There has been a lot of controversy on Parliament Hill with Belinda Stronarch defecting to the Liberal Party of Canada.  She’s drawn a lot of criticism and some downright rude and uncalled for remarks.
Many have accused her of selling out, but what exactly does anyone gain from this?  Granted Belinda does get the distinction of a cabinet post and along with the post comes a hefty 6 figure salary, but it’s public knowledge that Belinda has donated her salary to worthy charities since she started serving the public.  Others argue that it was the prestige of being a Cabinet Member that drew her to the Liberals, but in the few weeks she’s had the position, her treatment from her fellow politicians has been anything but.  Still other people lay the blame at Martin’s feet and believe the only reason he recruited her into his camp was to secure a chance for his budget to pass and saving his government from collapsing, but that argument also rings hollow.  Had Belinda sat as an independent MP as opposed to a Liberal, her vote still would have been cast for the budget, which still would have resulted in a tie being broken by the Speaker of The House in favor of the Liberals, this defeats any notion that Paul Martin was out trying to buy her vote.
Even more appalling are the arguments that Belinda has no right to be in politics at all.  I remember reading one letter in Maclean’s about a disgruntled Calgary man who complained that Belinda’s being elected is an insult to career politicians who’ve dedicated their lives to serving the public.  He also complained that since Belinda has no university degree and no previous political experience she shouldn’t be allowed to run for office.  It is Belinda’s right as a Canadian to be allowed to run for office, and from what I’ve seen from her so far, she’s managed to give most university-graduates a run for their money.
I admit that I was initially apprehensive about Belinda’s motives for joining the Liberal party right from the get go; her financial policies are very conservative and she’s even ran for the leadership of the Alliance Party, however   on social values, her views coincide with the Liberal’s more so then the Alliance...Perhaps she stopped voting with her wallet and instead is voting with her social conscience?
The fact is that for all the speculations and un-corroborated accusations that Canadians put forth concerning Belinda’s political career are just that: speculations and un-corroborated accusations.  None of us will ever know what was going on in Belinda’s mind when she walked the floor and perhaps none of us ever will.  
The only criticism I could possibly offer Belinda is that she should have stayed on as an independent instead of immediately crossing the floor to sit with the Liberals.  Perhaps following the example of Parrish or Kilgour, who although became disgruntled with their respective parties, sat as Independents instead of crossing the floor.  Ultimately it is her choice, but would her constituents have elected her had they known she would have defected to the Liberal Party?  Those that voted for ‘The Conservative Brand’ would especially feel betrayed.  Regardless, none of this merited the mudslinging she endured when this story was blown.  
Enough with the bruised egos of the Alliance and Peter McKay or the pimp references to Paul Martin and his Liberals, or the obnoxious and downright sexist remarks of Belinda Stronarch whoring herself out to the person with the deepest pockets.  The only people who have any right to even offer their opinions are her constituents, and if they’re happy, the rest of the country, including it’s political parties should just stay out of it.