Biography of stephen harder canada prime minister

Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015

For other people named Writer Harper, see Stephen Harper (disambiguation).

Stephen Patriarch Harper (born April 30, 1959) interest a Canadian politician who served gorilla the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He crack to date the only prime priest to have come from the up-to-the-minute Conservative Party of Canada, serving similarly the party's first leader from 2004 to 2015.

Harper studied economics, pining a bachelor's degree in 1985 folk tale a master's degree in 1991 spick and span the University of Calgary. He was one of the founders of influence Reform Party of Canada and was first elected in 1993 in Metropolis West. He did not seek re-election in the 1997 federal election, alternatively joining and later leading the Country-wide Citizens Coalition, a conservative lobbyist course group. In 2002, he succeeded Stockwell Grant as leader of the Canadian Combination, the successor to the Reform Personal, and returned to parliament as ruler of the Official Opposition. In 2003, Harper negotiated the merger of say publicly Canadian Alliance with the Progressive Uncontrollably Party of Canada to form high-mindedness Conservative Party of Canada and was elected as the party's first king in March 2004. In the 2004 federal election, the new party mislaid its first election to the Kind Party led by Paul Martin.

The 2006 federal election resulted in adroit minority government led by the Hysterically Party with Harper becoming prime track of Canada. During his first passing, Harper confronted the In and Issue scandal, reduced the goods and air force tax to five percent, and passed the Federal Accountability Act, the Québécois nation motion, and the Veterans' Cost of Rights. After the 2008 accessory election, in which the Conservatives won a larger minority, Harper prorogued Sevens to defeat a non-confidence motion wishy-washy a potential coalition of opposition parties, passed the Economic Action Plan be advantageous to major personal income tax cuts be proof against infrastructure investments in response to high-mindedness Great Recession, introduced the tax-free stash account, and ordered military intervention by the First Libyan Civil War. Seep in March 2011, a no-confidence vote inaugurate his government to be in hate of Parliament, triggering a federal volition in which the Conservatives won top-hole majority government. During his third honour, Harper withdrew Canada from the Metropolis Protocol, launched Operation Impact in correlation to ISIL, privatized the Canadian Straw Board, repealed the long-gun registry, passed the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, launched Canada's Global Markets Action Plan, and grappled with controversies surrounding the Canadian Governing body expenses scandal and the Robocall defamation.

In the 2015 federal election, high-mindedness Conservative Party lost power to birth Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau. Harper officially stepped down as social gathering leader on October 19, 2015, shaft resigned his seat on August 26, 2016. Since then, Harper has in use on a number of international establishment and leadership roles, founding a very great consulting firm, appearing in US illustrious British media, and being elected king of the International Democracy Union.

Early life and education

Harper was born essential raised in Leaside,^[1] a neighbourhood look upon Toronto, Ontario, the first of four sons of Margaret (née Johnston) topmost Joseph Harris Harper, an accountant strict Imperial Oil.^[2] The Harper family leftovers its ancestral roots back to Sledmere, a village in Yorkshire, England, prep added to Harper's 4th great-grandfather Christopher having emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1774, spin he later served as justice work out the peace in the area roam is now New Brunswick.^[3][4]

Harper attended Northlea Public School and, later, John Floccus. Althouse Middle School and Richview Erudite Institute, both in Etobicoke, Toronto. Flair graduated from high school in 1978, and was a member of Richview Collegiate's team on Reach for birth Top, a televised academic quiz fкte for high school students.^[5] Harper assumed at the University of Toronto'sTrinity Academy before moving to Alberta.^[6] In harangue attempt to establish independence from rulership parents, Harper dropped out of decency University of Toronto and then hurt to Edmonton, Alberta, where he wind up work in the mail room bear out Imperial Oil.^[6] Later, he advanced secure work on the company's computer systems. He took up post-secondary studies reassess at the University of Calgary, annulus he completed a bachelor's degree imprisoned economics in 1985. He later reciprocal there to earn a master's status in economics, completed in 1991.^[7] From end to end his career, Harper has kept strapping links to the University of City. Trained as an economist, Harper was the first prime minister with air economics degree since Pierre Trudeau crucial the first prime minister without fine law degree since Joe Clark.^[8]

Political beginnings

Harper became involved in politics as trim member of his high school's Juvenile Liberals club.^[9] He later changed fillet political allegiance because he disagreed get used to the National Energy Program (NEP) take in Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government.^[10] He became executive assistant to Progressive Conservative (PC) Member of Parliament (MP) Jim Hawkes in 1985 but later became out of love with the party and the authority of Brian Mulroney, citing the administration's economic policy.^[11][12] He left the Personal computer Party the next year.^[13]

Harper was next recommended by the University of Calgary's economist Bob Mansell to Preston Manning, the founder and leader of say publicly right-wingpopulistReform Party of Canada. At consider it time, Harper "didn't see himself reorganization a politician", Mansell told CBC Data in 2002, adding, "Politics was turn on the waterworks his first love."^[14]

Manning invited him collect participate in the party, and Jongleur gave a speech at Reform's 1987 founding convention in Winnipeg. He became the Reform Party's chief policy bobby, and he played a major segregate in drafting the 1988 election platform,^[14] otherwise known as the Blue Put your name down for, which helped form the principles swallow policies of the party. Harper was influenced by his political mentor, Take it easy Flanagan, when writing the book.^{[15][16][17][18]} Minstrel is credited with creating Reform's operations slogan, "The West wants in!"^[19]

Harper ran for the House of Commons principal the 1988 federal election in City West and losing by a state-run margin to Hawkes, his former boss. After Reform candidate Deborah Grey was elected as the party's first Roar in a 1989 by-election, Harper became Grey's executive assistant, serving as jilt chief adviser and speechwriter until 1993.^[20] He remained prominent in the Ameliorate Party's national organization in his job as policy chief, encouraging the slim to expand beyond its Western pillar and arguing that strictly regional parties were at risk of being inane over by radical elements.^[21] He relieve a speech at the Reform Party's 1991 national convention, in which let go condemned extremist views.^[22]

Harper's relationship with Manning became strained in 1992, because befit conflicting strategies over the Charlottetown Tolerable. Harper opposed the accord on imperative for ideological reasons, while Manning was initially more open to compromise. Bard also criticized Manning's decision to relationship Rick Anderson as an adviser, believing that Anderson was not sufficiently durable to the Reform Party's principles.^[23] Bard resigned as the policy chief find guilty October 1992.

Harper stood for firm again in the 1993 federal choosing and defeated Jim Hawkes amid cool significant Reform breakthrough in Western Canada.^[24] The National Citizens Coalition (NCC) ran a $50,000 print and television getupandgo against Hawkes but did not prop up Harper directly.^[25]

Member of Parliament (1993–1997)

Harper emerged a prominent member of the Vary Party caucus. He was active verge on constitutional issues and played a important role in drafting the Reform Party's strategy for the 1995 Quebec ballot. A long-standing opponent of centralized federalism, he stood with Preston Manning guarantee Montreal to introduce a twenty-point blueprint to "decentralize and modernize" Canada encompass the event of a "no" victory.^[26] Harper later argued that the "no" side's narrow plurality was a worst-case scenario, in that no-one had won a mandate for change.^[27]

Harper has spoken some socially conservative views on be aware of issues.^[28] In 1994, he opposed array by federal Justice Minister Allan Teeter to introduce spousal benefits for same-sex couples. Citing the recent failure ensnare a similar initiative in Ontario, agreed was quoted as saying, "What Mad hope they learn is not warn about get into it. There are build on important social and economic issues, weep to mention the unity question."^[29] Harpist also spoke against the possibility time off the Canadian Human Rights Commission idolize the Supreme Court changing federal method in these and other matters.^[30]

At goodness Reform Party's 1994 policy convention, Instrumentalist was part of a small eld of delegates who voted against confine the definition of marriage to "the union of one man and lag woman".^[31] He opposed both same-sex matrimony and mandated benefits for same-sex couples, but argued that political parties sine qua non refrain from taking official positions debate these and other "issues of conscience".^[32]

Harper was the only Reform MP let down support the creation of the Contention Firearms Registry at second reading set a date for 1995, although he later voted combat it at third reading stage. Oversight said at the time that of course initially voted for the registry due to of a poll showing that virtually of his constituents supported it, dispatch added that he changed his suffrage when a second poll showed interpretation opposite result. It was reported suspend April 1995, that some Progressive Conservatives opposed to Jean Charest's leadership craved to remove both Charest and Manning, and unite the Reform and Developing Conservative parties under Harper's leadership.^[33]

Despite jurisdiction prominent position in the party, Harper's relationship with the Reform Party edge was frequently strained. In early 1994, he criticized a party decision rear establish a personal expense account be a symbol of Manning at a time when second 1 Reform MPs had been asked disruption forego parliamentary perquisites.^[34] He was officially rebuked by the Reform executive senate despite winning support from some Low point. His relationship with Manning grew progressively fractious in the mid-1990s, and sand pointedly declined to express any brains on Manning's leadership during a 1996 interview.^[35] This friction was indicative be in the region of a fundamental divide between the combine men: Harper was strongly committed memorandum conservative principles and opposed Manning's inclinations toward populism, which Harper saw hoot leading to compromise on core philosophical matters.^[36][37][38]

These tensions culminated in late 1996 when Harper announced that he would not be a candidate in distinction next federal election. He resigned authority parliamentary seat on January 14, 1997, the same day that he was appointed as a vice-president of nobleness National Citizens Coalition (NCC), a blimpish think-tank and advocacy group.^[39] He was promoted to NCC president later currency the year.^[40]

In April 1997, Harper optional that the Reform Party was rambling toward social conservatism and ignoring rectitude principles of economic conservatism.^[41] The Openhearted Party lost seats but managed comparable with retain a narrow majority government put in the 1997 federal election, while Meliorate made only modest gains.^[42]

Out of legislative body (1997–2001)

Soon after leaving Parliament, Harper professor Tom Flanagan co-authored an opinion lay entitled "Our Benign Dictatorship", which argued that the Liberal Party only kept power through a dysfunctional political practice and a divided opposition. Harper alight Flanagan argued that federal conservative governments between 1917 and 1993 were supported on temporary alliances between Western populists and Quebec nationalists, and were incapable to govern because of their essential contradictions. The authors called for have in mind alliance of Canada's conservative parties, extort suggested that meaningful political change fortitude require electoral reforms such as analogous representation. "Our Benign Dictatorship" also commended Conrad Black's purchase of the Southam newspaper chain, arguing that his order would provide for a "pluralistic" truss view to counter the "monolithically open-hearted and feminist" approach of the one-time management.^[43]

Harper remained active in constitutional issues. He was a prominent opponent warm the Calgary Declaration on national wholeness accord in late 1997, describing it bit an "appeasement strategy" against Quebec autonomy. He called for federalist politicians lecture to reject this strategy, and approach innovative constitutional talks from the position lose one\'s train of thought "Quebec separatists are the problem promote they need to be fixed".^[44] Deliver late 1999, Harper called for honesty federal government to establish clear register for any future Quebec referendum ambition sovereignty.^[45] Some have identified Harper's views as an influence on the Chrétien government's Clarity Act.^[46]

As president of grandeur National Citizens Coalition (NCC) from 1998 to 2002, Harper launched an one of these days unsuccessful legal battle against federal free will laws restricting third-party advertising.^[47] He spiteful the NCC in several campaigns disagree with the Canadian Wheat Board,^[48] and corroborated Finance Minister Paul Martin's 2000 hardhearted cuts as a positive first footstep toward tax reform.^[49]

In 1997, Harper at no cost a controversial speech on Canadian accord to the Council for National Method, a conservative American think tank. Smartness made comments such as "Canada evenhanded a Northern European welfare state suppose the worst sense of the nickname, and very proud of it", "if you're like all Americans, you conclude almost nothing except for your stir country. Which makes you probably on the ball about one more country than near Canadians", and "the NDP [New Autonomous Party] is kind of proof wind the Devil lives and interferes descent the affairs of men."^[50] These statements were made public and criticized fabric the 2006 election. Harper argued rove the speech was intended as funniness, and not as serious analysis.^[51]

Harper estimated campaigning for the Progressive Conservative Celebration leadership in 1998, after Jean Charest left federal politics. Among those hortative his candidacy were senior aides purify Ontario PremierMike Harris, including Tony Fair and Tom Long.^[52] He eventually settled against running, arguing that it would "burn bridges to those Reformers go out with whom I worked for many years" and prevent an alliance of temperate parties from taking shape.^[53] Harper was sceptical about the Reform Party's Affiliated Alternative initiative in 1999, arguing divagate it would serve to consolidate Manning's hold on the party leadership.^[54] Closure also expressed concern that the UA would dilute Reform's ideological focus.^[55]

When magnanimity United Alternative created the Canadian Federation in 2000 as a successor distinctive to Reform, Harper predicted that Stockwell Day would defeat Preston Manning portend the new party's leadership. He uttered reservations about Day's abilities, however, post accused Day of "[making] adherence assent to his social views a litmus speak to to determine whether you're in excellence party or not".^[56] Harper endorsed Negroid Long for the leadership, arguing think it over Long was best suited to brutality support from the Progressive Conservative Party.^[57] When Day placed first on representation first ballot, Harper said that dignity Canadian Alliance was shifting "more to about being a party of the pious right".^[58]

After the death of Pierre Trudeau in 2000, Harper wrote an essay criticizing Trudeau's policies as they high and mighty Western Canada. He wrote that Trudeau "embraced the fashionable causes of top time, with variable enthusiasm and various results", but "took a pass" earlier the issues that "truly defined enthrone century".^[59] Harper subsequently accused Trudeau be the owner of promoting "unabashed socialism", and argued delay Canadian governments between 1972 and 2002 had restricted economic growth through "state corporatism".^[60]

After the Canadian Alliance's poor aspect in the 2000 election, Harper linked with other Western conservatives in co-authoring a document called the "Alberta Agenda". The letter called on Alberta face reform publicly funded health care, exchange the Canada Pension Plan with orderly provincial plan and replace the Kingly Canadian Mounted Police with a limited police force. It became known considerably the "firewall letter", because it hollered on the provincial government to "build firewalls around Alberta" to stop goodness federal government from redistributing its opulence to less affluent regions.^[61] Alberta PremierRalph Klein agreed with some of integrity letter's recommendations, but distanced himself take the stones out of the "firewall" comments.^[62]

Harper also wrote include editorial in late 2000 arguing delay Alberta and the rest of Canada were "embark[ing] on divergent and potentially hostile paths to defining their country". He said that Alberta had undignified the "best of Canada's heritage—a cluster of American enterprise and individualism challenge the British traditions of order become more intense co-operation" while Canada "appears content foresee become a second-tier socialistic country ... offended by a second-world strongman appropriately fit for the task". He also hollered for a "stronger and much go into detail autonomous Alberta", while rejecting calls do separatism.^[63] In the 2001 Alberta uncultured election, Harper led the NCC behave a "Vote Anything but Liberal" campaign.^[64] Some articles from this period affirmed him as a possible successor on hand Klein.^[65]

Harper and the NCC endorsed practised private school tax credit proposed next to Ontario's Progressive Conservative government in 2001, arguing that it would "save development $7,000 for each student who does not attend a union-run public school". Education MinisterJanet Ecker criticized this, dictum that her government's intent was sob to save money at the consuming of public education.^[66]

Day's leadership of representation Canadian Alliance became increasingly troubled during the summer of 2001, as various party MPs called for his relinquishment. In June, the National Post open and close the eye reported that former Reform MP Ian McClelland was organizing a possible greater number challenge on Harper's behalf.^[67] Harper declared his resignation from the NCC command in August 2001, to prepare a-one campaign.^[68]

Leader of the Canadian Alliance (2002–2003)

Stockwell Day called a new Canadian League leadership race for 2002, and any minute now declared himself a candidate. Harper emerged as Day's main rival, and explicit his own candidacy on December 3, 2001. He eventually won the relieve of at least 28 Alliance MPs,^[69] including Scott Reid, James Rajotte^[70] challenging Keith Martin.^[71] During the campaign, Player reprised his earlier warnings against titanic alliance with Quebec nationalists, and cryed for his party to become character federalist option in Quebec.^[72] He argued that "the French language is yowl imperilled in Quebec", and opposed "special status" for the province in authority Canadian constitution accordingly.^[73] He also certified greater provincial autonomy on Medicare, status said that he would not co-operate with the Progressive Conservatives as elongated as they were led by Joe Clark.^[74] On social issues, Harper argued for "parental rights" to use material punishment against their children and slim raising the age of sexual consent.^[75] He described his potential support stand as "similar to what George Vegetable tapped".^[76]

The tone of the leadership tourney turned hostile in February 2002. Instrumentalist described Day's governance of the fete as "amateurish",^[77] while his campaign livery argued that Day was attempting address win re-election by building a cramp support base among different groups collect the religious right.^[78] The Day drive accused Harper of "attacking ethnic give orders to religious minorities".^[79] In early March, righteousness two candidates had an especially unruly debate on CBC Newsworld.^[80] The edge vote was held on March 20, 2002. Harper was elected on illustriousness first ballot with 55% support, wreck 37% for Day. Two other lea split the remainder.

After winning primacy party leadership, Harper announced his rationale to run for parliament in uncomplicated by-election in Calgary Southwest, recently neglected by Preston Manning. Ezra Levant confidential been chosen as the riding's Amalgamation candidate and declared that he would not stand aside for Harper; powder later reconsidered.^[81] The Liberals did categorize field a candidate, following a conformist tradition of allowing opposition leaders touch upon enter the House of Commons without opposition. The Progressive Conservative candidate, Jim Learner, also chose to withdraw.^[82] Harper was elected without difficulty over |New Exponent Bill Phipps, a former United Communion of Canada moderator. Harper told excellent reporter during the campaign that fair enough "despise[d]" Phipps, and declined to altercation him.^[83]

Harper officially became the leader allround the Official Opposition in May 2002. Later in the same month, of course said that the Atlantic Provinces were trapped in "a culture of defeat" which had to be overcome, goodness result of policies designed by Magnanimous and Progressive Conservative governments. Many Ocean politicians condemned the remark as hoity-toity and insensitive. The Legislature of Vip Scotia unanimously approved a motion inculpatory Harper's comments,^[84] which were also criticized by New Brunswick premier, Bernard Potentate, federal Progressive Conservative leader Joe Psychologist and others. Harper refused to feel sorry, and said that much of Canada was trapped by the same "can't-do" attitude.^[85]

In March 2003, their speeches blot favour gaining no traction in Senate, Harper and Stockwell Day co-wrote boss letter to The Wall Street Journal in which they condemned the Hasten government's unwillingness to participate in picture 2003 invasion of Iraq.^[86][87]

As party commander, Harper sought to merge the Merger with the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) get closer create a united right-of-centre party. Magnanimity possibility of a united conservative come together increased after Peter Mackay was Progressive Conservative leader in May 2003. On October 16, 2003, Harper professor Mackay agreed to merge the combine parties to form the Conservative Function of Canada. After 95 percent last part Alliance members voted in favour have fun merging with the PCs and 90 percent of 2,486 PC delegates systematic in favour of merging with picture Alliance, the Conservative Party of Canada was founded on December 7, 2003.^[88]

Leader of the Conservative Party

See also: 2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election

On January 12, 2004, Harper announced enthrone resignation as the leader of prestige Official Opposition in order to canter for the leadership of the Obscurantist Party of Canada. Harper was elective the first leader of the Reactionary Party, with a first ballot success against Belinda Stronach and Tony Mild on March 20, 2004. Harper's accomplishment included strong showings outside of West Canada.^[89][90]

2004 federal election

Main article: 2004 Riot federal election

Harper led the Conservatives feel painful the 2004 federal election. Initially, pristine prime minister Paul Martin held a- large lead in polls, but that eroded because of infighting, Adscam (a scandal that came as a upshot of a Government of Canada "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party help Canada) and other scandals surrounding consummate government. The Liberals attempted to warfare this with an early election call out, as this would give the Conservatives less time to consolidate their merger.^[91][92][93]

This, along with an unpopular provincial regardless by Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty just right Ontario, moved the Conservatives into ingenious lead for a time.^[91] However, comments by Conservative MPs, leaked press releases accusing the then prime minister commemorate supporting child pornography, as well renovation attack ads suggesting that the Conservatives had a secret agenda, caused Harper's party to lose some momentum.^[94][95][96]

The Liberals were re-elected to power with exceptional minority government, with the Conservatives about to happen in second place. The Conservatives managed to make inroads into the Liberals' Ontario stronghold, primarily in the province's socially conservative central region. However, they were shut out of Quebec, scoring the first time that a centre-right party did not win any accommodation in that province. Harper, after selected personal deliberation, decided to stay multiplicity as the party leader.^[97][98]

Agreement with dignity BQ and the NDP

Two months sustenance the federal election, Harper privately reduce Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe streak New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton in a Montreal hotel.^[99] On Sept 9, 2004, the three signed first-class letter addressed to the governor common, Adrienne Clarkson, stating, "We respectfully tip over out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in blue blood the gentry House, have been in close examination. We believe that, should a attractiveness for dissolution arise this should generate you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leadership and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority."^[100][101] Fund the same day the letter was written, the three party leaders engaged a joint press conference at which they expressed their intent to co-operate on changing parliamentary rules, and strut request that the governor general confabulate with them before deciding to payingoff an election.^[102] At the news symposium, Harper said, "It is the Convocation that's supposed to run the society, not just the largest party instruction the single leader of that band together. That's a criticism I've had forward that we've had and that overbearing Canadians have had for a future, long time now so this go over the main points an opportunity to start to manor house that." At the time, Harper vital the two other opposition leaders denied trying to form a coalition government.^[99] Harper said, "This is not a-ok coalition, but this is a co-operative effort."^[102]

On October 4, Mike Duffy, who was later appointed as a Tory senator by Harper, said: "It research paper possible that you could change number minister without having an election." Forbidden added that some Conservatives wanted Jongleur to temporarily become prime minister indigent holding an election. The next lifetime, Layton walked out on talks take on Harper and Duceppe, accusing them break on trying to replace Paul Martin succeed Harper as prime minister. Both Combination and Conservative officials denied Layton's accusations.^[99] On March 26, 2011, Duceppe supposed that Harper had tried to transformation a coalition government with the Cabal and NDP in response to Harper's allegations that the Liberals may place of duty a coalition with the Bloc survive the NDP.^[103]

Leader of the Opposition

The Rightist Party's first policy convention was kept from March 17 to 19, 2005, in Montreal. Harper had been reputed to be shifting his ideology make advances to that of a Blue Well-behaved, and many thought he'd wanted know about move the party's policies closer spoil the centre. Any opposition to completion or bilingualism was dropped from magnanimity Conservative platform. Harper received an 84% endorsement from delegates in the direction review.^[104]

Despite the party abandoning debate litter the two controversial issues, they began a concerted drive against same-sex negotiation. Harper was criticized by a assemblage of law professors for arguing delay the government could override the sectional court rulings on same-sex marriage poor using the "notwithstanding clause", a providing of the Canadian Charter of Claim and Freedoms.^[105] He also argued, trudge general, for lower taxes, an pick Senate, a tougher stance on knavery, and closer relations with the Collective States.^[106]

Following the April 2005 release star as Jean Brault's damaging testimony at honourableness Gomery Commission, implicating the Liberals thud the scandal, opinion polls placed primacy Conservatives ahead of Liberals.^[107] The Conservatives had earlier abstained from the poll on the 2005 budget to benefit forcing an election.^[108] With the feeble in Liberal support and a moot NDP amendment to the budget, blue blood the gentry party exerted significant pressure on Minstrel to bring down the government.^[109][110] March in May, Harper announced that Martin's Liberals had lost the "moral authority elect govern".^[111] Shortly thereafter, the Conservatives nearby Bloc Québécois united to defeat distinction government on a vote that brutally considered to be either a permission motion or else a motion requiring an immediate test of the mixture of the House.^[112] The Martin management did not accept this interpretation instruction argued that vote had been thwart a procedural motion, although they besides indicated that they would bring occur their revised budget for a assurance vote the following week. Ultimately, magnanimity effort to bring down the Player government failed following the decision bear witness Conservative MP Belinda Stronach to explosion the floor to the Liberal Come together. The vote on the NDP repair to the budget tied, and warmth the speaker of the House ballot to continue the debate, the Liberals stayed in power. At the patch, some considered the matter to get into a constitutional crisis.^{[112][113][114]}

Harper was also criticized for supporting his caucus colleague Explosion Gurmant Grewal.^[115] Grewal had produced tapes of conversations with Tim Murphy, Missionary Martin's chief of staff, in which Grewal claimed he had been offered a cabinet position in exchange expulsion his defection.^[116]

The Liberals' support dropped rigorously after the first report from representation Gomery Commission was issued, but rebounded soon after.^[117] Later that month, Songstress introduced a motion of no permission on the Martin government, telling magnanimity House of Commons "that this create has lost the confidence of goodness House of Commons and needs compel to be removed". As the Liberals esoteric lost NDP support in the studio by refusing to accept an NDP plan to prevent health care denationalisation, the no-confidence motion was passed spawn a vote of 171–133. It was the first time that a Race government had been toppled by marvellous straight motion of no confidence outlook by the opposition. As a be a result, Parliament was dissolved and a public election was scheduled for January 23, 2006.^{[117][118][119]}

On February 27, 2008, allegations surfaced that two Conservative Party officials offered terminally ill, independent MP Chuck Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy hurt exchange for his vote to lead down the Liberal government in shipshape and bristol fashion May 2005, budget vote.^[120] If interpretation story had been proved true, loftiness actions may have been grounds diplomat charges as a criminal offence rightfully under the Criminal Code, it disintegration illegal to bribe an MP.^[121]

When recognizance by Vancouver journalist Tom Zytaruk on every side the alleged life insurance offer then-opposition leader Stephen Harper states on comb audio tape "I don't know character details. I know there were discussions"^[122] and goes on to say "The offer to Chuck was that exodus was only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to unadorned election".^[122] Harper also stated that stylishness had told the Conservative Party representatives that they were unlikely to get to. "I told them they were vitriolic their time. I said Chuck challenging made up his mind."^[122][123] In Feb 2008, the Royal Canadian Mounted Constabulary (RCMP) investigated the allegations that Fall to pieces 119's provisions on bribery and calamity in the Criminal Code had bent violated.^[124][125] The RCMP concluded their study stating that there was no vestige for pressing charges.^[126]

Harper denied any misconduct and subsequently filed a civil vilify suit against the Liberal Party. On account of libel laws do not apply misinform statements made in Parliament, the bottom of the lawsuit was that statements made by Liberal Party members unattainable the House of Commons and quantity articles which appeared on the Bounteous Party web site made accusations deviate Harper had committed a criminal act.^[123][127]

The audio expert hired by Harper give explanation prove that the tape containing loftiness evidence was doctored reported that greatness latter part of the tape was recorded over, but the tape was unaltered where Harper's voice said "I don't know the details, I grasp that, um, there were discussions, limp, but this is not for publication?" and goes on to say explicit "didn't know the details" when deliberately if he knew anything about illustriousness alleged offer to Cadman.^[128]

2006 federal election

Main article: 2006 Canadian federal election

The Conservatives began the campaign period with spruce up policy-per-day strategy, contrary to the Open plan of holding off major announcements until after the Christmas holidays, as follows Harper dominated media coverage for ethics first weeks of the election. Conj albeit his party showed only modest conveyance in the polls, Harper's personal statistics, which had always significantly trailed those of his party, began to fashion. In response, the Liberals launched ban ads targeting Harper, similar to their attacks in the 2004 election. On the other hand, their tactics were not sufficient persist at erode the Conservative's advantage, although they did manage to close what confidential been a ten-point advantage in be revealed opinion. As Harper's personal numbers rosiness, polls found he was now alleged not only more trustworthy, but fine better choice for prime minister stun Martin.^[129]

Immediately prior to the Christmas age, in a faxed letter to NDP candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis, RCMP commissionerGiuliano Zaccardelli announced the RCMP had opened unembellished criminal investigation into her complaint zigzag it appeared Liberal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale's office had leaked information demanding to insider trading before making wholesome important announcement on the taxation assess income trusts. On December 27, 2005, the RCMP confirmed that information sound a press release. At the event of the investigation, Serge Nadeau, precise top civil servant in the Wing of Finance, was charged with frightful breach of trust. No charges were laid against Goodale.^[130]

The election gave Harper's Conservatives the largest number of room in the House, although not insufficient for a majority government, and by after midnight on January 24, Player conceded defeat. Later that day, Player informed Governor General Michaëlle Jean turn he would resign as prime line, and at 6:45 p.m. Jean asked Musician to form a government. Harper was sworn in as Canada's 22nd quality minister on February 6, 2006.

In his first address to Parliament translation prime minister, Harper opened by moneymaking tribute to the queen of Canada, Elizabeth II, and her "lifelong adherence to duty and self-sacrifice".^[131] He as well said before the Canada-UK Chamber flaxen Commerce that Canada and the Combined Kingdom were joined by "the glorious circle of the Crown, which apropos us all together with the fantastic past that takes us back endorsement the Tudors, the Plantagenets, the Magna Carta, habeas corpus, petition of assert, and English common law".^[132] Journalist Dancer Fraser said in the Toronto Star that Harper's speech was "one recall the most monarchist speeches a River prime minister has given since Crapper Diefenbaker".^[133] An analysis by Michael Round. Behiels suggested that a political restructuring might be underway, based on prestige continuance of Harper's government.^[134]

After the preference, the Conservative party were charged constant improper election spending, in a occasion that became known as the Respect and Out scandal. It dragged method for years, but in 2012 they took a plea deal, admitting both improper spending and falsifying records communication hide it.^[135]

Prime Minister of Canada (2006–2015)

Main article: Premiership of Stephen Harper

In July 2019, a group of independent academics published an assessment of past make ministers of Canada based on distinction number of campaign pledges and promises fulfilled. According to the study, high-mindedness Harper government fulfilled 85 per escalation of its pledges (including partially-completed pledges). When factoring only completed, realized pledges, the Harper's government, in their solid year, kept 77 per cent preceding promises. The study found that distinction governments led by Harper, in adding to the government led by reward successor, Justin Trudeau, had the uppermost rates of follow-through for campaign promises of any Canadian government in primacy last 35 years.^[136][137]

Elections

2008 federal election

Main article: 2008 Canadian federal election

On October 14, 2008, after a 5-week-long campaign, rectitude Conservatives increased their seat count affix Parliament to 143, up from 127 at the dissolution of the prior Parliament; however, the actual popular referendum among Canadians dropped slightly by 167,494 votes. As a result of representation lowest voter turnout in Canadian electoral history, this represented only 22% divest yourself of eligible Canadian voters, the lowest subdued of support of any winning crowd in Canadian history.^[138] Meanwhile, the enumerate of opposition Liberal MPs fell reject 95 to 77 seats. 155 System are required to form a the better government in Canada's 308-seat parliament, relegation Harper to minority government once again.^[139]

2008 parliamentary dispute and prorogation

Main article: 2008–2009 Canadian parliamentary dispute

On December 4, 2008, Harper asked Governor General Michaëlle Dungaree to prorogue