Goodbye Belinda...

Not long ago, there would be derision in those words responding to Belinda Stronach’s announcement, earlier this week, she would not be running for Parliament again. And yes, I am chuckling at yet another headache for Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, by this example shown by the person Dion tasked with getting more women to run as Liberal candidates in the next election (sorry, but I simply can’t resist the obvious jab…). And yet I'm finding I will miss Belinda's presence in Canadian politics.

When I heard the announcement, that feeling of regret and loss surprised the heck out of me, because I hadn’t realized that my views on Belinda have were slowly climbing, rollercoaster-like, once again. I first became aware of her by hearing of her behind-the-scenes involvement in trying to unite Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance (former Reform Party). Such a union was vitally necessary if Canadians were ever again to be given a real national alternative to the governing Liberals, and I honoured her efforts to play a role in making that union happen. I was also very impressed with her run for the leadership of the new Conservative Party and her subsequent election as MP, even though she had not won the race.

And, frankly, it was good to see her, as a Conservative MP, continuing to speak up for some values shared by me, and other Conservatives I know of, even if our leader didn’t always see them that way. It seemed to prove to me the Conservative Party was indeed worthy of my support and was big enough to incorporate a diversity of views that Canadians expect from a party with aspirations to govern and not just oppose.

Then, of course, came the jarring crash caused by her decision to cross the floor to prop up Paul Martin’s minority government on the eve before a crucial non-confidence vote that he was likely to lose by the slimmest of margins. Her acceptance of the Ministry of Human Resources in exchange for preserving Mr. Martin’s government was, in my view, a particularly low point in Canadian politics and I remained both angry and contemptuous of her for a long time afterwards.

I’m not sure at what point my opinion of her began to improve. Looking back, I think it was partly due to how well she withstood the abuse hurled at her at the time and afterwards (particularly her low-keyed response to Peter MacKay's 'dog' comment when some of her colleagues were almost frenzied with hysteria). Also, unlike many who switch parties, her decision was eventually sustained by her constituents in Newmarket-Aurora in the subsequent election, and also partly because she ultimately failed to follow Scott Brison’s ridiculous attempt to have run for the leadership of two separate parties in recent years.

But I think what really prompted my feeling of regret this week is my memories of how she has never been afraid to stand up and express her opinions. Sure, some of those opinions have received (and maybe even deserved) a critical and condescending response from the media and elsewhere. But I find it most praiseworthy how she didn't let negative responses intimidate her into silence or, even worse, the the petulance shown by others who have changed parties (I'm thinking of Scott Brison and Garth Turner here). Also, while Belinda's always had access to a big microphone since entering politics (a much bigger microphone than most rookie MPs or Cabinet Ministers have), to my mind she rarely abused it the way so many of her colleagues did and do to talk ‘down’ to Canadians in general. Throughout her short and often-stormy political career, she has shown an independence and strength of spirit I wish I saw in more of her colleagues on all sides of the House of Commons.

I certainly can’t blame her for leaving. After all, her political prospects would currently seem to indicate a continued period in opposition. Or, in a best-case scenario, she might hope to receive a Ministry in another shaky minority Liberal government under a leader who (again) is so far proving to be a disappointment to members of his own party. When you compare those prospects to what’s happening at Magna with their potential acquisition of Chrysler, it's no wonder she’s jumping at the chance to return to an influential decision-making role in corporate life. So, while I wish her well, I can’t help but feel that political life in this country is being lessened a bit by her departure. And I find, to my surprise, I will miss her in the next Parliament.