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Stephen Harper



Main article: Foreign policy of the Harper government

On March 11 and March 12, 2006, Harper made a surprise trip to Afghanistan, where Canadian Forces personnel had been deployed since late 2001, to visit troops in theatre as a show of support for their efforts, and as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to reconstruction and stability in the region. Harper’s choice of a first foreign visit was closely guarded from the press until his arrival in Afghanistan (citing security concerns), and is seen as marking a significant change in relationship between the government and the military. While other foreign leaders have visited Afghanistan, Harper’s trip was touted as unprecedented in its length and scope.[88] Harper returned to Afghanistan on May 22, 2007, in a surprise two-day visit which included visiting Canadian troops at the forward operating base at Ma’Sum Ghar, located 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Kandahar, making Harper the first Prime Minister to have visited the front lines of a combat operation.[89]

At the outset of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Harper defended Israel’s “right to defend itself” and described its military campaign in Lebanon as a “measured” response, arguing that Hezbollah’s release of kidnapped IDF soldiers would be the key to ending the conflict.[90] Some Canadians, including many Arab-Canadians, criticized Harper’s description of the Israeli response as “measured”. On July 17, 2006, Harper noted that the situation had deteriorated since his initial comments, but that it was difficult for Israel to fight “non-governmental forces” embedded in the civilian population. Harper reiterated his earlier support for Israel and called on both sides to show restraint and minimize civilian casualties.

See also: International reactions to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict

Speaking of the situation in both Lebanon and Gaza on July 18, Harper told reporters “We all want to encourage not just a ceasefire, but a resolution. And a resolution will only be achieved when everyone gets to the table and everyone admits...recognition of each other,” referring to the refusal of Hezbollah and Hamas to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Harper laid the blame for the civilian deaths on both sides at the feet of Hezbollah. “Hezbollah’s objective is violence,” Harper asserted, “Hezbollah believes that through violence it can create, it can bring about the destruction of Israel. Violence will not bring about the destruction of Israel... and inevitably the result of the violence will be the deaths primarily of innocent people.”[91]

On June 7, 2007, the Conservative government announced it had finalized free trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Under this agreement, Canada seeks to increase its trade ties with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In 2006, the value of trade between these partners was $10.7 billion. Canada had originally begun negotiations with the EFTA on October 9, 1998, but talks broke down due to a disagreement over subsidies to shipyards in Atlantic Canada.[92]

On September 11, 2007, Harper became the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the Parliament of Australia.[93]

Relations with leaders of the United States

Main article: Canada-United States relations
U.S. President George W. Bush, Former Mexican President Vicente Fox and Stephen Harper, right at the Chichen-Itza archaeological ruins in 2006.
U.S. President George W. Bush, Former Mexican President Vicente Fox and Stephen Harper, right at the Chichen-Itza archaeological ruins in 2006.

Shortly after being congratulated by George W. Bush for his victory, Harper rebuked U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins for criticizing the Conservatives’ plans to assert Canada’s sovereignty over the Arctic Ocean waters with armed forces.[94] Harper’s first meeting as Prime Minister with the U.S. President occurred at the end of March 2006; while little was achieved in the way of solid agreements,[citation needed] the trip was described in the media as signaling a trend of closer relations between the two nations.

The Harper Government received unexpected American news coverage during the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential primaries after the details of a conversation between Barack Obama economic advisor Austan Goolsbee, and Canadian diplomat Georges Rioux were revealed. Reportedly Goolsbee was reassuring the Canadians that Obama's comments on potentially renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were more political rhetoric than actual policy. The accuracy of these reports has been debated by both the Obama camp, and the Canadian Government. The news came at a key time nearing the Ohio and Texas primaries where, perceptions among Democratic voters is that the benefits of the NAFTA agreement are dubious. Thus the appearance that Obama was not being completely forthright was attacked by his opponent Hillary Clinton.[2] ABC News reported that Harper's Chief of Staff, Ian Brodie was responsible for the details reaching the hands of the media.[3] Harper has denied that Brodie was responsible for the leak, and says his government is trying to find the source. The Opposition, as well as Democratic strategist Bob Shrum[4], has criticized the Government on the issue, saying they are trying to help the Republicans, and could hurt relations with the United States if Obama ever were to become President.[5]

Supreme Court appointments

Harper chose the following jurists to be appointed as justices of the Supreme Court of Canada by the Governor General:

In keeping with Harper's election promise for such changes to the process, Rothstein's appointment involved the innovation of a review by a parliamentary committee, following his nomination by the Prime Minister. Rothstein had already been short-listed, with two other candidates, by a committee convened by the previous Liberal government, and he was Harper's choice. Harper then had Rothstein appear before an 'ad hoc', non-partisan committee of 12 Members of Parliament. This committee was not empowered to block the appointment, though, as had been called for by some members of Harper's Conservative Party.[95]

Honours

Harper also received the Woodrow Wilson Award on October 6, 2006 for his public service in Calgary. It was held at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, the same place where he made his victory speech.[citation needed]

Time magazine named him as Canada's Newsmaker of the Year in 2006. Stephen Handelman wrote "that the prime minister who was once dismissed as a doctrinaire backroom tactician with no experience in government has emerged as a warrior in power."[96]

Electoral record

2006 federal election : Calgary Southwest edit
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
     Conservative (x)Stephen Harper 41,549 72.36
     Liberal Mike Swanson 6,553 11.41
     New Democratic Party Holly Heffernan 4,628 8.06
     Green Kim Warnke 4,407 7.68
     Christian Heritage Larry R. Heather 279 0.49
Total valid votes 57,416 100.00
Total rejected ballots 120
Turnout 57,536


2004 federal election : Calgary Southwest edit
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
     Conservative (x)Stephen Harper 35,297 68.36 $62,952.76
     Liberal Avalon Roberts 9,501 18.40 $43,846.23
     Green Darcy Kraus 3,210 6.22 $534.96
     New Democratic Party Daria Fox 2,884 5.59 $3,648.70
     Marijuana Mark de Pelham 516 1.00 $0.00
     Christian Heritage Larry R. Heather 229 0.44 $985.59
Total valid votes 51,637 100.00
Total rejected ballots 149
Turnout 51,786 64.49
Electors on the lists 80,296


Canadian federal by-election, May 13, 2002 : Calgary Southwest edit
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
     Canadian Alliance Stephen Harper 13,200 71.66 $58,959.16
     New Democratic Party Bill Phipps 3,813 20.70 $34,789.77
     Green James S. Kohut 660 3.58 $2,750.80
     Independent Gordon Barrett 428 2.32 $3,329.34
     Christian Heritage Ron Gray 320 1.74 $27,772.78
Total valid votes 18,421 100.00
Total rejected ballots 98
Turnout 18,519 23.05
Electors on the lists 80,360


1993 federal election : Calgary West edit
Party Candidate Votes %
     Reform (x)Stephen Harper 30,209 52.25
     Liberal Karen Gainer 15,314 26.49
     Progressive Conservative James Hawkes 9,090 15.72
     New Democratic Party Rudy Rogers 1,194 2.06
     National Kathleen McNeil 1,068 1.85
     Natural Law Frank Haika 483 0.84
     Green Don Francis 347 0.60
     Christian Heritage Larry R. Heather 116 0.20
Total valid votes 57,821 100.00
Total rejected ballots 133
Turnout 57,954 66.29
Electors on the lists 87,421


1988 federal election : Calgary West edit
Party Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative (x)James Hawkes 32,025 58.52
     Reform Stephen Harper 9,074 16.58
     Liberal John Phillips 6,880 12.57
     New Democratic Party Richard D. Vanderberg 6,355 11.61
     Libertarian David Faren 225 0.41
     Confederation of Regions Brent Morin 170 0.31
Total valid votes 54,729 100.00
Total rejected ballots 117
Turnout 54,846 78.75
Electors on the lists 69,650

All electoral information is taken from Elections Canada. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.

See also

External links

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28th Ministry - Government of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Paul Martin Prime Minister of Canada
(2006- Present)
 Incumbent
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Jim Hawkes		 Member of Parliament Calgary West
1993–1997		 Succeeded by
Rob Anders
Preceded by
Preston Manning		 Member of Parliament Calgary Southwest
2002 – present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
John Reynolds		 Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons
2002-2004		 Succeeded by
Grant Hill
Preceded by
Grant Hill		 Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons
2004–2006		 Succeeded by
Bill Graham
Party political offices
Preceded by
John Reynolds (interim)		 Leader of the Canadian Alliance
2002–2003		 Succeeded by
John Lynch-Staunton (Conservative)
Preceded by
John Lynch-Staunton (interim)		 Leader of the Conservative Party
2004 – present		 Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Members of the Royal Family
other than the Queen[97]		 Canadian order of precedence Succeeded by
Beverley McLachlin

Footnotes

  1. ^ William Johnson, Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada, p. 7
  2. ^ O'Connor, Naoibh, "'Nerds' tops in Canada", The Vancouver Courier, August 5, 2004, accessed on October 9, 2006
  3. ^ William Johnson, Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada, p. 12
  4. ^ Marci McDonald, "Stephen Harper and the Theo-cons", The Walrus, October 2006.
  5. ^ Campbell, Colin. "The church of Stephen Harper", Macleans. Retrieved on 2006-08-02. '
  6. ^ CTV News. "PM's hockey loyalties questioned after Leafs goal", CTV, October 5, 2006. 
  7. ^ Tuck, Simon. "Harper prefers 'team' approach to shootouts", Globe and Mail, January 6, 2007. 
  8. ^ Press release, "Prime Minister congratulates Team Canada on gold medal victory at World Junior Hockey championships", Conservative Party of Canada, January 5, 2007
  9. ^ Brownlee, Karen. "Don't quit your day job", The Regina Leader Post, August 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  10. ^ Dunfield, A.. "Lighter side: C'est what?", Globe and Mail, 25 June 2004. Retrieved on 2006-04-04. '
  11. ^ Geoff White, "Ottawa will be hearing from Reform MP", Calgary Herald, 21 April 1989, A5.
  12. ^ Paul Gessell, "The "other' parties are picking up big followings", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 26 October 1990, A9.
  13. ^ George Oake, "Reform Party tries to avoid appearance of extremism", Toronto Star, 6 April 1991, A12.
  14. ^ William Johnson, Stephen Harper and the Future of Canada, (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 2005), pp. 179-183.
  15. ^ Kenneth Whyte, "The right-wingers duke it out in the Calgary West corral", Globe and Mail, 2 October 1993, D2.
  16. ^ Mordecai Richler, "We're in trouble: There isn't even an illusion of choice in the upcoming federal election", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 22 April 1997, A11.
  17. ^ Neville Nankivell, "Reform's voice will grow louder", Financial Post, 31 October 1995, p. 23.
  18. ^ "Harris joins other leaders in calling for change", Hamilton Spectator, 31 October 1995, A1.
  19. ^ Marta Gold, "Same-sex fight going to Ottawa", Hamilton Spectator, 10 June 1994, A3.
  20. ^ Joan Crockett, "Robinson lays equality complaint", Hamilton Spectator, 22 June 1994, A12.
  21. ^ Edward Greenspon, "Stephen Harper: a neo-con in a land of liberals", Globe and Mail, 23 March 2002, A17.
  22. ^ Johnson, Stephen Harper, p. 222.
  23. ^ Dan Lett, "Outlaw Grits say no to party's gun bill", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 April 1995 and "Gun bill advances despite three rebels", Hamilton Spectator, 6 April 1995, A6; David Vienneau, "Torn MPs face high noon on gun law", Toronto Star, 13 June 1995, A21.
  24. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Charest, Manning dismiss reports of parties' merging", Globe and Mail, 4 April 1995, A5.
  25. ^ Geoffrey York, "Reform MPs snarl at party rebuke", Globe and Mail, 8 April 1994, A4.
  26. ^ Edward Greenspon, "Reform's renewal off to slow start", Globe and Mail, 1 August 1996, A4; Edward Greenspon, "Manning seeks to repeat party's surge", Globe and Mail, 2 August 1996, A4.
  27. ^ Kenneth Whyte, "That Manning and Harper would clash has always been a safe bet", Globe and Mail, 9 April 1994, D2; John Ibbitson, "Who is Stephen Harper?", Globe and Mail, 14 January 2006, online edition.
  28. ^ "Stephen Harper named A NCC Vice-President", Canada NewsWire, 14 January 1997, 10:51 report.
  29. ^ Thomas Walkom, No title [Second of Five Parts], Toronto Star, 6 April 1997, A1.
  30. ^ Stephen Harper and Tom Flanagan, "Our Benign Dictatorship", Next City, Winter 1997.
  31. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Seeds planted for opposition to unity plan", Globe and Mail, 18 September 1997, A1.
  32. ^ Stephen Harper, "Why Chrétien mustn't flag", Globe and Mail, 2 December 1999, A17.
  33. ^ Chantal Hebert, "Harper takes pragmatic approach to Quebec", Toronto Star, 26 April 2002, A25.
  34. ^ Daniel Leblanc, "Groups vow to fight new election bill", Globe and Mail, 8 June 1999, A4; "Gagged by statute", National Post, 8 June 2000, A19.
  35. ^ National Citizen's Coalition, "NCC To Back New Court Challenge To Wheat Board Monopoly", Canada NewsWire, 9 February 1998, 11:15 report; National Citizen's Coalition, "NCC to blitz prairies with anti-Wheat Board radio ads", Canada NewsWire, 25 August 1999, 14:29 report.
  36. ^ no title, Toronto Star, 29 February 2000, p. 1.
  37. ^ Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech, CTV.ca, 14 December 2005; Susan Riley, "Harper's suspect evolution", 16 December 2005, A18.
  38. ^ Jack Aubry, "Battle lines being drawn up for ideological heart of Tories", Hamilton Spectator, 7 April 1998, C3. David Frum was also mentioned as a possible supporter.
  39. ^ Scott Feschuk, "Harper rejects run at Tory leadership", Globe and Mail, 10 April 1998, A1.
  40. ^ Rosemary Spiers, "Preston Manning's fork in the road", Toronto Star, 18 February 1999, p. 1; "But who will lead it?", Globe and Mail, 22 February 1999, A10.
  41. ^ Michael Taube, "United Alternative needs policy, not Reform party lite", Hamilton Spectator, 25 February 1999, A14.
  42. ^ Tim Harper, "Bible belts", Toronto Star, 17 June 2000, p. 1.
  43. ^ "That sound you hear is the shifting of conservative ground", 21 April 2000, Globe and Mail, A12.
  44. ^ Paul Adams, "Front-runner rides tide of religious conservatism", Globe and Mail, 26 June 2000, A1.
  45. ^ Stephen Harper, "On second thought", National Post, 5 October 2000, A18.
  46. ^ Stephen Harper, "Get the state out of the economy", National Post, 8 February 2002, A14.
  47. ^ Stephen Harper, Tom Flanagan et al, "The Alberta Agenda", National Post, 26 January 2001, A14.
  48. ^ Jill Mahoney, "No 'firewall' needed around Alberta, Klein says", Globe and Mail, 8 February 2001, A9.
  49. ^ Stephen Harper, "Separation, Alberta-style: It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada", National Post, 8 December 2000, A18.
  50. ^ National Citizens Coalition, "NCC Ad Campaign Urges Albertans Not to Vote Liberal", Canada NewsWire, 13 February 2001, 11:45 report.
  51. ^ Chantal Hebert, "Alberta, Quebec sing from same complaint book", Toronto Star, 14 February 2001, p. 1.
  52. ^ Richard Mackie, "School tax-credit plan hailed as a money saver", Globe and Mail, 19 June 2001, A5.
  53. ^ Sheldon Alberts, "Harper mounts campaign to lead the right: Behind the scenes", National Post, 30 June 2001, A06.
  54. ^ National Citizen's Coalition, "Stephen Harper to Step Down as NCC President", Canada NewsWire, 13 August 2001, 13:43 report.
  55. ^ "Number 28 for Harper", Canada NewsWire, 2002-03-06, 13:11 report. 
  56. ^ "Six Alliance MPs declare or reaffirm support for Harper's leadership bid", Canadian Press, 2001-12-07, 17:55 report. 
  57. ^ "Five More MPs endorse Harper", Canada NewsWire, 2002-02-20, 14:25 report. 
  58. ^ Harper, Stephen. "A vision of federalism for all Canadians" (newspaper article), National Post, 2002-01-19, p. A18. 
  59. ^ Basu, Arpon. "Alliance candidate Stephen Harper says French not threatened in Quebec", Canadian Press, 2002-01-19, 17:34 report. 
  60. ^ Laghi, Brian. "Harper launches campaign" (newspaper article), Globe and Mail date=2001-12-04, p. A8. 
  61. ^ Laghi, Brian. "Harper campaigns on social issues" (newspaper article), Globe and Mail, 2002-02-21, p. A4. 
  62. ^ Hunter, Ian. "The cult of policy" (newspaper article), Globe and Mail, 2002-03-07, p. A19. 
  63. ^ "No more Mr. Nice Guy in Alliance leadership race", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 4 February 2002, A3.
  64. ^ Robert Fife, "Day accused of courting evangelicals", National Post, 9 February 2002, A06.
  65. ^ Campbell Clark, "Harper attacking minorities, Day leadership camp charges", Globe and Mail, 12 February 2002, A12.
  66. ^ Brian Laghi, "Harper, Day swap insults in debate", Globe and Mail, 8 March 2002, A4.
  67. ^ Dawn Walton, "Rookie Levant ready to run", Globe and Mail, 28 March 2002, A8; Sheldon Alberts, "'Troubled' Levant lets Harper run", National Post, 29 March 2002, A01.
  68. ^ "Alliance leader won't face Tories in byelection bid", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 March 2002, A8.
  69. ^ Jeffrey Simpson, "He makes Harper think uncharitable thoughts", Globe and Mail, 7 May 2002, A19. Phipps later said that he was "shocked" by Harper's language. See Louise Elliott, "NDP candidate slams Alliance leader for personal comment, refusal to debate", Canadian Press, 9 May 2002, 17:23 report.
  70. ^ Brian Laghi, "Motion by MLAs condemns Harper", Globe and Mail, 31 May 2002, A5. The motion was brought forward by Nova Scotia NDP leader Darrell Dexter.
  71. ^ Louise Elliott, "Harper calls Canada a nation of defeatists, defends remark about easterners", Canadian Press, 29 May 2002, 17:23 report; Brian Laghi, "Premiers tell Harper his attack was wrong", Globe and Mail, 30 May 2002, A8.
  72. ^ CTV news report, 9 June 2006.
  73. ^ The Confidence Convention and the May 2005 Vote on the Public Accounts Committee Report.
  74. ^ National Post, May 14, 2005.
  75. ^ Gloria Galloway and Brian Laghi. Tories tried to sway vote of dying MP, widow alleges. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  76. ^ "Conservatives made million-dollar offer to MP Cadman: book", CBC News, 2008-02-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-27. 
  77. ^ Panetta, Alexander. Harper heard on tape discussing financial inducements for late MP. The Canadian Press. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  78. ^ Leblanc, Dominic. Letter requesting investigation to RCMP Commissioner William Elliot. The Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
  79. ^ News article summarizing the libel suit. AFP.
  80. ^ CTV.ca News Staff. "Harper seen as most trusted leader, poll finds", CTV.ca, 2005-01-11. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
  81. ^ CBC
  82. ^ CBC News. "Quebecers form a nation within Canada: PM", CBC.ca, 2006-11-22. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  83. ^ Canadian Press. "Québécois motion passes, 266-16", Toronto Star, 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  84. ^ CBC News. "Harper says he's finished with Ottawa press corps", CBC.ca, 2006-05-24. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  85. ^ globalnational.com. "Stephen Harper vs. The Press", canada.com, 2006-05-23. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  86. ^ Delacourt, Susan. "PM ‘critic’ sent packing", Toronto Star, 2006-10-23. 
  87. ^ Canadian Press. "Harper’s staff, media battle over access issues", CTV News, 2006-03-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-06. 
  88. ^ [1][dead link]
  89. ^ "PM hints Canada may stay in Afghanistan past 2009", CTV News, 2007-05-23. Retrieved on 2008-02-06. 
  90. ^ Canadian Press. "Harper sides firmly with Israel" (fee required), Globe and Mail, 2006-07-13. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  91. ^ Blanchfield, Mike. "Neutral stance rejected", National Post, 2006-07-19. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  92. ^ Canada - European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - Free Trade Agreement. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (2008-01-28). Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
  93. ^ "Harper praises Australian troops, elected senate", CTV News, 2007-09-10. Retrieved on 2008-02-06. 
  94. ^ Gloria Galloway. "Harper rebukes U.S. envoy over Arctic dispute", Globe and Mail, 2006-01-27. Retrieved on 2007-12-16. 
  95. ^ Globe and Mail Update. "Committee to judge next Supreme Court appointee" (fee required), Globe and Mail, 2006-02-20. Retrieved on 2006-12-06. 
  96. ^ CTV News. "Time Magazine dubs Harper Cdn. newsmaker of 2006", CTV, 2006-12-17. 
  97. ^ The Table of Precedence for Canada issued by the Department of Canadian Heritage, do not include members of the Royal Family other than the sovereign and have the Prime Minister preceded in precedence by the Governor General and then the Queen. The Canadian Forces guideline Honours, Flags, and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces (Section 1.5), however, does include members of the Royal Family, other than the Queen, while in Canada though without a precedence within the Royal Family itself. According to the Canadian Forces' definition, members of the Canadian Royal Family are "those persons, being subjects of the Canadian Sovereign, who bear the title 'Royal Highness.'"
Persondata
NAME Harper, Stephen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION 22nd Prime Minister of Canada
DATE OF BIRTH April 30, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH Toronto
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH



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