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The former President and CEO of Magna International, a major automotive supplier based in Aurora, Ontario, in 2004 she entered the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, losing to Stephen Harper. In the 2004 federal election she was elected MP for the riding of Newmarket-Aurora.
Stronach is the daughter of the founder of Magna, Frank Stronach. She studied at York UniversityThis article is about the Canadian university. For the British university, see University of York. York University is a large comprehensive university, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third largest university. York University Motto: Te business school for a year before dropping out. In February 2001 she was appointed CEO of Magna, and in January 2002 became its president.
She is twice divorced and has two children, Frank and Nikki. She speaks English and German fluently, and is proficient in French.
She has been named the most powerful woman in Canadian business and the second most powerful woman in international business. She is also reputedly a close friend of former U.S. President Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) is a U. politician who served two terms as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A moderate Democrat who was elected Governor of Arkansas five times, Cli, former Canadian Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Canada the head of the Canadian government, is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons. The Prime Minister has the right to the style of Right Honourable''. The current prime min Brian MulroneyBrian Mulroney Rank 18th First Term September 17, 1984 June 25, 1993 Predecessor John Turner Successor Kim Campbell Date of Birth March 20, 1939 Place of Birth Baie-Comeau, Quebec Spouse Mila Pivnicki Profession businessman Political Party Progressive Con and former Ontario Premier Mike HarrisMichael Deane Harris (born January 23, 1945) was the twenty-second Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the " Common Sense Revolution" and his large cuts to provincial programs and taxes. The Hon. Mike Harris Rank.
Throughout the summer and into the fall of 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U, talks were undertaken by officials of the Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive Conservative Party of Canada Founded July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) Dissolved December 7, 2003Merged with CA into the Conservative Party Colours Blue (usu. w/ Red detailing) The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC) was a Canadian po and the Canadian Alliance party with respect to a merger of those parties. Meetings between the parties were overseen by a facilitator, who was later revealed to have been Stronach. She was among many who had called for PC leader Peter MacKay and Alliance leader Stephen Harper to undertake the merger talks in the first place.
As a candidate for leadership of the new party, she drew a great deal of publicity to the race. Some felt that this has more to do with her being an attractive female than being a strong contender.
At campaign launch, Stronach surprised many with her support of same-sex marriage, an issue opposed by most Conservative caucus members. While this progressive view might help her chances in Ontario, it is unlikely her caucus would follow a lead to support any equality-based legislation. Indeed, she distanced herself from this position by expressing support for a free vote of MPs, cast individually and not along party lines, on this issue. She has also stated that she is against the decriminalization of marijuana, though she admitted to smoking it in high school.
Many in the media saw her first foray into politics as sophomoric, flubbing obviously-practiced lines, and approaching the podium well before the teleprompter was ready. Stronach stood before the microphone mute for several minutes before the prompter began. Critics also acused her of being a "manufactured candidate," dependent on a high-priced network of professional campaign staff and Magna associates. Insinuations about her paid membership organizers in the province of Quebec hit particularly hard, recalling to some Tom Long's controversial 2000 Canadian Alliance leadership campaign. Supporters defended her "style," and touted her prospective ability to win new and swing voters, especially moderate or socially progressive voters in the province of Ontario.
On February 11, 2004, she abstained from a debate between the Conservative party candidates, leaving Tony Clement and Stephen Harper to debate each other on the CBC broadcast. She later also abstained from a March 14 debate on the Global Television Network. She argued that she ought only participate in party sponsored debates rather than picking and choosing among those organized by outside sponsors.
In her major speech at the leadership convention on March 19, 2004, she promised to serve only two terms if she became Prime Minister, and to draw no salary. She made a major gesture of 'throwing away the script,' but then undercut this somewhat when she was seen referring to cue cards. On March 20, 2004 she finished second to Harper with 35% of the vote. She urged the party to unite behind him.
In the 2004 Canadian Federal Election she was elected as a member of parliament in Ontario, representing the riding of Newmarket-Aurora and is the International Trade critic in the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet.