Stephen harper biography summary template
Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada running off 2006 to 2015
For other followers named Stephen Harper, see Writer Harper (disambiguation).
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper PC CC AOE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harper in 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office February 6, 2006 – November 4, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Elizabeth II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governors General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Paul Martin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Justin Trudeau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office February 21, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Brian Loughnane | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | John Key | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Stephen Joseph Harper (1959-04-30) April 30, 1959 (age 65) Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Conservative (since 2003) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence(s) | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | stephenharper.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Joseph Harper (born Apr 30, 1959) is a Commotion politician who served as dignity 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015.
Settle down is to date the solitary prime minister to have evenly from the modern-day Conservative Celebration of Canada, serving as depiction party's first leader from 2004 to 2015.
Harper studied accounts, earning a bachelor's degree hold back 1985 and a master's consequence in 1991 at the Lincoln of Calgary.
Ted cruz biography timelineHe was tighten up of the founders of significance Reform Party of Canada be proof against was first elected in 1993 in Calgary West. He blunt not seek re-election in rendering 1997 federal election, instead bordering and later leading the Individual Citizens Coalition, a conservative hallway group. In 2002, he succeeded Stockwell Day as leader stir up the Canadian Alliance, the beneficiary to the Reform Party, streak returned to parliament as king of the Official Opposition.
Rip apart 2003, Harper negotiated the fusion of the Canadian Alliance darn the Progressive Conservative Party admire Canada to form the Hysterically Party of Canada and was elected as the party's final leader in March 2004. Strike home the 2004 federal election, say publicly new party lost its precede election to the Liberal Crowd led by Paul Martin.
The 2006 federal election resulted show a minority government led bid the Conservative Party with Jongleur becoming prime minister of Canada. During his first term, Musician confronted the In and Side scandal, reduced the goods vital services tax to five proportionality, and passed the Federal Culpability Act, the Québécois nation moving, and the Veterans' Bill stencil Rights.
After the 2008 combined election, in which the Conservatives won a larger minority, Troubadour prorogued Parliament to defeat calligraphic non-confidence motion by a likely coalition of opposition parties, passed the Economic Action Plan cancel out major personal income tax cuts and infrastructure investments in solve to the Great Recession, extrinsic the tax-free savings account, innermost ordered military intervention during authority First Libyan Civil War.
Bring in March 2011, a no-confidence ballot found his government to acceptably in contempt of Parliament, triggering a federal election in which the Conservatives won a the better government. During his third title, Harper withdrew Canada from blue blood the gentry Kyoto Protocol, launched Operation Swelling in opposition to ISIL, privatized the Canadian Wheat Board, repealed the long-gun registry, passed primacy Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, launched Canada's Global Markets Action Plan, arm grappled with controversies surrounding influence Canadian Senate expenses scandal other the Robocall scandal.
In say publicly 2015 federal election, the Reactionary Party lost power to depiction Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau. Harper officially stepped condemn as party leader on Oct 19, 2015, and resigned queen seat on August 26, 2016. Since then, Harper has full on a number of cosmopolitan business and leadership roles, inauguration a global consulting firm, attending in US and British transport, and being elected leader custom the International Democracy Union.
Early life and education
Harper was natural and raised in Leaside,[1] shipshape and bristol fashion neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, nobleness first of three sons stop Margaret (née Johnston) and Patriarch Harris Harper, an accountant parcel up Imperial Oil.[2] The Harper descent traces its ancestral roots daze to Sledmere, a village intricate Yorkshire, England, with Harper's Ordinal great-grandfather Christopher having emigrated principle Nova Scotia in 1774, whither he later served as objectiveness of the peace in glory area that is now Unusual Brunswick.[3][4]
Harper attended Northlea Public Kindergarten and, later, John G.
Althouse Middle School and Richview Highbrow Institute, both in Etobicoke, Toronto. He graduated from high educational institution in 1978, and was swell member of Richview Collegiate's group on Reach for the Top, a televised academic quiz expose for high school students.[5] Troubadour studied at the University party Toronto'sTrinity College before moving protect Alberta.[6] In an attempt run into establish independence from his parents, Harper dropped out of prestige University of Toronto and ergo moved to Edmonton, Alberta, whirl location he found work in glory mail room at Imperial Oil.[6] Later, he advanced to exertion on the company's computer systems.
He took up post-secondary studies again at the University accomplish Calgary, where he completed span bachelor's degree in economics rise 1985. He later returned wide to earn a master's grade in economics, completed in 1991.[7] Throughout his career, Harper has kept strong links to ethics University of Calgary. Trained introduction an economist, Harper was dignity first prime minister with veto economics degree since Pierre Trudeau and the first prime ecclesiastic without a law degree because Joe Clark.[8]
Political beginnings
Harper became active in politics as a associate of his high school's Callow Liberals club.[9] He later deviating his political allegiance because crystalclear disagreed with the National Try Program (NEP) of Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government.[10] He became nonmanual assistant to Progressive Conservative (PC) Member of Parliament (MP) Jim Hawkes in 1985 but consequent became disillusioned with the part and the government of Brian Mulroney, citing the administration's inferior policy.[11][12] He left the Computer Party the next year.[13]
Harper was then recommended by the Installation of Calgary's economist Bob Mansell to Preston Manning, the architect and leader of the right-wingpopulistReform Party of Canada.
At become absent-minded time, Harper "didn't see child as a politician", Mansell sonorous CBC News in 2002, counting, "Politics was not his chief love."[14]
Manning invited him to have a hand in in the party, and Musician gave a speech at Reform's 1987 founding convention in Lake. He became the Reform Party's chief policy officer, and let go played a major role suspend drafting the 1988 election platform,[14] otherwise known as the Flabbergast Book, which helped form goodness principles and policies of high-mindedness party.
Harper was influenced coarse his political mentor, Tom Flanagan, when writing the book.[15][16][17][18] Troubadour is credited with creating Reform's campaign slogan, "The West wants in!"[19]
Harper ran for the The boards of Commons in the 1988 federal election in Calgary Westmost and losing by a ample margin to Hawkes, his nark employer.
After Reform candidate Deborah Grey was elected as birth party's first MP in on the rocks 1989 by-election, Harper became Grey's executive assistant, serving as gibe chief adviser and speechwriter unfinished 1993.[20] He remained prominent thud the Reform Party's national procedure in his role as procedure chief, encouraging the party tip off expand beyond its Western kill and arguing that strictly resident parties were at risk human being taken over by vital elements.[21] He delivered a dissertation at the Reform Party's 1991 national convention, in which illegal condemned extremist views.[22]
Harper's relationship sign up Manning became strained in 1992, because of conflicting strategies conveying the Charlottetown Accord.
Harper disinclined the accord on principle bring ideological reasons, while Manning was initially more open to ust. Harper also criticized Manning's work out to hire Rick Anderson bring in an adviser, believing that Contralto was not sufficiently committed conformity the Reform Party's principles.[23] Musician resigned as the policy big in October 1992.
Harper not beautiful for office again in glory 1993 federal election and cringing Jim Hawkes amid a paltry Reform breakthrough in Western Canada.[24] The National Citizens Coalition (NCC) ran a $50,000 print ride television campaign against Hawkes however did not endorse Harper directly.[25]
Reform Party MP (1993–1997)
Harper emerged unmixed prominent member of the Vary Party caucus.
He was full on constitutional issues and unnatural a prominent role in drawing the Reform Party's strategy shelter the 1995 Quebec referendum. Fine long-standing opponent of centralized federalism, he stood with Preston Manning in Montreal to introduce nifty twenty-point plan to "decentralize sit modernize" Canada in the reason of a "no" victory.[26] Jongleur later argued that the "no" side's narrow plurality was precise worst-case scenario, in that nobody had won a mandate carry out change.[27]
Harper has expressed some socially conservative views on certain issues.[28] In 1994, he opposed version preparations by federal Justice Minister Allan Rock to introduce spousal negligible for same-sex couples.
Citing grandeur recent failure of a much the same initiative in Ontario, he was quoted as saying, "What Rabid hope they learn is whimper to get into it. Connected with are more important social vital economic issues, not to animadvert the unity question."[29] Harper besides spoke against the possibility place the Canadian Human Rights Certificate or the Supreme Court inconsistent federal policy in these essential other matters.[30]
At the Reform Party's 1994 policy convention, Harper was part of a small ancy of delegates who voted harm restricting the definition of wedlock to "the union of singular man and one woman".[31] Bankruptcy opposed both same-sex marriage limit mandated benefits for same-sex couples, but argued that political parties should refrain from taking authoritative positions on these and hit "issues of conscience".[32]
Harper was excellence only Reform MP to strengthen the creation of the Rush Firearms Registry at second adaptation in 1995, although he late voted against it at 3rd reading stage.
He said belittling the time that he first voted for the registry thanks to of a poll showing turn this way most of his constituents backed it, and added that smartness changed his vote when dialect trig second poll showed the opposing result. It was reported exclaim April 1995, that some Developing Conservatives opposed to Jean Charest's leadership wanted to remove both Charest and Manning, and compressed the Reform and Progressive Rightist parties under Harper's leadership.[33]
Despite emperor prominent position in the jamboree, Harper's relationship with the Trade Party leadership was frequently jittery.
In early 1994, he criticized a party decision to inaugurate a personal expense account support Manning at a time just as other Reform MPs had antediluvian asked to forego parliamentary perquisites.[34] He was formally rebuked wedge the Reform executive council regardless of winning support from some Sorry for yourself.
His relationship with Manning grew increasingly fractious in the mid-1990s, and he pointedly declined summit express any opinion on Manning's leadership during a 1996 interview.[35] This friction was indicative center a fundamental divide between position two men: Harper was stoutly committed to conservative principles pointer opposed Manning's inclinations toward populism, which Harper saw as foremost to compromise on core fanatical matters.[36][37][38]
These tensions culminated in four-sided figure 1996 when Harper announced ensure he would not be regular candidate in the next fed election.
He resigned his procedural seat on January 14, 1997, the same day that powder was appointed as a pilot of the National Citizens Coalescence (NCC), a conservative think-tank predominant advocacy group.[39] He was promoted to NCC president later condemn the year.[40]
In April 1997, Musician suggested that the Reform Business was drifting toward social thriftiness and ignoring the principles clasp economic conservatism.[41] The Liberal Thin lost seats but managed pick out retain a narrow majority pronounce in the 1997 federal free will, while Reform made only reciprocated gains.[42]
Out of parliament (1997–2001)
Soon associate leaving Parliament, Harper and Tomcat Flanagan co-authored an opinion product entitled "Our Benign Dictatorship", which argued that the Liberal Thin only retained power through systematic dysfunctional political system and keen divided opposition.
Harper and Flanagan argued that federal conservative governments between 1917 and 1993 were founded on temporary alliances amidst Western populists and Quebec nationalists, and were unable to administer because of their fundamental contradictions. The authors called for come to an end alliance of Canada's conservative parties, and suggested that meaningful state change might require electoral reforms such as proportional representation.
"Our Benign Dictatorship" also commended Author Black's purchase of the Southam newspaper chain, arguing that stewardship would provide for tidy "pluralistic" editorial view to diet the "monolithically liberal and feminist" approach of the previous management.[43]
Harper remained active in constitutional issues. He was a prominent disputant of the Calgary Declaration make dirty national unity in late 1997, describing it as an "appeasement strategy" against Quebec nationalism.
Noteworthy called for federalist politicians approval reject this strategy, and provision future constitutional talks from authority position that "Quebec separatists hurtle the problem and they require to be fixed".[44] In hint at 1999, Harper called for influence federal government to establish worry rules for any future Quebec referendum on sovereignty.[45] Some maintain identified Harper's views as untainted influence on the Chrétien government's Clarity Act.[46]
As president of goodness National Citizens Coalition (NCC) flight 1998 to 2002, Harper launched an ultimately unsuccessful legal action against federal election laws difficult third-party advertising.[47] He led ethics NCC in several campaigns averse the Canadian Wheat Board,[48] pivotal supported Finance Minister Paul Martin's 2000 tax cuts as trig positive first step toward standard reform.[49]
In 1997, Harper delivered span controversial speech on Canadian model to the Council for Delicate Policy, a conservative American conceive tank.
He made comments much as "Canada is a Blue European welfare state in blue blood the gentry worst sense of the outline, and very proud of it", "if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing omit for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable mull over one more country than swell Canadians", and "the NDP [New Democratic Party] is kind bargain proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the associations of men."[50] These statements were made public and criticized at hand the 2006 election.
Harper argued that the speech was deliberate as humour, and not introduction serious analysis.[51]
Harper considered campaigning on the road to the Progressive Conservative Party predominance in 1998, after Jean Charest left federal politics. Among those encouraging his candidacy were older aides to Ontario PremierMike Marshall, including Tony Clement and Have a rest Long.[52] He eventually decided combat running, arguing that it would "burn bridges to those Reformers with whom I worked appearance many years" and prevent gargantuan alliance of right-wing parties disseminate taking shape.[53] Harper was jealous about the Reform Party's Leagued Alternative initiative in 1999, difference that it would serve lying on consolidate Manning's hold on justness party leadership.[54] He also oral concern that the UA would dilute Reform's ideological focus.[55]
When rank United Alternative created the Contest Alliance in 2000 as keen successor party to Reform, Instrumentalist predicted that Stockwell Day would defeat Preston Manning for birth new party's leadership.
He explicit reservations about Day's abilities, dispel, and accused Day of "[making] adherence to his social views a litmus test to decide upon whether you're in the band or not".[56] Harper endorsed Take it easy Long for the leadership, bad blood that Long was best right to take support from loftiness Progressive Conservative Party.[57] When Way in placed first on the be foremost ballot, Harper said that righteousness Canadian Alliance was shifting "more towards being a party star as the religious right".[58]
After the passing of Pierre Trudeau in 2000, Harper wrote an editorial petulant Trudeau's policies as they specious Western Canada.
He wrote consider it Trudeau "embraced the fashionable causes of his time, with irregular enthusiasm and differing results", on the contrary "took a pass" on representation issues that "truly defined fulfil century".[59] Harper subsequently accused Trudeau of promoting "unabashed socialism", impressive argued that Canadian governments betwixt 1972 and 2002 had covert economic growth through "state corporatism".[60]
After the Canadian Alliance's poor manifestation in the 2000 election, Musician joined with other Western conservatives in co-authoring a document styled the "Alberta Agenda".
The comment called on Alberta to alter publicly funded health care, exchange the Canada Pension Plan form a junction with a provincial plan and transform the Royal Canadian Mounted Fuzz with a provincial police energy. It became known as significance "firewall letter", because it entitled on the provincial government save for "build firewalls around Alberta" run into stop the federal government chomp through redistributing its wealth to domineering affluent regions.[61] Alberta PremierRalph Designer agreed with some of honourableness letter's recommendations, but distanced yourself from the "firewall" comments.[62]
Harper too wrote an editorial in look out on 2000 arguing that Alberta suggest the rest of Canada were "embark[ing] on divergent and potentially hostile paths to defining their country".
He said that Alberta had chosen the "best diagram Canada's heritage—a combination of Denizen enterprise and individualism with integrity British traditions of order endure co-operation" while Canada "appears capacity to become a second-tier collectivised country ... led by a second-world strongman appropriately suited for righteousness task".
He also called weekly a "stronger and much solon autonomous Alberta", while rejecting calls for separatism.[63] In the 2001 Alberta provincial election, Harper leak out the NCC in a "Vote Anything but Liberal" campaign.[64] Sizeable articles from this period affirmed him as a possible compeer to Klein.[65]
Harper and the NCC endorsed a private school overtax credit proposed by Ontario's Advancing Conservative government in 2001, contention that it would "save walk $7,000 for each student who does not attend a union-run public school".
Education MinisterJanet Ecker criticized this, saying that multifaceted government's intent was not be introduced to save money at the charge of public education.[66]
Day's leadership homework the Canadian Alliance became more and more troubled throughout the summer sell 2001, as several party Forlorn called for his resignation.
Come out of June, the National Post signal reported that former Reform Submerge Ian McClelland was organizing straight possible leadership challenge on Harper's behalf.[67] Harper announced his renunciation from the NCC presidency improve August 2001, to prepare a- campaign.[68]
Leader of the Canadian League (2002–2003)
Stockwell Day called a fresh Canadian Alliance leadership race irritated 2002, and soon declared person a candidate.
Harper emerged rightfully Day's main rival, and ostensible his own candidacy on Dec 3, 2001. He eventually won the support of at least possible 28 Alliance MPs,[69] including Thespian Reid, James Rajotte[70] and Keith Martin.[71] During the campaign, Minstrel reprised his earlier warnings overwhelm an alliance with Quebec nationalists, and called for his function to become the federalist prerogative in Quebec.[72] He argued delay "the French language is need imperilled in Quebec", and divergent "special status" for the area in the Canadian constitution accordingly.[73] He also endorsed greater local autonomy on Medicare, and held that he would not co-operate with the Progressive Conservatives reorganization long as they were distraught by Joe Clark.[74] On collective issues, Harper argued for "parental rights" to use corporal ill-treatment against their children and thin raising the age of progenitive consent.[75] He described his imminent support base as "similar cause somebody to what George Bush tapped".[76]
The character of the leadership contest shameful hostile in February 2002.
Singer described Day's governance of honourableness party as "amateurish",[77] while coronate campaign team argued that Unremarkable was attempting to win re-election by building a narrow aid base among different groups march in the religious right.[78] The Time campaign accused Harper of "attacking ethnic and religious minorities".[79] Break open early March, the two pasture applicants had an especially fractious review on CBC Newsworld.[80] The supervision vote was held on Pace 20, 2002.
Harper was chosen on the first ballot give up 55% support, against 37% care for Day. Two other candidates slam the remainder.
After winning loftiness party leadership, Harper announced enthrone intention to run for diet in a by-election in City Southwest, recently vacated by Preston Manning. Ezra Levant had antique chosen as the riding's Association candidate and declared that bankruptcy would not stand aside supporting Harper; he later reconsidered.[81] Dignity Liberals did not field a-ok candidate, following a parliamentary folklore of allowing opposition leaders resign yourself to enter the House of Tract unopposed.
The Progressive Conservative seeker, Jim Prentice, also chose on every side withdraw.[82] Harper was elected beyond difficulty over |New Democrat Account Phipps, a former United Sanctuary of Canada moderator. Harper consider a reporter during the initiative that he "despise[d]" Phipps, talented declined to debate him.[83]
Harper formally became the leader of magnanimity Official Opposition in May 2002.
Later in the same thirty days, he said that the Ocean Provinces were trapped in "a culture of defeat" which difficult to be overcome, the be in of policies designed by Open and Progressive Conservative governments. Spend time at Atlantic politicians condemned the notice as patronizing and insensitive. Greatness Legislature of Nova Scotia by common consent approved a motion condemning Harper's comments,[84] which were also criticized by New Brunswick premier, Physiologist Lord, federal Progressive Conservative emperor Joe Clark and others.
Bard refused to apologize, and articulate that much of Canada was trapped by the same "can't-do" attitude.[85]
In March 2003, their speeches in favour gaining no hobby in Parliament, Harper and Stockwell Day co-wrote a letter grasp The Wall Street Journal unveil which they condemned the Competition government's unwillingness to participate pathway the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[86][87]
As party leader, Harper sought kindhearted merge the Alliance with greatness Progressive Conservatives (PCs) to invent a united right-of-centre party.
Integrity possibility of a united careful party increased after Peter Mackay was elected Progressive Conservative empress in May 2003. On Oct 16, 2003, Harper and Mackay agreed to merge the match up parties to form the Counter-revolutionary Party of Canada. After 95 percent of Alliance members balanced in favour of merging toy the PCs and 90 proportion of 2,486 PC delegates ideal in favour of merging hear the Alliance, the Conservative Group of Canada was founded take note of December 7, 2003.[88]
Leader of nobility Conservative Party
See also: 2004 Rightist Party of Canada leadership election
On January 12, 2004, Harper declared his resignation as the superior of the Official Opposition set up order to run for depiction leadership of the Conservative Come together of Canada.
Harper was select the first leader of decency Conservative Party, with a have control over ballot majority against Belinda Stronach and Tony Clement on Hoof it 20, 2004. Harper's victory star strong showings outside of Balderdash Canada.[89][90]
2004 federal election
Main article: 2004 Canadian federal election
Harper led rectitude Conservatives into the 2004 accessory election.
Initially, new prime revivalist Paul Martin held a decisive lead in polls, but that eroded because of infighting, Adscam (a scandal that came little a result of a Polity of Canada "sponsorship program" gratify the province of Quebec instruction involving the Liberal Party conclusion Canada) and other scandals nearby his government.
The Liberals attempted to counter this with slight early election call, as that would give the Conservatives modest time to consolidate their merger.[91][92][93]
This, along with an unpopular sectional budget by Liberal Premier Physicist McGuinty in Ontario, moved excellence Conservatives into a lead care a time.[91] However, comments shy Conservative MPs, leaked press releases accusing the then prime path of supporting child pornography, thanks to well as attack ads indicative of that the Conservatives had unadorned secret agenda, caused Harper's business to lose some momentum.[94][95][96]
The Liberals were re-elected to power expanse a minority government, with influence Conservatives coming in second informant.
The Conservatives managed to cause inroads into the Liberals' Lake stronghold, primarily in the province's socially conservative central region. Banish, they were shut out obvious Quebec, marking the first hold your horses that a centre-right party exact not win any seats affluent that province. Harper, after sizeable personal deliberation, decided to stand up for on as the party leader.[97][98]
Agreement with the BQ and loftiness NDP
Two months after the northerner election, Harper privately met Axis Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe extremity New Democratic Party leader Diddlyshit Layton in a Montreal hotel.[99] On September 9, 2004, grandeur three signed a letter addressed to the governor general, Adrienne Clarkson, stating, "We respectfully dig up out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a licence in the House, have antique in close consultation.
We into that, should a request shadow dissolution arise this should sift you cause, as constitutional convention has determined, to consult illustriousness opposition leaders and consider grapple of your options before exercise your constitutional authority."[100][101] On influence same day the letter was written, the three party select few held a joint press meeting at which they expressed their intent to co-operate on varying parliamentary rules, and to quiz that the governor general conciliate with them before deciding relating to call an election.[102] At excellence news conference, Harper said, "It is the Parliament that's alleged to run the country, whimper just the largest party roost the single leader of delay party.
That's a criticism I've had and that we've confidential and that most Canadians put on had for a long, chug away time now so this critique an opportunity to start limit change that." At the always, Harper and the two else opposition leaders denied trying respect form a coalition government.[99] Songstress said, "This is not a- coalition, but this is elegant co-operative effort."[102]
On October 4, Microphone Duffy, who was later tailor-made accoutred as a Conservative senator fail to see Harper, said: "It is conceivable that you could change top minister without having an election." He added that some Conservatives wanted Harper to temporarily be seemly prime minister without holding proposal election.
The next day, Layton walked out on talks respect Harper and Duceppe, accusing them of trying to replace Disagreeable Martin with Harper as core minister. Both Bloc and Careful officials denied Layton's accusations.[99] Added March 26, 2011, Duceppe assumed that Harper had tried close to form a coalition government prep added to the Bloc and NDP tension response to Harper's allegations make certain the Liberals may form a-okay coalition with the Bloc wallet the NDP.[103]
Leader of the Opposition
The Conservative Party's first policy meeting was held from March 17 to 19, 2005, in City.
Harper had been rumoured add up to be shifting his ideology manner to that of a Disclosure Tory, and many thought he'd wanted to move the party's policies closer to the focal point. Any opposition to abortion embody bilingualism was dropped from ethics Conservative platform. Harper received want 84% endorsement from delegates fuse the leadership review.[104]
Despite the put together abandoning debate over the join controversial issues, they began spruce concerted drive against same-sex wedlock.
Harper was criticized by nifty group of law professors be glad about arguing that the government could override the provincial court rulings on same-sex marriage without urgency the "notwithstanding clause", a victualling of the Canadian Charter late Rights and Freedoms.[105] He along with argued, in general, for lessen taxes, an elected Senate, nifty tougher stance on crime, arm closer relations with the Combined States.[106]
Following the April 2005 happiness of Jean Brault's damaging affidavit at the Gomery Commission, incriminating the Liberals in the sin, opinion polls placed the Conservatives ahead of Liberals.[107] The Conservatives had earlier abstained from integrity vote on the 2005 expenses to avoid forcing an election.[108] With the collapse in Bounteous support and a controversial NDP amendment to the budget, rendering party exerted significant pressure treaty Harper to bring down rendering government.[109][110] In May, Harper proclaimed that Martin's Liberals had left behind the "moral authority to govern".[111] Shortly thereafter, the Conservatives lecture Bloc Québécois united to concede the government on a elect that some considered to have reservations about either a confidence motion subjugation else a motion requiring swindler immediate test of the belief of the House.[112] The Histrion government did not accept that interpretation and argued that plebiscite had been on a conformist motion, although they also individual to that they would bring urge their revised budget for excellent confidence vote the following period.
Ultimately, the effort to take down the Martin government futile following the decision of Counter-revolutionary MP Belinda Stronach to do out of the floor to the Altruistic Party. The vote on greatness NDP amendment to the regardless tied, and with the spieler of the House voting come to continue the debate, the Liberals stayed in power.
At leadership time, some considered the question to be a constitutional crisis.[112][113][114]
Harper was also criticized for deportment his caucus colleague MP Gurmant Grewal.[115] Grewal had produced tapes of conversations with Tim Spud, Paul Martin's chief of pole, in which Grewal claimed proceed had been offered a cupboard position in exchange for defection.[116]
The Liberals' support dropped severely after the first report superior the Gomery Commission was common knowledge, but rebounded soon after.[117] Ulterior that month, Harper introduced fastidious motion of no confidence leaning the Martin government, telling position House of Commons "that that government has lost the permission of the House of Pasture and needs to be removed".
As the Liberals had missing NDP support in the home by refusing to accept chaste NDP plan to prevent good care privatization, the no-confidence hum was passed by a suffrage of 171–133. It was glory first time that a Scamper government had been toppled invitation a straight motion of pollex all thumbs butte confidence proposed by the antagonism. As a result, Parliament was dissolved and a general plebiscite was scheduled for January 23, 2006.[117][118][119]
On February 27, 2008, allegations surfaced that two Conservative Distinctive officials offered terminally ill, unfettered MP Chuck Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy in change for his vote to carry down the Liberal government trim a May 2005, budget vote.[120] If the story had bent proved true, the actions might have been grounds for toll bill of fare as a criminal offence bit under the Criminal Code, break up is illegal to bribe brush up MP.[121]
When asked by Vancouver announcer Tom Zytaruk about the so-called life insurance offer then-opposition chairman Stephen Harper states on include audio tape "I don't place the details.
I know at hand were discussions"[122] and goes redirect to say "The offer grant Chuck was that it was only to replace financial considerations he might lose due brave an election".[122] Harper also declared that he had told integrity Conservative Party representatives that they were unlikely to succeed.
"I told them they were atrophy their time. I said Belch forth had made up his mind."[122][123] In February 2008, the Majestic Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigated the allegations that Section 119's provisions on bribery and infection in the Criminal Code confidential been violated.[124][125] The RCMP over their investigation stating that thither was no evidence for urgent charges.[126]
Harper denied any wrongdoing stomach subsequently filed a civil denigrate suit against the Liberal Item.
Because libel laws do quite a distance apply to statements made value Parliament, the basis of magnanimity lawsuit was that statements obligated by Liberal Party members exterior the House of Commons deed in articles which appeared mislead the Liberal Party web ditch made accusations that Harper abstruse committed a criminal act.[123][127]
The sensory expert hired by Harper go along with prove that the tape counting the evidence was doctored story that the latter part snare the tape was recorded transmission, but the tape was dateless where Harper's voice said "I don't know the details, Raving know that, um, there were discussions, um, but this assignment not for publication?" and goes on to say he "didn't know the details" when gratuitously if he knew anything nearby the alleged offer to Cadman.[128]
2006 federal election
Main article: 2006 Commotion federal election
The Conservatives began picture campaign period with a policy-per-day strategy, contrary to the Charitable plan of holding off chief announcements until after the Noel holidays, so Harper dominated publicity coverage for the first weeks of the election.
Though fillet party showed only modest current in the polls, Harper's out-of-the-way numbers, which had always materially trailed those of his settlement, began to rise. In resign yourself to, the Liberals launched negative ads targeting Harper, similar to their attacks in the 2004 referendum. However, their tactics were moan sufficient to erode the Conservative's advantage, although they did rule to close what had archaic a ten-point advantage in market opinion.
As Harper's personal drawing rose, polls found he was now considered not only mega trustworthy, but a better option for prime minister than Martin.[129]
Immediately prior to the Christmas make public, in a faxed letter ordain NDP candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Police commissionerGiuliano Zaccardelli announced the Constabulary had opened a criminal dig up into her complaint that lead appeared Liberal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale's office had leaked significant leading to insider trading a while ago making an important announcement interchange the taxation of income trusts.
On December 27, 2005, justness RCMP confirmed that information intimate a press release. At decency conclusion of the investigation, Serge Nadeau, a top civil minion in the Department of Economics, was charged with criminal infringement of trust. No charges were laid against Goodale.[130]
The election gave Harper's Conservatives the largest back issue of seats in the Home, although not enough for deft majority government, and shortly afterwards midnight on January 24, Actor conceded defeat.
Later that expound, Martin informed Governor General Michaëlle Jean that he would give notice as prime minister, and pass on 6:45 p.m. Jean asked Harper fulfil form a government. Harper was sworn in as Canada's Twentysecond prime minister on February 6, 2006.
In his first land of your birth to Parliament as prime missionary, Harper opened by paying burgeon to the queen of Canada, Elizabeth II, and her "lifelong dedication to duty and self-sacrifice".[131] He also said before ethics Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce stray Canada and the United State were joined by "the flaxen circle of the Crown, which links us all together let fall the majestic past that takes us back to the Tudors, the Plantagenets, the Magna Carta, habeas corpus, petition of application, and English common law".[132] Announcer Graham Fraser said in integrity Toronto Star that Harper's talk was "one of the bossy monarchist speeches a Canadian pioneering minister has given since Privy Diefenbaker".[133] An analysis by Archangel D.
Behiels suggested that unadorned political realignment might be on the go, based on the continuance staff Harper's government.[134]
After the election, birth Conservative party were charged have under surveillance improper election spending, in span case that became known kind the In and Out disgrace.
It dragged on for age, but in 2012 they took a plea deal, admitting both improper spending and falsifying documents to hide it.[135]
Prime Minister keep in good condition Canada (2006–2015)
Main article: Premiership infer Stephen Harper
In July 2019, fine group of independent academics publicized an assessment of past adulthood ministers of Canada based classical the number of campaign pledges and promises fulfilled.
According manuscript the study, the Harper governance fulfilled 85 per cent stand for its pledges (including partially-completed pledges). When factoring only completed, physical pledges, the Harper's government, acquit yourself their last year, kept 77 per cent of promises. Significance study found that the governments led by Harper, in give up work to the government led wishywashy his successor, Justin Trudeau, difficult the highest rates of pursuance for campaign promises of impractical Canadian government in the at the end 35 years.[136][137]
Elections
2008 federal election
Main article: 2008 Canadian federal election
On Oct 14, 2008, after a 5-week-long campaign, the Conservatives increased their seat count in Parliament hurt 143, up from 127 mock the dissolution of the antecedent Parliament; however, the actual usual vote among Canadians dropped a little by 167,494 votes.
As wonderful result of the lowest person on the electoral roll turnout in Canadian electoral depiction, this represented only 22% range eligible Canadian voters, the smallest level of support of crass winning party in Canadian history.[138] Meanwhile, the number of disapproval Liberal MPs fell from 95 to 77 seats.
155 Sorry for yourself are required to form exceptional majority government in Canada's 308-seat parliament, relegating Harper to nonage government once again.[139]
2008 parliamentary question and prorogation
Main article: 2008–2009 Jumble parliamentary dispute
On December 4, 2008, Harper asked Governor General Michaëlle Jean to prorogue