The Harper government suffers a significant blow

They've lost one of their few competent ministers:

Environment Minister Jim Prentice is resigning from politics for a job at CIBC.

Mr. Prentice announced in the House Thursday afternoon that he is resigning his cabinet post immediately and will leave as an MP by the end of the year. He has accepted a position as vice-chairman of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

From the Globe. This is probably a sign of bad things to come for the Cons (and hence good news for Canada); the talent pool in Harper-land is awfully small. Between idiots like Stockwell Day and Rona Ambrose, and scumbags like John Baird and Vic Toews, they don't have a whole lot left. Furthermore, Prentice was one of the most moderate members of the cabinet, thus reducing the party's appeal to Lib-Con swing voters.

It's a safe bet that we haven't seen the last of Jim Prentice, though. Most likely he'll lay low until Harper crashes and burns (probably within a few years) and then come back as the party's saviour. It might even work.