Conservative Party leadership candidate Belinda Stronach has made a pledge that some of the competition might have a hard time matching. She says if she becomes prime minister -- she'll do the job for free.

Asked by Canada AM's Seamus O'Regan Thursday whether she would be willing to give up the cash the prime minister is paid, Stronach responded: "If it demonstrates that I'm in this for the long haul."

"I'm here to make a difference and so I would not be -- I would not be taking a salary," she said.

The multimillionaire made a similar promise over the weekend, saying she wouldn't take the salary offered to the leader of the Opposition. She said she would give up the cash "if it helps to convince people that this is not a job that I need -- it's a job that I want."

Stronach said she's flattered by comments from supporters such as former Ontario premier Mike Harris, who has said that Stronach has brought a lot of attention to this campaign that it would not have received without her.

"A big part of this is being able to inspire and to be able to unite the conservative party," Stronach said.

"And if I can inspire to get new people involved, to get young people involved, I think that's a very good thing for the party. If I can help to open the door and then people will stay and walk through that door, that can only help to make the party stronger."

"I'm really inspired, as I've travelled through the country, by how many new people are coming out that have never been involved in politics. And if I can help to bring some interest to the new party and people care again about politics, I would like to do that."

Stronach says she also recognizes that part of the attention she is receiving may be based on the fact that she's a woman. But she says she is able to handle the scrutiny.

"Look, it's a reality when you enter public life. People want to know more about you. And so I'm comfortable with that.

"It does not affect my determination and what I stand for and the difference that I feel that I can make. It doesn't affect my motivation."

She offered her condolences to the family of Cpl.. Jamie Murphy, the Canadian soldier killed this week while on patrol in Afghanistan.

The candidate who once said she wasn't an expert on the military told CTV that Canada needs to re-evaluate its priorities for missions abroad.

"I believe, first of all, we need to clarify what is our foreign policy. We do not have a clear foreign policy. And so that must be the first step. Canadians are confused. What is our role in the international stage?

"Canadians have strong values of human rights and bringing democracy, and I believe if we are stronger at home, our economy is functioning well, we can be more effective on the international stage."

In a further boost to her campaign, Stronach won the support Thursday of a longtime B.C. MP, John Cummins.

Cummins says Stronach represents the voice of a new generation. He says the Ontario businesswoman brings a strong business background to the campaign.

He dismisses concerns about her lack of political experience, noting Reformers quickly became an effective opposition after arriving in Ottawa in 1993.

Cummins joins MPs Val Meredith and Bill Casey, who declared support for Stronach earlier this week