Stephen Harper
Who was Stephen Harper?
Conservative Party leader who served as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Stephen Harper (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Stephen Harper was born on April 30, 1959, in the Leaside area of Toronto, Ontario. He went to John G. Althouse Middle School and Richview Collegiate Institute before attending the University of Calgary. There, he got a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985 and a master's degree in 1991. Harper also studied piano at The Royal Conservatory of Music. After finishing his education, he worked as an economist and policy analyst, then moved into politics.
Harper helped start the Reform Party of Canada and was elected to the House of Commons in 1993 for Calgary West. He left federal politics in 1997 to lead the National Citizens Coalition but returned in 2002 as leader of the Canadian Alliance. He was key in merging the Canadian Alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party in 2003, forming the Conservative Party of Canada, and became its first leader in 2004.
As Canada's 22nd Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015, Harper led the country through three terms, starting with a minority government after the 2006 election. He focused on reducing the Goods and Services Tax from 7% to 5%, passing the Federal Accountability Act, and acknowledging Quebec as a nation within Canada. Harper guided Canada through the 2008 global financial crisis with his Economic Action Plan, which included infrastructure projects and tax reductions. His government also introduced the Veterans' Bill of Rights and made changes to criminal justice policies.
During his time as Prime Minister, Harper emphasized economic issues, law and order, and national security. His government survived challenges like the In and Out scandal and a 2008 parliamentary crisis where he prorogued Parliament to avoid a coalition government. After losing the 2015 election to Justin Trudeau's Liberals, Harper resigned as Conservative leader and later left his seat in Parliament. Since then, he has been active in international conservative politics, serving as chairman of the International Democracy Union since 2018, and has engaged in writing and public speaking.
Before Fame
Growing up in Toronto during the 1960s and 1970s, Harper was raised in a middle-class family at a time of big political and social change in Canada. His early years happened during Pierre Trudeau's time as prime minister, which saw the start of official bilingualism, the October Crisis, and changes to the constitution. When Harper moved to Alberta for university, he encountered the Western Canadian view on federal politics, especially the growing feeling among many Albertans that central Canada dominated politics.
The economic struggles of the early 1980s, with high inflation and unemployment, influenced Harper's conservative economic views. While studying economics at the University of Calgary, he was in sync with the rise of free-market ideas promoted by leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. This setting, along with Western Canadian frustrations over the National Energy Program and constitutional issues, led Harper to help start the Reform Party as an alternative to a political establishment that many Westerners felt didn't listen.
Key Achievements
- Served as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015, leading three consecutive governments
- Co-founded and became first leader of the Conservative Party of Canada through the 2003 merger
- Successfully navigated Canada through the 2008 global financial crisis with minimal economic damage
- Reduced the Goods and Services Tax from 7% to 5% and implemented the Federal Accountability Act
- Received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in 2006 and became Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019
Did You Know?
- 01.Harper is an accomplished pianist who has performed with professional musicians and recorded an album of piano music
- 02.He received an honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University in 2014, reflecting his strong support for Israel during his tenure as Prime Minister
- 03.Harper became a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019, the country's highest civilian honor
- 04.He was the first Canadian Prime Minister to come from the modern Conservative Party of Canada, which he helped create through the 2003 merger
- 05.Harper served as chairman of the International Democracy Union starting in 2018, leading a global alliance of center-right political parties
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service | 2006 | — |
| Order of Liberty | 2016 | — |
| Canadian Newsmaker of the Year | 2006 | — |
| Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal | 2002 | — |
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | 2012 | — |
| honorary doctor of Tel Aviv University | 2014 | — |
| Alberta Centennial Medal | 2005 | — |
| Companion of the Order of Canada | 2019 | — |