belinda stronach and the little things

leading up to last weeks budget vote with the potential for a vote of non-confidence and the ensuing fall of the minorty liberal government, stronach crossed the floor to join the liberal party. now, this sort of thing happens from time to time in canadian government (as well as MP's leaving their own party to stand as an independent member), but i really think this is the first time someone left their party on the eve of such an important vote, especially when they had previously ran for leadership of that party. (jean charest's situation was not the same, leave a comment if you want to debate it)

personally, i'm not a liberal (i grew up in alberta through the trudeau years - and the west's perception of trudea-mania is somewhat different than most other parts of the country) and i'm also not a conservative. i do not belong to any political party - and find myself voting NDP or Green Party most of the time - however, I do try to make sure i cast my voting rights for the candidate in my riding that seems to make the most sense... (often a fruitless endeavour). i like the idea of democratic capitalism with a socialist conciousness - otherwise known as utopia.

looking at the fallout and the media coverage stronach's decision, i was sickened. if a man made this same controvercial move - would we hear about who he'd been sleeping with in the party and bits and pieces about the end of that relationship? i honestly think we wouldn't. would we have quotes about a man 'whoring himself out for power"? or that he was an "attractive dipstick"? (not even really sure WHAT the hell that comment meant, thanks for adding to the filth anyway, bob runciman).

it's those little things, those little comments and digs that make it very clear that sexism is not only alive and well - but rampant in today's political landscape. to me, that's the bigger issue. sure it's difficult to fuly believe stronach's statements that the main reason she defected wqas because she seeing more and more that the conservative party under stephen harper would never understand the complexities of canada (did she NOT know that prior to running in the last election under harper?). but i think the real reason she crossed the floor is that she wants to be prime minister. and she knows that she's ultimately too left for the conservative party rank and file and i think she also has her eye on the gomrey hearings.

yes, i've over-simplified - but my personal belief is that paul martin will be implicated through the gomrey commission and that his career will be over. and stronach with her high profile will potentially be poised to make a credible and successful run for the leadership of the liberal party. and canada being canada (or more specifically, ontario being ontario) we know already that the next election will most likely bring in another liberal goverment. and chances are it will be a majority this time - canadian's don't like the uncertainty that a minorty government brings.

[music : david usher, "everything is alright by me now"]