Interim Conservative leader Ambrose begins farewell to political life

She’ll leave politics credited with injecting new energy into the Conservative party and into Canadian politics itself. During a tribute to her in the House of Commons, fellow politicians complimented her sense of humour, her style and her work ethic.

“Conservatives have thrived, our party is strong, our fundraising is very robust, our caucus is united and we are an effective opposition,” said House leader Candice Bergen.

Proof of Ambrose’s skill as leader can be seen in fundraising results. While in the middle of a leadership race that usually drains funds from party coffers, the Tories took in $5.3 million in the first three months of 2017, nearly twice as much as the governing Liberals — and not including the $4.6 being raised by the leadership candidates now vying for the permanent job.

Party members choose a new leader on May 27.

“Nobody walks on water to get to the party leadership,” Ambrose told a crowd of MPs and political watchers over breakfast at Ottawa’s storied Chateau Laurier hotel.

“Whichever woman or man who wins this job will undoubtedly spend time learning, and listening and working. I did it, Stephen Harper did it and so did our predecessors.”

That her last speech was a breakfast one was fitting; one of the regular outreach activities Ambrose took on while living in the Opposition leader’s residence Stornoway was hosting breakfasts for MPs to give them a chance for more informal conversations about their concerns, what was on the minds of their constituents and just life in general.

She was often joined by her partner, J.P. Veitch, who became known for wearing a T-shirt reading “Stornoway Pool Boy” to get a laugh out of family and friends.

Together, both sought to make Stornoway an open and accessible venue for conservatives, a reflection of Ambrose’s effort to put a new face on the Conservative party as a whole.

Some of the work involved in presenting that fresh face was elevating more women into leadership positions in the Conservative shadow cabinet.

One of the early ones was Lisa Raitt, who was appointed to the high-profile position of finance critic before she stepped down to seek the permanent leadership.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Raitt credited Ambrose’s work, but warned Canadians not to expect a similar approach in the House of Commons once the party chooses a new leader.

Ambrose and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have engaged in two years of “nicey-nice” in the House of Commons, with Trudeau rarely attacking Ambrose directly, she noted.

“Rona is nice,” Raitt said. “I’m not nice.”

For his part, Trudeau lauded Ambrose’s work, saying what impressed him the most was her willingness to speak from the heart.

“The opposition leader showed everyone both within this house and beyond the power of expressing oneself sincerely,” Trudeau said.

“This is a truly Canadian approach characterized by goodwill and authenticity just like the leader herself,” he said.

Ambrose will stay on to help manage the transition before making her way into the private sector, which will include taking up a position as a visiting fellow at the Canada Institute of the Wilson Center, a Washington-based public policy think tank.

In a statement, the institute said her job will be to bring together Canada and U.S. officials with a focus on exploring issues key to the North American economy.

Ambrose was first elected in an Edmonton-area riding in 2004, and when the Conservatives formed a minority government in 2006, she was appointed as environment minister.

She was shuffled out after a tumultuous year in the portfolio but went on later to serve variously as minister of labour, public works and health.

“Despite a heavy workload, Rona always retained her warm and charming manner and down-to-earth Alberta humour,” former leader and prime minister Stephen Harper said in a statement.

“Rona’s highly capable leadership of the Conservative team has set a high bar for those who will follow.”

Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Interim Conservative leader Ambrose begins farewell to political life

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