CANADA HISTORY - Prime Ministers

Stephen Harper


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Stephen Harper, Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, was a key figure in shaping modern Canadian politics and policy. Born on April 30, 1959, in Toronto, Ontario, Harper grew up in the suburban neighborhood of Leaside. His father, Joseph Harper, was an accountant for Imperial Oil, and his mother, Margaret Johnston, was a homemaker. Raised in a middle-class household, Harper developed an early interest in economics and public policy, which would later become central to his career. Harper’s academic and political journeys would see him rise to become one of Canada’s most influential political leaders.

After attending Richview Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Harper enrolled at the University of Toronto. However, he left after only a few months, feeling uninspired by his studies. Seeking a new direction, he moved to Alberta, a province whose conservative values aligned more closely with his emerging political beliefs. There, he enrolled at the University of Calgary, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1985. Harper’s move to Calgary would prove pivotal, not only in his education but also in setting the stage for his future political career.

During his time at the University of Calgary, Harper became interested in the economics and politics of Alberta, a province known for its resource-based economy and conservative leanings. His growing interest in political theory, economics, and public policy solidified his decision to pursue a career in politics. Shortly after graduation, Harper joined the political scene as a chief aide to Progressive Conservative MP Jim Hawkes in 1985. This experience marked his first foray into Canadian federal politics, where he gained valuable insights into the workings of Parliament and the political landscape.

In 1989, Harper took his first major step into the political spotlight when he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Calgary West as a member of the newly-formed Reform Party of Canada. The Reform Party was founded as a right-wing alternative to the Progressive Conservatives, advocating for greater fiscal responsibility, smaller government, and Western Canadian interests. Harper quickly rose through the party’s ranks, and by 1993, he was serving as the party’s Chief Policy Officer. His policy work during this time helped shape the direction of the Reform Party, particularly in the areas of fiscal conservatism and skepticism toward federal government intervention.

In 1997, Harper became the leader of the Canadian Alliance, a new political party formed by the merger of the Reform Party and some disaffected members of the Progressive Conservative Party. The Canadian Alliance was seen as a continuation of the Reform Party's values but with an eye toward broader national appeal. However, after a few years of leadership, Harper stepped down from the role in 2002 and retreated from public life for a brief period. He returned to private work and focused on his academic interests, working as the president of the National Citizens Coalition, an organization dedicated to promoting conservative fiscal policies.

Harper’s departure from politics was short-lived. In 2004, he re-emerged to successfully unite the fractured conservative movement in Canada. By this time, the Reform Party and Progressive Conservative Party had merged to form the Conservative Party of Canada, and Harper ran for the party’s leadership. He won decisively and became the leader of the newly-formed Conservative Party. Harper now had the opportunity to challenge the long-dominant Liberal Party, which had been in power for much of the previous decade under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.

In the 2006 federal election, Harper campaigned on a platform of economic growth, job creation, and fiscal conservatism. The election came at a time of political disillusionment with the governing Liberal Party, which had been embroiled in the sponsorship scandal, a corruption scandal involving the misuse of public funds. Harper capitalized on this discontent and led the Conservative Party to victory, though it was a minority government. On February 6, 2006, Harper was sworn in as Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister.

Once in office, Harper’s government prioritized economic policy. His administration implemented a series of tax cuts aimed at stimulating growth, including the reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 7% to 5%, which was one of his campaign promises. Harper also introduced the Economic Action Plan, a stimulus package designed to create jobs and spur economic growth in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. While these policies were credited with helping Canada weather the global recession better than many other countries, they also drew criticism from those who argued that the government was cutting too deeply into public services.

Harper’s time as Prime Minister was also defined by his “tough on crime” stance. His government introduced a range of legislation aimed at increasing penalties for various offenses, including mandatory minimum sentences for drug and firearms offenses, and laws aimed at combating cyberbullying. While Harper’s law-and-order policies were popular with his conservative base, they were criticized by opponents as overly punitive and likely to result in overcrowded prisons.

On the international stage, Harper’s government took a more assertive stance than previous administrations, particularly in its foreign policy. Canada became more involved in the war in Afghanistan under Harper’s leadership, with Canadian troops participating in combat operations in Kandahar province. Harper’s government was also a staunch supporter of Israel, a departure from the more balanced approach taken by previous Canadian governments. This pro-Israel stance earned Harper both praise and criticism, depending on the political perspective.

One of Harper’s key challenges as Prime Minister was addressing environmental issues, particularly Canada's contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions. His government introduced regulations on emissions from the oil and gas sector, but critics argued that these measures fell far short of what was needed to effectively combat climate change. Environmental groups criticized Harper for being too lenient on the oil industry, particularly in Alberta, where the oil sands were a major source of both economic growth and environmental concern.

Harper’s leadership was tested by a number of major events and challenges during his time in office. In 2008, the global financial crisis threatened Canada’s economy, and Harper’s government responded with the aforementioned Economic Action Plan. The H1N1 pandemic also posed a public health challenge in 2009, as did the growing threat of terrorism, particularly in the wake of attacks like the Parliament Hill shooting in 2014. Despite these challenges, Harper maintained his focus on fiscal conservatism and national security, which remained central to his government’s platform.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Harper led the Conservative Party through four federal elections. In the 2006 election, he won a minority government, but by the 2008 federal election, Harper had gained more seats, though he still governed with a minority. The most significant victory came in 2011 when Harper’s Conservatives won a majority government for the first time, securing 166 seats in the House of Commons. This victory solidified Harper’s control over Canadian politics and gave him the ability to pursue his agenda without the constraints of a minority government.

However, by the time the 2015 federal election approached, Harper’s government had grown increasingly unpopular. The Liberal Party, led by Justin Trudeau, ran a strong campaign focused on change and optimism, while Harper’s Conservatives were criticized for their handling of environmental issues, their stance on immigration, and a series of political scandals. These scandals included the Senate expense scandal, in which several Conservative senators were accused of misusing public funds, and the robocall scandal, which involved allegations of voter suppression during the 2011 election.

The 2015 election saw the Liberal Party win a sweeping victory, capturing 184 seats and forming a majority government under Trudeau’s leadership. Harper’s Conservatives were reduced to 99 seats, and on election night, Harper announced that he would step down as leader of the Conservative Party. In 2016, Harper resigned from his seat in Parliament and retired from active politics, though he continued to remain involved in conservative movements and public speaking engagements.

Harper’s legacy as Prime Minister is marked by both praise and criticism. His supporters commend his handling of the economy, particularly during the global financial crisis, and his focus on law and order. His detractors point to his environmental record, his centralized style of governance, and the controversies that plagued his later years in office. Nonetheless, Stephen Harper remains a significant figure in Canadian politics, having led the country for nearly a decade and left a lasting impact on its policies and direction. After retiring from politics, Harper continued to influence conservative thought, serving as a consultant and public speaker, and maintaining an active presence in global political circles.


Cite Article : Reference: www.canadahistory.com/sections/documents/documents.html

Source: NA



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