Free Republic

OTTAWA (CP) - The defeat of the Paul Martin government became less likely with the stunning defection of a high-profile Tory MP into the Liberal cabinet on Tuesday. Martin sat beside a smiling Belinda Stronach at a surprise news conference and introduced her as his new human resources minister. The prime minister also said she will be in charge of implementing clean-government measures after the sponsorship inquiry reports. Stronach's departure is a blow to the Tories on several levels - starting with a confidence vote Thursday in the House of Commons. The government can now likely survive with the support...

Grits break ranks; same-sex vote holds Tim Naumetz CanWest News Service NATIONAL POST Thursday, May 05, 2005 OTTAWA - The government's controversial same-sex marriage bill easily passed second reading in the Commons yesterday by a 164-137 vote, but there were signs it has no future with the Conservatives poised to defeat the minority Liberal government in a confidence vote. Thirty-five Liberal members of Parliament broke ranks to align themselves with Conservative leader Stephen Harper against the legislation, which would make Canada one of only three countries to legally recognize marriage for gay couples. Only four Conservatives, including former leadership...

TALK about will power! Bill Clinton avoided the temptations of beef, a blonde and bad boy Jack Nicholson on his big night out in Manhattan on Tuesday. The former prez, pictured at left, leaving BLT Steak at 1 a.m. yesterday — enjoyed a late-night feast with 10 pals, including Nicholson, movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer and beautiful Canadian politician Belinda Stronach, a longtime close friend of Clinton. While the others feasted on steak, creamed spinach, popovers and fine wine, Clinton — recovering from two major heart operations — stuck to "swordfish, roast chicken and white asparagus," a restaurant spokeswoman said. Bubba...

A stunning new development threatens to blow the lid off the secret affair between Bill Clinton and a super rich Westchester County divorcee that was first revealed by the Enquirer in early June.A pedestrian outside Clinton's Harlem office says she was run over by the woman we have identifed in previous reports as Bill Clinton's mistress--and the Enquirer has the police report from the incident.The accident victim charges the entire incident has been covered up. What's more, insiders say the ex-husband of Clinton's secret lover is furious about the affair.The issue that goes on sale Friday features an interview with...

TAS Live Clinton's Leading Conservative Lady By John H. Fund Published 3/17/2004 12:06:04 AM Belinda Stronach could become Canada's version of Arnold Schwarzenegger if she wins enough votes of paid-up party members to become head of the country's new Conservative Party in a March election. Only 37, she's rich, glamorous, photogenic, designer clad, and the daughter of an Austrian immigrant who is worth $600 million. If she becomes party leader, she will be its candidate for prime minister in elections later this year. For the last two years Stronach has served as CEO of Magna International, the $13 billion auto...

Belinda Stronach could become Canada's version of Arnold Schwarzenegger if she wins enough votes of paid-up party members to become head of the country's new Conservative Party in a March election. Only 37, she's rich, glamorous, photogenic, designer clad, and the daughter of an Austrian immigrant who is worth $600 million. If she becomes party leader, she will be its candidate for prime minister in elections later this year. For the last two years Stronach has served as CEO of Magna International, the $13 billion auto parts manufacturer her father founded. She's the only woman CEO of a Fortune Global...

Belinda Stronach could become Canada's version of Arnold Schwarzenegger if she wins enough votes of paid-up party members to become head of the country's new Conservative Party in a March election. Only 37, she's rich, glamorous, photogenic, designer clad, and the daughter of an Austrian immigrant who is worth $600 million. If she becomes party leader, she will be its candidate for prime minister in elections later this year. For the last two years Stronach has served as CEO of Magna International, the $13 billion auto parts manufacturer her father founded. She's the only woman CEO of a Fortune Global...

Belinda Stronach is the only candidate who is clearly able to beat Paul Martin: Poll TORONTO, March 14 /CNW/ - The Conservative Party would have the bestchance of winning the next election if Belinda Stronach were the leader, a poll conducted by Acrobat Research Ltd. on March 12 and 13 found. In a head to head choice between Paul Martin and the Liberal Party and each of the three candidates as leader of the new Conservative Party, 46% of Canadians would vote for Stronach and the Conservatives over Paul Martin and the Liberals at 37%. Paul Martin and the Liberals...

In America, Belinda Stronach is a name that does not often come up in daily water cooler chitchat. But a good friend of hers, Bill Clinton's, often does. What is interesting about Belinda's and Bill's friendship is not so much the fact that Belinda is a striking 37 year old blonde, or that they have been spotted in several high-class eateries as well as Belinda's family's' race track. But rather, the fact that Belinda Stronach, a relatively little-known $13 billion auto parts factory owning heiress, could become not only Canada's next Conservative Leader, but also Canada's first woman Prime Minister....

After a steady stream of mostly flattering headlines, Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach received some unwelcome attention Friday in the form of a supermarket tabloid front page that blared: Hillary Screams Divorce Over BILL'S NEW BLOND. The headline in the Globe weekly, a reference to Stronach's friendship with former U.S. president Bill Clinton, is accompanied by a full-page photo of the two walking together into a Toronto charity event last year. The innuendo-filled article suggests Hillary Clinton, a New York senator and the wife of the former president, is upset that rumours of an amorous liaison between her husband and...

Hillary Clinton is furious, apparently, and has warned her husband, Bill, to "cool his 'close relationship' with a wealthy blond divorcee . . ." according to this week's cover story in the supermarket tabloid the Globe. The rich blond divorcée? Well, she's none other than Belinda Stronach, one of the leadership candidates for the Conservative Party. She and the former U.S. president are featured prominently in this week's issue. (Remember there is a Canadian connection because Bonnie Fuller, the chief editorial director of the company that owns the Globe, is a Canadian who has made it big as a magazine...

Belinda Stronach is the worst possible choice for party leader. I would vote for a woman like Deb Grey or Margaret Thatcher in a heartbeat, and I was hoping that Belinda would be a strong candidate, but she is all marketing and no substance. She either has few conviction on big issues, or she is too timid to say what they are without checking first if they are popular. It seems like no matter what issue you ask her about, she jumps back to reciting some part of her campaign speech. What policies she does have are really no different...

Belinda Stronach's position as CEO of Magna International has given her automatic leadership cred. CREDIT: Carlo Allegri, National Post Belinda Stronach's family and business connections have long given her access to the world of politics. Among guests at a charity fundraising golf game in 2001 at the Magna Golf Course in Aurora was former U.S. president Bill Clinton. CREDIT: Peter Redman, National PostIf one requires evidence of the wisdom of positioning Belinda Stronach as a possible leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, one need only look to the fact she hasn't yet announced her candidacy and already she's the...

OTTAWA -- Belinda Stronach, the millionaire head of Magna International, has decided to seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, a campaign source said Wednesday. ''She's in the race. A formal announcement will be made next week. She's committed to the future of the party and she's committed to the future of the country.'' Stronach, 37, provides a much-needed injection of life into a leadership race that so far has been denoted by high-profile candidates opting out rather than in. Two potential candidates, Tory leader Peter MacKay and Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice, announced this week that they won't...

Former United States President Bill Clinton has bought a holiday home at an exclusive Irish Golf Club it emerged today. Mr. Clinton who was this week pictured playing golf at Royal County Down is expected to take over the duplex at the K Club in Kildare County later this summer.His purchase includes two full memberships at the Irish course, which is host to the Ryder Cup Golf Competition [between the United States and Europe] in 2006.He is said to have been invoved in negotiations with developers over a number of months and to have deferred the deal on several occasions.Prices...