A formal announcement to this effect was made on Friday by Harper himself saying that he welcomes Khan as a Conservative member of Canada's new government.

"Despite our past partisan differences, I have always been impressed with Wajid Khan's intelligence, inspiring life story and his obvious love of our country," Harper said in a statement from Ottawa. "I would like to formally welcome him to the Conservative Caucus."

As he was named Harper's Advisor, and he started working, the prime minister said, "Both of us began to realise that politically, we have a lot in common."

Harper's minority government needs all the political support possible and one addition to their rank is significant. Currently Conservatives are 125 in a 308-Member Parliament; Liberals are 101, Block Quebecois 51; NDP 29 and there are two independents.

"I have come to admire the prime minister and his government over the last year," said Khan. "Eventually I came to the conclusion that my ideals and priorities, and the interests of my constituents, would be better served if I sat as a Conservative MP."

To him Harper is "...the best leader for Canada" and sadly for him "...the Liberal Party has moved away from people like me... who believe in free enterprise, support for families and a stronger, more assertive Canada on the world stage."

Khan was first elected to the House of Commons as Liberal MP in 2004 from Mississauga-Streetsville (in Mississauga, ON), and re-elected January 2006 from the same federal riding.

Khan was born in Pakistan and prior to migrating to Canada, served as a fighter pilot with Pakistan's Air Force.