More than 50 liberals broke rank today and rebelled against Jean Chretien. This is a landmark day in Canadian politics.

It was a vote on a procedural matter. From now on committee chairs will be elected by secret ballot.

Colby Cosh sums it all up very well.

This is a blow to Chretiens authority. He needs to get out with some dignity. When a PM is stood up to by his back benchers, he is a leader without authority who can have a government that drifts. Well, not that they aren’t drifting, but you get my drift.