Montreal — Boldly stating she's ready for the mantle of prime minister, rookie politician Belinda Stronach questioned Paul Martin's competence on Wednesday and accused him of shirking his responsibilities.
“You can't run from your own track record,” the Conservative leadership candidate told The Canadian Press when asked about Mr. Martin's role in the sponsorship scandal rocking his Liberal government.
“Mr. Martin was the key minister in the Chrétien government.
“Now, it's more a question of competence and leadership. And as the captain of a ship, you take responsibility for that ship.”
Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach is interviewed Wednesday in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/CP)
Ms. Stronach, who will be up against Stephen Harper and Tony Clement on March 20 for the job of Conservative leader, said she's ready not just for that title but also the big one — that of prime minister.
“Canadians are fed up,” she said. “They've had enough of politics as usual. They are ready for a fresh approach and they are ready for a change.
“I am ready to be prime minister of Canada. I think in life it's important to know what you know and what you don't know and can you build a good team.
“I think I'm a very good team-builder.”
Ms. Stronach went to great lengths during the interview to say she doesn't blame Quebeckers for the scandal, which involved Liberal-friendly communications firms in the province getting $100-million in government money.
And Ms. Stronach, eager to ward off any allegations of wrongdoing involving her own supporters, said she wants nothing to do with three men who have endorsed her.
“They will not be staying,‘' she said of ex-MPs Gabriel Fontaine and Michel Coté as well as Harry Bloomfield, a long-time Conservative supporter who was convicted on one count of conspiracy and 16 counts of falsifying records.
Fontaine was convicted in 1999 of defrauding taxpayers of $100,000, while Cote was fired by former prime minister Brian Mulroney in the 1980s for breaching conflict of interest rules.
Ms. Stronach dismissed a suggestion by Mr. Harper the leadership race has become a two-horse race between just them.
‘I'm flattered by the fact Mr. Harper thinks it's only a two-person race. However, I don't take anything for granted. I think it's great to have both Tony and Stephen in this race and if we focus on ideas which are better for the party and good for Canada, it's healthy.”
Mr. Clement said Wednesday he is every Conservative's second choice as federal party leader, with enough first-place backing to win his native Ontario and propel him to victory next month.
Mr. Clement agreed he trails Mr. Harper at the moment but he suggested newfound momentum, coupled with antipathy toward the former Canadian Alliance leader in Eastern Canada and distrust of Ms. Stronach on the Prairies, is a winning formula.
Ms. Stronach, meanwhile, also took a swipe at Mr. Harper for saying the person with the best organization and the most money will prove victorious next month.
“That, I disagree with. Our membership is smart, Canadians are smart. They will judge who has the character, who can unite this party, who has a track record and the integrity and most of all who has the ideas that at the end of the day will lead to a better quality of life for Canadians.
“There are spending limits in place, there are rules and regulations.”
