlands. The princess was born in Ottawa after her mother, now Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, found refuge in Canada's capital during the occupation of her homeland from 1940-1945. The queen's gifts of thousand of tulips each year led to the creation of the annual Canadian Tulip Festival.
	(As above)
	Each year the National Capital Commission plants more than 300,000 tulips at Commissioners Park in Ottawa, the official site of the Canadian Tulip Festival.
	An artist captures on canvas some of the more than 300,000 tulips planted at Commissioners Park in Ottawa, the official site of the Canadian Tulip Festival.
	Thousands of tulips adorn Parliament Hill in Ottawa during the Canadian Tulip Festival, which continues until May 23.
	(As above)