Belinda Stronach Quitting Politics

She’s been at the centre of some of the most lively twists and turns in politics over the last four years.  

But now the woman who made a name for herself by ditching her lover, switching parties and managing to win when some thought she couldn’t, is hanging it up on the Hill.

Belinda Stronach confirmed Wednesday she won’t be running again as the candidate for Newmarket-Aurora when the next federal election is called.

But there won’t be any tag days for this very prominent leading lady. She’ll become the new executive vice-chair of her father’s Magna International conglomerate instead.

The MP claims her decision was made after careful consideration and pleas from business execs to leave the federal playground and come back to the world of big business.

“After being encouraged by members of the corporate leadership at Magna to return, I have decided that the timing of my return to the business should not be delayed,” she explains.

Stronach claims her exit is for the “time being” and adds that she’ll “now take part in public life in a different way.”

“I spoke to Stephane Dion this morning and informed him of my decision, and he was disappointed,” she admits.  

She didn’t stay on the federal scene all that long, but she certainly made an impression. When she first announced plans to run for federal politics, some greeted her intentions with outright laughter.

But she fooled many, getting elected by the narrowest of margins over Martha Hall Findley in 2004.

She had also run for the leadership of the newly merged Alliance and Progressive Conservatives, a race she would ultimately lose. But while many didn’t take her seriously, she eventually became one of Ontario’s most prominent Tories.

It was a position she wouldn’t occupy for all that long.

In a shocking turn of events, she switched parties to the Liberals in May 2005, temporarily saving the government of Paul Martin from falling on a vote of confidence over the federal budget.

The move apparently came at a great cost – she had been seeing Peter MacKay, then the deputy Conservative leader. Their relationship crumbled under the switch and MacKay would later retreat to his Nova Scotia hometown to lick his wounds.

She’s since been linked to everyone from Bill Clinton to Tie Domi.

Stronach claims she’s anxious to help the struggling auto sector during a time when the “economy is in a period of great challenge.”

But she doesn’t let her headline making past stand in her way. “Well, I’m actually quite proud of the track record, but let my actions speak for my track record,” she suggests.

How is all this playing with the folks in her riding?

“She let us down last time, I would say,” one man reflects. “She went with the Liberals, and I was always Conservative to tell the truth.”

“I think she was a coward, to trade from one to another, and now she sees it going rough and she decides to change again,” criticizes another.

But at least one voter appreciates what she tried to do, preferring to recall Belinda’s short reign as the sacrifice of “a young woman who wanted to serve her country. I don’t pay attention to anything else except for service.”

Stronach knows she’s leaving carrying a lot of heavy baggage.

“When I made the decision to enter public life, I knew that it would be public,” she admits. “I probably didn’t appreciate always how public that would be, but let me just say, you know what? I have no regrets.”

Life on Parliament Hill will definitely go on without her. But it may be a lot less interesting.

The Life & Times Of Belinda Stronach

Age: 40; born May 5, 1966.

Family: Father is one-time Liberal candidate Frank Stronach, who founded the multibillion-dollar Magna; raised in Aurora, Ontario; twice divorced; two children from first marriage, to a Magna executive; second marriage to Norwegian Olympic speedskater.

Education: One year at York University in Toronto.

Private career: Former CEO of Magna International; National Post named her most powerful businesswoman in Canada in 2001; Fortune magazine ranked her No. 2 in its 2002 list of world’s most powerful women in business.

Politics: Helped push Conservative-Alliance merger, then ran second to Stephen Harper in March 2004 Conservative leadership contest; first elected to House of Commons in June 2004 federal election in Newmarket-Aurora riding north of Toronto; defected to governing Liberals in May 2005; appointed Human Resources minister; re-elected Jan. 23, 2006.

Policies: Supports lower taxes, leaner government; opposed decriminalization of marijuana; supports gay marriage.

Famous Last Words

There has been a lot written and said about Stronach since she threw her hat into the political ring back in 2004. Here are just a few choice quotes.

“She’s buried herself.”
Tory Leader Stephen Harper after Stronach defected in May 2005 from the Tories and joined the Liberals.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going away.”
Stonach to reporters after announcing she won’t run for the leadership of the federal Liberal party.

“I’m not just Paul Martin in a cocktail dress.”
Stronach at leadership rallies for the Tories.

“I was first kind of shocked. Then obviously really disappointed. To call a woman their dog is wrong and — as a mother, as a person —  I find it shameful — And disgraceful.”
Stronach after Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, a boyfriend until her defection to the Liberals, was alleged to have indirectly referred to her as a dog during a rowdy exchange in the Commons.

“No. You can’t turn back the clock. I look forward to the future. That’s the kind of person I am.”
Stronach, asked if she ever regretted dating MacKay.

“I do find it somewhat appalling that such crude language can be used in particular by a former public official. And thank goodness he no longer represents Canadians.”
Stronach after political commentator Norman Spector, a former chief of staff to Brian Mulroney , referred to her a bitch on a Vancouver radio show.

“Am I a political dilettante? I’m here to roll up my sleeves and work hard.”
Stronach’s response to criticism she lacked political experience running for leadership of the Conservative party.