Focus on wardrobe distresses Stronach
THE BELINDA SAGA NDP candidate agrees it’s ‘ sexist’ Tory discounts rival’s star power
Ed Chudak’s wardrobe yesterday was typical Monday — white Arrow shirt, grey slacks by Sansabelt Pant World, black dress shoes by New Balance ( we didn’t know they made dress shoes) and his trademark titanium glasses nicely complementing his roundish face. The look: casual but polished, a little understated perhaps, but oozing sartorial confidence.
It’s a good look for the New Democratic Party candidate in Newmarket- Aurora and perfect for a busy teachers’ association official with hours of campaign stumping ahead. But if, perchance, Chudak had been asked to address the Canadian Club yesterday — as was his rival, Liberal Belinda Stronach — he would have stepped up the elegance factor. He would have slipped into a “ good Canadian union-made suit with Shipley on the label” and would have been pleased as punch to talk about his wardrobe.
Stronach is not pleased. In fact, she told the Canadian Club luncheon at the Fairmont Royal York that she is quizzed on her designer labels far too often.
Is that Gucci or Prada? Chanel or Fabergé?
“I’ve often been asked what clothes am I wearing, what shoes am I wearing, where do I get my hair cut,” said Stronach, resplendent in a brown velvet jacket and teal flounced blouse paired with a little grey tweed skirt. She wore modest heels and her ash- blonde hair was angled and lightly layered. She made the point yesterday to underscore the double standard that exists for women in politics, one of the themes of a wide- ranging speech to a crowd of about 600.
And, to be fair to Chudak, he agrees with her about the treatment of political women.
“ It does have sexist overtones,” he said, in a telephone interview. “ People are more interested in clothes than in the mind.”
Still, Ed Chudak didn’t have a chance to make that point because he wasn’t at the event. He wasn’t asked because, frankly, he isn’t famous. And that lack of high-powered exposure is the price he pays for running against a star candidate, a member of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet and a woman who made headlines across the country when she crossed the floor of the Commons last year from the Conservative side.
While it’s not true that all publicity is good publicity, most of it is, especially where Belinda Stronach is concerned.
Canadians have been fascinated with her love life, her wealth, her famous father, Frank Stronach of Magna International, and her wardrobe. She may have told the Canadian Club that “ being the boss’s daughter isn’t always a picnic,” but not everyone believed her. Moreover, the public’s fascination is a springboard to getting ideas across.
“ I would have loved to have addressed the Canadian Club,” said Chudak. “ I realize she is a high-profile person, even if I don’t think she has the right ideas.”
Stronach made good use of her platform yesterday. She introduced various Newmarket- Aurora personalities and delivered a speech which, if failing to address problems in depth or offer solutions, did note that child poverty and illiteracy still exist in Canada. At times, it was pure electioneering. She said there is only one choice to deal with the threat of separatism in Québec and “ for those of you who might need a hint, it is not Mr. (Stephen) Harper and the Conservatives.” Campaign rival Lois Brown, who was out door- knocking in Newmarket-Aurora yesterday, wasn’t impressed.
“ I doubt there were many people there from Newmarket- Aurora,” said Brown. “ I am meeting more people here at the door than Belinda Stronach did at the Canadian Club.”
She, too, would have loved the opportunity to sell the Conservative platform at the Royal York. Still, she’s not so sure that Stronach’s star power gives her an advantage.
“ Well, I don’t think it does. Yes, sure, she is a cabinet minister and that gives her a significant profile,” said Brown, of the minister of human resources and skills development. “ But she has disadvantages as well.
“ She has aligned herself with the corruption of this Liberal government. She has betrayed the voters of Newmarket- Aurora by crossing the floor. And, besides, she is spending little time in her riding.”
Stronach would disagree with the latter, having stressed that she is sticking close to Newmarketwith exceptions. And who’s going to turn down the Canadian Club?
Brown, clad in her favourite navy Liz Claiborne suit, believes she will take the riding from Stronach. Unlike her opponent, she was wearing sensible shoes yesterday — pavement- pounding shoes. First in a regular series on the Newmarketriding