Source : Canadian Press

OTTAWA (CP) - Sheila Copps is going down swinging.

The combative Heritage minister, poised to lose her second bid for the leadership of the federal Liberal party by another monstrous margin, wouldn't have it any other way. "I don't think the media has ever really seized on (my accomplishments) because they've got this rather tawdry stereotype of who I am," Copps said in an interview. "It's usually a five-letter word . . . and it ain't 'sweet.' "

The statement is vintage Copps: In-your-face, slightly off-colour and just close enough to the truth to get everyone's attention.

She's been practising her abrasive style of politics for more than 20 years. Notwithstanding her assured defeat at the hands of Paul Martin this Friday in Toronto and her likely demotion after a decade in the Liberal cabinet, she views the looming setback as nothing more than a skirmish in the lifelong game of political warfare.

Copps, who turns 51 on Nov. 27, professes no difficulty with the prospect of life as a backbencher after once serving as Canada's first female deputy prime minister.

"Why? I've always believed the most important role in Parliament is being a member, because that's the role you're given by the people."

She's similarly emphatic about her distaste for a career outside elected politics.

"I'm running in the next election, I'm already selling memberships," said Copps. "I'm not taking an appointment. That's definitely a no."

So the MP from Hamilton, where she remains immensely popular, will likely remain a fixture in Parliament.

First elected in her twenties as an Ontario MPP, the daughter of former Hamilton mayor Victor Copps entered the federal arena at age 31 and quickly became a leading member of the Liberal opposition Rat Pack that launched search-and-destroy missions against Conservative ministers.

She became one of Canada's most recognized federal politicians, according to pollsters, and the "most popular woman ever to have sat in the Parliament of Canada," according to a less scientific source, Liberal House leader Don Boudria.

Copps ran for the party leadership in 1990 and came third behind Jean Chretien and Martin, garnering just over 10 per cent of delegate support. That's about the same as this time around, when she was the first officially in the race and the only candidate to chase Martin to the finish line.

Copps, typically, isn't the least bit cowed by her impending rout.

She denies her tepid backing is a proxy vote for a diminished progressive, leftist wing in the Liberal party. In fact, she questions the leadership process as a gauge of support.

"It's extremely complex and very expensive and not necessarily reflective of where everybody's heart is at politically at a given time."

But support for the longest serving culture minister in Parliament's history is notably thin on a variety of fronts.

Copps raised less than $1 million for her campaign, much of it from the very arts, entertainment and cultural industries she oversees as Heritage minister. Martin raised almost $11 million.

She has only a handful of declared supporters from the 171-member Liberal caucus, and none among the federal cabinet.

Many of her caucus colleagues have been openly critical, particularly after Copps broke ranks with some controversial statements on issues of national import.

She called the SARS crisis an epidemic and a national emergency last spring, stepping on the toes of Health Minister Anne McLellan and sharply contradicting the government line.

She described corporate political donations as buying influence in government, a slur that branded the entire Liberal front bench and was called deeply hypocritical by a number of her colleagues who pointed to Copps's sources of leadership funding.

Copps famously promised to resign if the Liberals didn't rescind the GST - she finally had to make good under pressure but easily won the subsequent byelection - and as environment minister once announced she was banning all problem chemicals in the Great Lakes. No such legislation was ever tabled.

"We see a lot of smoke and mirrors and subterfuge," said Ian Morrison of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, a lobby group dedicated to public broadcasting and Canadian content.

Morrison says Copps' eight years at Heritage have been a great disappointment for Canada's cultural industries, in part because she lacked support at the cabinet table.

"Her style caused her to be a loner," he said in an interview. "What saved her was that the prime minister liked her."

Prime Minister Jean Chretien may have been drawn to Copps' engaging - some would say brash - lack of decorum.

She once used the occasion of a parliamentary Halloween party, with her daughter on her knee, to read a Robert Munsch children's story about an attacking fart.

But Copps launches a vigorous defence of her public policy achievements.

She points proudly to the pending UNESCO convention on cultural diversity "that I started. So, wow, that's incredible. That took five years."

She also calls her legislation protecting national parks from future development "pretty visionary stuff," without a trace of self-consciousness.

Copps is also unabashed about her position as a role model for under-represented women in politics.

"One of the reasons I felt it was really important to be there in this race was to show the daughters of Canada that there are choices," she said.

Copps concedes that her years in elected office have mellowed her and taught her the wisdom of patience.

"You reach a stage in your life when you realize speed and immediacy are not always partners in politics. Change takes time," she said.

"But I'm certainly the same person in terms of my frankness. I've never stopped being frank."

© Canadian Press