Belinda Stronach

Conservative leadership race

Throughout the summer and into the fall of 2003, talks were undertaken by officials of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance party with respect to a merger of those parties. Meetings between the parties were overseen by a facilitator, who was later revealed to have been Stronach. She was among many who had called for PC leader Peter MacKay and Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper to undertake the merger talks in the first place.

Related Topics:
2003 - Progressive Conservative Party - Canadian Alliance - Stephen Harper

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As a candidate for leadership of the new party, she drew a great deal of publicity to the race. Some felt that this had more to do with her being an attractive female than being a strong contender.

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Many in the media saw her first foray into politics as sophomoric, flubbing obviously-practiced lines, and approaching the podium well before the teleprompter was ready. In one of her first appearances, Stronach stood before the microphone mute for several minutes before the prompter began. Critics also accused her of being a "manufactured candidate," dependent on a high-priced network of professional campaign staff and Magna associates. Insinuations about her paid membership organizers in the province of Quebec hit particularly hard, recalling to some Tom Long's controversial 2000 Canadian Alliance leadership campaign.

Related Topics:
Teleprompter - Quebec - Tom Long - Canadian Alliance leadership campaign

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Media reaction to Stronach's candidacy, however, was also open to serious criticism. Casting Stronach as an "heiress" with a "coddled career" ? to the point of joking comparisons to Paris Hilton ? and the attention paid to her physical appearance and personal life, could be seen as patronizing and sexist. http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/expressnews/articles/ideas.cfm?p_ID=5562&s=a While the Canadian media generally prides itself on much greater reserve and discretion about the private lives of public figures than media of other countries, it paid considerable attention to rumours and innuendos about Stronach's personal life, particularly her relationship with Bill Clinton.

Related Topics:
Paris Hilton - Sexist - Bill Clinton

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Supporters touted her youth and style, corporate experience, private life as a "soccer mom", and her potential to win new and swing voters, especially moderate, socially progressive voters in the province of Ontario.

Related Topics:
Soccer mom - Swing voter - Ontario

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On February 11, 2004, she declined to participate in a debate between the Conservative party candidates, leaving Tony Clement and Stephen Harper to debate each other on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast. She later also skipped a March 14 debate on the Global Television Network. She argued that she ought only to participate in party-sponsored debates, rather than picking and choosing among those organized by outside sponsors.

Related Topics:
February 11 - 2004 - Tony Clement - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - March 14 - Global Television Network

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In her major speech at the leadership convention on March 19, 2004, she promised to serve only two terms if she became Prime Minister, and to draw no salary. She made a major gesture of "throwing away the script", but then undercut this somewhat when she was seen referring to cue cards. On March 20, 2004, she finished second to Harper with 35% of the vote.

Related Topics:
March 19 - 2004 - March 20

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In the 2004 federal election, by a margin of 689 votes, she was narrowly elected as a Member of Parliament in Ontario, representing the riding of Newmarket?Aurora. She was appointed the International Trade critic in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet.

Related Topics:
2004 federal election - Riding - Newmarket?Aurora - International Trade critic - Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet

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