David Price and Diane St. Jacques have announced plans to join the Liberal Party.

Caucus Chairman Rick Borotski delivered the bad news Monday night, on the same day their leader Joe Clark was busy trying to win a Nova Scotia byelection.

"It sucks," said Borotsik, a Manitoba Tory, who believes Prime Minister Chretien is preparing to call a snap fall election.

"It's not good timing for us," said New Brunswick MP Gilles Bernier. "They could wait until Christmas to give Mr. Clark a chance to perform in the House. We're going to be on a big high right now."

Price won the right to represent the riding of Compton-Stanstead in June, 1997. He's a former electrical contractor, and served as the Mayor of Lennoxville for eight years prior to his successful federal bid. While Price served on the PC association in Sherbrooke, he was also a member of the St. Francois Provincial Liberal Riding Association.

St. Jacques is also a first time MP. Following her win in the riding of Shefford, St. Jacques was appointed as Conservative critic for International Cooperation and La Francophonie and the National Initiative for Children.

The Conservatives have lost three MPs since Joe Clark was elected leader of the party two years ago.