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After my decision a month ago today to join the government, I am now able to see the political landscape with even greater clarity.

I have been called many things over the past weeks, some of them not very pleasant or mature. That is part of public life. But I know in my heart that I have done the right thing.

My critics say that I am ambitious. And I am - to serve the country. I entered public life in the spirit of public service to try to make a contribution to the country's future. If personal leadership ambitions had been my motivation, frankly, I would have stayed in the Conservative Party and not have joined a minority government on a razor-thin edge.

I am sometimes asked why I did not sit as an independent MP. The answer is simple. I came to realize that the Conservative Party was being led in a direction with which I was not comfortable, especially as an urban Ontarian. I became convinced that my vision of the country was more in sync with that of Paul Martin and the Liberal Party. And when I received the majority support of constituents in Newmarket and Aurora last June, I promised them that they would be sending a strong voice to Ottawa. I felt that voice for my constituents was stronger as a member of this government.

Fate and principle have led me to where I am now.

The opposition's mad rush on May 19 to topple a federalist minority government over the budget when the federalist option was so dangerously weak in Quebec forced me to put principle ahead of politics. The only winners would have been the separatists. And the losers, had the budget also been lost, would have been those citizens who believe in vibrant cities, who want green communities and who expect fair-minded fiscal management.

When smart-minded Canadian voters chose a minority government in June of 2004, they were sending a message - get to the work of governing in a way that puts the interests of the country first. Opposition threats this past week to the budget-implementation bills as they worked their way through the House of Commons showed that they continue to disregard this basic message.

My principles have led me to the belief that we need to restore trust and integrity to politics and public life. Not just because it sounds good or is intuitively right, but because Canada needs this to happen.

In order to safeguard our quality of life, our political system has to work properly for the interests of Canadians. The country is seeking stability. The key lies in renewed commitment to public service, and to the founding principles of both responsible and representative government. Rabid partisanship contributes nothing. Hugh Segal wrote recently, "Civility is like the atmosphere, taken for granted and yet essential." I agree with him: Only when democracy and the political system work can we focus the energy and attention to tackle the big and pressing questions surrounding competitiveness of our economy, prosperity and job creation.

My experience in the private sector prepared me to understand the need for human-resource development, skills training, learning and investment in people. It is about jobs. Keeping jobs, creating jobs and protecting people between jobs.

This is why I am passionate about the portfolio responsibilities entrusted to me by the Prime Minister. Democratic renewal and the competitive advantage to Canada of a trained, skilled and knowledge-based work force are linked inextricably. These are my political priorities.

The challenge of the sponsorship scandal is real, but the Prime Minister has taken it head-on, called an unprecedented public inquiry with all the obvious political risks and said that the outcome of the Gomery commission will be a turning point and new beginning. That is compelling and courageous politics.

When I searched my conscience, the bottom line for me was that Canada was better served by Paul Martin as Prime Minister in charge of a renewed and refocused Liberal Party in response to the Gomery commission. I believe in the politics of hope and building a better society.

I may have changed my mind, but never changed my principles.

Belinda Stronach is the member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal.