REGINA - Liberal MP Belinda Stronach is urging more women to get into politics, albeit with one small caveat -- don't date your co-workers.
"We need more women in Parliament and elected office, not merely to fight for the issues that matter most to us, like equal pay for work of equal value, but to bring a woman's perspective to the issues that matter more broadly to our nation,'' Stronach told about 500 people Tuesday.
During her speech she offered up lessons learned in politics, eliciting laughter when she advised against developing intimate relationships with colleagues.
Stronach was referring to her relationship with Conservative MP Peter MacKay, who is now foreign affairs minister, which ended when she defected to the Liberals in May 2005.
MacKay was later accused of alluding to Stronach as a dog in the House of Commons -- a charge MacKay denied.
Stronach announced last month she won't run in the next federal election, and will instead rejoin her family's multibillion-dollar empire Magna International Inc.
The Ontario MP was passed over for the Conservative leadership in 2004, and after she switched to the Liberals, she ended up on the Opposition benches when the Grits were toppled from power.
Stronach has been the focus of pointed criticism for some of her personal and political decisions since entering politics.
Last year, the estranged wife of former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi said his relationship with Stronach was a factor in their split. Speculation has also swirled about her social engagements with former president Bill Clinton.
To Kathy Warrener, a partner with Deloitte Touche, Stronach is an inspiration.
"To be able to stand up to the scrutiny and the focus that she's been under in her life and to be able to come away with a sense of humour and with grace and holding her head high and still going about her business is a phenomenal motivator for the rest of us who are just trying to get through our small days.''
Regina businesswoman Janet Wightman said she was surprised by Stronach's attitude.
"I was very impressed by how frankly she dealt with some of the issues she faced and how she addressed the ways in which people should make a decision about entering public life.''
Deloitte, which sponsored Stronach's talk, is one of Canada's leading professional services firms. Its women's executive has recognized Stronach as a trailblazer for her involvement in the community, business and politics.
