Angry in the Great White North

In what can only be described as a slap in the face for Stephane Dion, Belinda Stronach has just announced her intention to leave politics, effective immediately:

Belinda Stronach has announced she won't run for re-election as member of Parliament in next election, choosing instead to return to Magna International Inc.

In a statement, Stronach said after assessing the best role she can play in public life, and, "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 said she is stepping aside from elected politics for the time being "and will now take part in public life in a different way."

Though this is not a surprise in the sense that she was not happy in her reduced role in Stephane Dion's Liberal Party, that she would leave now instead of holding her seat until the next election takes the Liberals down one more seat. It is also an insult to Stephane Dion, bringing back into sharp focus the question of Stephane Dion's ability to unite the Liberal Party and to mount an effective opposition. Martha Hall Findlay, who ran for the Liberal leadership, and who ironically stepped aside as the Liberal nominee for Aurora-Newmarket so that Belinda could run as a Liberal after crossing the floor from the Conservative Party, has been front and centre, She has been making numerous appearances on the political talk show circuit as the face of the Liberal Party, despite the fact that she does not have a seat. Perhaps the fact that Stephane Dion is clearly favouring the woman who Belinda beat in an election (when Belinda ran as a Conservative) over a former Liberal cabinet minister was the last straw for Stronach.

In any case, no word from Stephane Dion or the Liberal Party on their website, nor is any reaction being reported by the media. They've only just been told:

Belinda Stronach noted that she had informed The Honourable Stephane Dion, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Senator Marie-P.Poulin, President of the Liberal Party of Canada, of her decision earlier today. She affirmed her interest in continuing to play an active and constructive role in the growth of the Liberal Party in areas like the recruitment of women into politics, fundraising and the modernization of the Liberal Party, including one member, one vote.

A poll has Prime Minister Stephen Harper towering over the two main contenders to his throne on the issue of who would be the best national leader.

In the SES poll, Harper was picked by 42 per cent of respondents.

The shocker had Liberal Leader Stephane Dion in a virtual tie with NDP Leader Jack Layton, at 17 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Greg Weston, parliamentary columnist for the Ottawa Sun, told MDL that incumbency always gives the prime minister a boost in such polls.

Even with that caveat, however, going carefully through the details of the poll shows nothing but bad news for Dion, he said.

"In every single age group demographic -- age group, men and women -- Stephane Dion was virtually nowhere to be seen," he said.

Apparently Stephane Dion was nowhere to be seen when his high-profile MP Belinda Stronach called it quits. Typical, I suppose.

Update: Thanks to my sharp-eyed readers, a question has arisen. I missed this paragraph in the original press release:

"It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people from my community of Newmarket and Aurora and I thank them again for having placed their trust in me.

I will continue to represent the interests of the constituents I serve until such time as a federal election is called. I also plan to continue to play an active role in the community," emphasized Stronach.

Given that there might not be an election until 2009, how do you square that what appears earlier in the release?

"I am always assessing the best role I can play in public life, and, 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. My father is looking to the future, the company is facing important strategic decisions, and the Canadian and global auto sector and economy is in a period of great challenge," said Belinda Stronach. "So I am stepping aside from elected politics for the time being and will now take part in public life in a different way."

Is that position going to stay open for almost two years until an election is called? Or does "should not be delayed" mean right now? Magna is repeating the "next election" line:

Following the announcement earlier today by Belinda Stronach, the current Federal Member of Parliament for Aurora and Newmarket, that she will not be standing for re-election as a Member of Parliament in the next federal election, Ed Lumley, Magna's Lead Director commented that: "Our Board of Directors welcomes Belinda rejoining the Magna executive management team as Executive Vice-Chairman. She has extensive experience in the auto industry, has gained national and international exposure as a Minister while in Government and will bring an unparallelled understanding of Magna's unique corporate culture which has been the major contributor to Magna's historical success. As such she will be in a special position to balance the needs of all Magna stakeholders, including shareholders, employees and customers."

Co-Chief Executive Officers, Don Walker and Siegfried Wolf, stated that: "Belinda will play an important role and make a valuable contribution to Magna's ongoing success in the challenging auto industry, particularly in terms of long term strategic planning and related policy decisions, international relationships, public relations, social responsibility and employee and labour relations. Her continuing interest and experience in education and job skills training will also contribute to Magna's future global competitive success."

For Stephane Dion's sake, it had better mean sticking around and pretending to smile and clap enthusiastically when Dion speaks. Meanwhile, Belinda had better hope there is no major shakeup at Magna while she runs out the clock as MP for Aurora-Newmarket.