Mississauga MP Carolyn Parrish predicted that Martin will twist the arms of his 69 cabinet ministers and junior ministers to back him on missile defence.

And Parrish said the vote will be skewed by brown-nosing new MPs itching to impress the PM.

"It would make it look like it's a 2-1 vote in the House of Commons for missile defence, and I don't think if you went into the hearts of most of the MPs you'd get that," Parrish said yesterday after the weekly Liberal caucus meeting.

"We're good Liberals, we didn't want to go the war in Iraq, and I doubt if we want to waste money on something as foolish as this."

Parrish called on Martin to buck a Conservative amendment to the throne speech which forces a vote on the controversial program and make an executive decision.

"Let it rest on his shoulders," Parrish said. "I don't want him to get the moral certitude out of a rigged vote in the House of Commons."

Martin has moved Canada towards participating in the U.S. missile shield, ramping up talks with the Americans to carve out a Canadian role.

Left-leaning Liberals, including Infrastructure Minister John Godfrey, have vocally opposed joining the program in the past.

Godfrey said he's now bound by cabinet rules that require all ministers to back the PM and speak with one voice.

'Rules of the game'

Godfrey said he'll make his case in the confines of cabinet but won't hesitate to vote against his convictions if the PM demands it.

"I will go with cabinet solidarity because that's the rules of the game," Godfrey said.

Liberal MPs will be expected to vote in line with the PM when they tackle the Conservative throne speech amendment Monday.