News & Politics - Canadian Conservative MP Jumps Ship...

**Mio** · 05-17-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Vancouver CBC

OTTAWA – Belinda Stronach, who ran for the leadership of the Conservative party in early 2004, has crossed the floor to the Liberal party and will sit in Paul Martin's cabinet.

The millionaire businesswoman becomes minister of human resources and skills development and will also help the Liberals implement the recommendations in the Gomery report when it is delivered later this year, the prime minister said Tuesday morning.

"After difficult reflection, I reached a conclusion," Stronach told reporters in Ottawa. "I cannot exaggerate how hard this was for me, but the political crisis affecting Canada is too risky and dangerous for blind partisanship."

She also said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is not sensitive to the needs of all parts of the country, and is jeopardizing national unity by allying himself to the Bloc Québécois.

"The country must come first," she said.

Stronach said that some day, the Conservatives will grow and strengthen to become a worthy challenger to the Liberals. In the meantime, she thinks her place is with a party that is more responsive to the needs of cities, women and young people.

She also said she is looking forward to tackling the Gomery recommendations when they are presented.

"Only when the people of Canada have renewed confidence and faith in the systems of government can we return to economic prosperity."

Small-L liberal in Conservative ranks

The 39-year-old Stronach is a small-L liberal who has not always been comfortable within the Conservative ranks, especially on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Last week, she said it would be unfortunate if the Liberal government fell before the 2005 budget was passed because it contained measures on municipal funding that were of great importance to her constituents in the Toronto-area riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

The former president and CEO of Magna International lost the Conservative leadership race to Stephen Harper in March 2004.

The alliance with Stronach could keep Martin's minority government alive in two key budget votes expected Thursday.

Her defection from the Conservatives gives the Liberal-NDP coalition on the budget a total of 151 votes, not including Speaker Peter Milliken, a Liberal MP who votes only in the case of a tie.

The Conservatives and Bloc have a total of 152 votes.

There are three Independent MPs, one of whom, Carolyn Parrish, has said she will vote with the Liberals. The other two, Chuck Cadman and David Kilgour, have not said which way they will vote.

'I can count,' Martin says of budget vote

"We still don't know whether the budget will pass or not, but I can count," said a visibly pleased Martin, calling Stronach a "gutsy" new part of his team.

In the June 2004 election, Stronach beat Liberal Martha Hall Findlay in her riding by 689 votes.

Martin said Hall Findlay, who has already earned the Liberal nomination for Newmarket-Aurora for the next election, has agreed to step aside in favour of Stronach.

Pressed on how her decision will affect her romantic relationship with Central Nova MP Peter MacKay, the deputy leader of the Conservatives, Stronach called that a "personal matter" that she did not intend to comment upon.

She also said she had the "greatest respect" for MacKay.

Heh, another one joins us in the dark side!

Seems that the Conservatives are slowly dwindling. Guess they finally see that they don't want Harper as leader.

AlexEvans · 05-17-2005, 04:59 PM

What I want to know is what her boyfriend thinks about this!

I guess probably no election, then.

notzool · 05-17-2005, 06:51 PM

I really try not to be hard on this lady , but when daddy can almost buy you an election you really have to wonder. She really cannot be any worse than the good ole boy network that's been running the show I guess. At least she knows how to run a business which is more than you can say for about 99% of politicians.

Maggie aka Sarah · 05-21-2005, 01:57 PM

Mrs George: Maybe perhaps this is a sign that the Conservatives are beginning to realize that Harper isn't the best leader for them.

Hey... if Peter MacKay were leader of the Conservative Party... I would vote for them. Would never vote for Harper though.

AlexEvans: In all this mess about the only person who I feel sorry for is Peter MacKay as he seems like he is a nice guy. Must be very difficult for him to have so many people discussing his personal life. Though cynically speaking... politics wise... that interview that he did about the whatever on the family farm... with his dog at his side.... probably helped his image a great deal.

notzool: I figure that Belinda Stonach is no better and no worse then most of the other politicians in Ottawa and just may have more principles then most. It was disloyal to the Conservative Party to switch sides in such a dramatic fashion in the manner that she did. But then again... I have the feeling that if Harper and his buddies had treated her with more respect... that she probably wouldn't have switched sides.

She always has been clear that she has moderate viewpoints on stuff like abortion and gay marriage. From my point of view... the Conservatives need all the moderates that they can get. Doesn't seem like Harper is all that interested in being moderate. Seems to me that he wants to get elected by pretending to be moderate... and would probably push his right wing agenda if the Conservatives were to be elected.

Also sort of bothers me just how quickly Harper started making cracks about Belinda Stronach not being known for understanding complex whatevers. Sounded like sexism to me.

Also sort of bothers me that it's been mentioned so many times that Belinda Stronach inherited her money. Like ummm.... did Paul Martin work for all the money he has? Did Pierre Trudeau? A lot of the politicians in Canada have inherited wealth. Seems that that whatever is a plus... if you are a guy... and a reason to make pot shots... if you happen to be a woman. Especially a blonde woman.

Though CTV did report the other night that Stronach was sighted in an Ottawa bar the night of the vote.... dancing to Madonna's "Material Girl." So it seems like maybe she is a weathly blonde... with a sense of humour.

Maggie

pinch990 · 05-21-2005, 02:37 PM

Paul Martin's dad was in politics. So, probably he didn't work THAT hard.


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