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Independent MP Carolyn Parrish vowed Thursday to make a crucial confidence vote in the House of Commons despite illness, saying she would be there even “if she has to crawl,” a spokesman said.

Early reports suggested Ms. Parrish — whose support is crucial to the survival of the minority Liberal government — could be absent because she was sick.

Spokesman Brian MacDonald, reached at Ms. Parrish's Mississauga constituency office early Thursday, confirmed the MP is not well but insisted she has no plans to miss Thursday's vote.

“You can quote me on this, she's going to make the vote if she has to crawl,” Mr. MacDonald said.

He said Ms. Parrish, now in Ottawa, is suffering either from a cyst that's about to burst or a kidney stone, not appendicitis as earlier reported.

“She's in a hell of a lot of pain,” he said. “She had a doctor look at her.”

Thursday's developments were just the latest in what promises to be a long day leading up the early evening vote.

At issue is the Liberal minority government's efforts to pass its budget and an amendment which incorporates concessions to the NDP.

The Conservative Opposition has said it won't support the amendment, a move which would trigger the fall of the government.

Ms. Parrish has said she would side with the minority Liberals on Thursday's vote.

The Liberals and NDP combined have 151 seats versus the 152 for the Conservatives and Bloc.

With Parrish's vote, the two sides would be tied, leaving the fate of the government in the hands of two other independents Chuck Cadman and David Kilgour.

Reports have suggested that Mr. Cadman, based on his constituents' opposition to a snap election, was leaning toward siding with the Liberals, while Mr. Kilgour has said he won't make up his mind until just before entering the House of Commons.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Paul Martin said the PMO's office had no direct word on Ms. Parrish's health.

“We're not commenting on that stuff,” spokesman Marc Roy said. “It will be clear this evening if she votes or not and there's plenty of time until then, speculating in the meantime gives absolutely no purpose whatsoever.”

Ms. Parrish was a former Liberal backbencher. She was ousted from caucus last year by Prime Minister Paul Martin because of controversial comments she made on the state of Canada-U.S. relations.

Earlier this week, former Conservative Belinda Stronach shocked the nation with news that she was crossing the floor to the Liberals to become a cabinet minister. That was followed Wednesday by more drama on Parliament Hill when Liberal Jim Karygiannis was rushed to hospital complaining of chest pains. He later received a bill of clean health and is expected to be in the House for Thursday's vote.