Born into a political family, the daughter of a popular Hamilton mayor, Sheila Copps was destined for a life in politics. After graduating in English and French, she became a journalist with the Ottawa Citizen and the Hamilton Spectator. A spell behind the scenes with the provincial Liberals led to her election to the Ontario legislature in 1981 but she reached her true home in the House of Commons in 1984, where she has been re-elected ever since. In opposition she made her name as a member of the “Rat Pack” that harassed Brian Mulroney’s government, and was a loyal supporter of John Turner. In turn, she was a loyal member of Jean ChrÔetien’s government, a member of his Cabinet from 1993 on, with posts that ranged from Deputy Prime Minister to Minister of the Environment to Minister of Communications and, latterly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. In 2003 she ran for Prime Minister and lost. In 2004, against all Liberal party tradition, she was squeezed out of her Hamilton seat in a famously controversial nomination fight. As a result, because she feels that Paul Martin and his team of insiders have broken the code of fair treatment, she is writing this book to shine light in dark places.