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When Ambrose first entered public life, she came across as funny, smart, self-deprecating, not a rigid ideologue. When she became environment minister, in 2006, she was a rising star, the youngest woman ever appointed to cabinet. But the environment portfolio was a truly no-win job in a Harper regime. After less than a year, Harper demoted her, to western economic diversification. She became more and more careful, more and more nervous with the media. She seemed terrified of going off-script or deviating from the PMO-issued party line. Strict loyalty got her promoted, but didn’t win her much public respect.

“Her time in the environment ministry didn’t go well for her, and anyone who’s been through that baptism of fire becomes cautious,” says Danielle Smith, the former Wildrose leader. “But you lose something when you stick to the script. You lose some personality.”

Now, Ambrose has to be in the spotlight, in both official languages. And she has to bridge the re-opened gulf between the party’s Reform and Progressive Conservative wings. She needs to find her own voice — and backbone.

Kim Krushell is a former Edmonton city councillor, who dealt with Ambrose on Edmonton’s LRT file.

“She had a job to do as a cabinet minister and that was to stay on message, and she did that job,” says Krushell. “Now she needs to step up into this new job and show more of herself.

“I’ve seen her do stilted speeches. But I’ve also talked to her when she’s more herself than what the media has seen. She’s an introvert and she’s guarded with the media. She’s a reserved person, but I’ve also found her to be someone who will listen.”