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Towle, especially, has some explaining to do. She was one of the government’s fiercest critics, in public and private, until just a few days ago. Now she’s part of the same government.

Smith gave Towle every chance to shine as a Wildrose star. Now, her sense of betrayal is understandable.

With the official Opposition caucus restive and many party members unhappy with her leadership, the floor-crossings are like a stake through the heart. They make everything much tougher for Smith.

So, why did Towle do it?

She tells a story of being pushed and pulled at the same time. Troubles in Smith’s Wildrose party pushed her away, while her own constituents and Prentice’s leadership pulled her forward.

“It started with my constituents, mainly,” she says, referring to her Innisfail-Sylvan Lake riding.

“People who support me — Wildrose people — were telling me they like the premier and what he’s doing. They didn’t support the negative campaigning from Wildrose in the byelections. They want the premier to have a chance to do the things he says he’ll do.”

“They thought I could do a better job for my riding as part of the government. And I agreed.”

Towle does not act triumphant or pretend to be happy. In fact, she sounds miserable. And to hear her tell it, she was discontented long before deciding to cross the aisle.

“I didn’t like a lot of what was happening at the convention” in Red Deer earlier this month, she says. “A group of party members were basically trying dominate the caucus, telling MLAs how we should vote and what we should do.”