Trudeau's minority lasted as long as it did thanks to support from the New Democratic Party (in return for the implementation of some
NDP policies), while Harper's was aided by disarray in the opposition Liberal Party — Paul Martin's resignation, a lengthy and divisive
leadership convention, and the unwillingness of the new leader, Stephane Dion, to defeat Harper until the Grits had begun to reduce their party and personal debts, and developed new policies (notably the Green Shift).
More quietly, Alberta backbencher Heather Sweet led a successful bid to quash a
convention resolution to ban tankers off British Columbia's north coast, promoted by the riding association of MP Nathan Cullen, a past
NDP leadership contender and a western power broker.