Stephen Harper

22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015

Stephen Joseph Harper PC CC (born 30 April 1959) is a Canadian economist, entrepreneur, and retired politician who is the 4th and current Chairman of the International Democracy Union since 2018. Harper was previously the twenty-seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He is a member and the former leader of the Conservative Party, after being elected in 2004. He was elected in February 2006 and replaced Paul Martin as Prime Minister.


Stephen Harper

Photograph of Harper in 2014 during an official visit to Mexico to meet President Enrique Peña Nieto
Harper in 2014
4th Chairman of the International Democracy Union
Assumed office
21 February 2018
Deputy
Preceded byJohn Key
27th Prime Minister of Canada
In office
6 February 2006 – 4 November 2015
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor General
DeputyVacant
Preceded byPaul Martin
Succeeded byJustin Trudeau
Additional offices held
37th Leader of the Opposition
In office
20 March 2004 – 6 February 2006
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterPaul Martin
Preceded byGrant Hill
Succeeded byBill Graham
In office
21 May 2002 – 8 January 2004
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime Minister
Preceded byJohn Reynolds
Succeeded byGrant Hill
1st Leader of the Conservative Party
In office
20 March 2004 – 4 November 2015
DeputyPeter MacKay
Preceded byJohn Lynch-Staunton (Interim)
Succeeded byRona Ambrose (Interim)
4th Leader of the Canadian Alliance
In office
20 March 2002 – 7 December 2003
Preceded byJohn Reynolds (Interim)
Succeeded byParty abolished
Member of Parliament
for Calgary Heritage
Calgary Southwest (2002–2015)
In office
13 May 2002 – 26 August 2016
Preceded byPreston Manning
Succeeded byBob Benzen
Member of Parliament
for Calgary West
In office
25 October 1993 – 14 January 1997
Preceded byJim Hawkes
Succeeded byRob Anders
Personal details
Born (1959-04-30) 30 April 1959 (age 65)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative (since 2003)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)
(m. 1993)
Children2
ResidenceCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionEconomist, Entrepreneur
SignatureVectorised signature of Stephen Harper.
Websitestephenharper.com

Harper was born in 1959 in Toronto, Ontario and lives in Calgary, Alberta. He is married to Laureen Teskey and has two children. He is the third Prime Minister, after Pierre Trudeau and John Turner, to send their children to Rockcliffe Park Public School, in Ottawa. Stephen Harper was Prime Minister for nine years, during which Canada hosted both the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games. Harper also hosted the G8 and G20 meetings.

Harper is a conservative and supports cutting government spending and taxes. As Prime Minister, he has cut the goods and services tax and approved a budget that would cut funding to several government programs. He has also shown support for the military and a bigger Canadian military presence in the northern part of Canada. Harper is an evangelical Christian.[1]

Even though Harper did win the seat in the riding of Calgary Heritage during the 2015 federal election,[2] the Conservative Party was defeated by the Liberal Party of Canada, which was led by Justin Trudeau and who succeeded Harper as Prime Minister.[3][4] It was thereafter announced Harper would resign as party leader and had requested an interim leader be chosen to serve until a leadership election can be held.[5]

References

change
  1. "From 'Bible Bill' to Stephen Harper, the evolution of faith-based politics". CBC News. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  2. "Conservative leader Stephen Harper wins Calgary Heritage riding". Global News. Global News. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  3. "Liberals projected to win majority". Toronto Star. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  4. "Justin Trudeau to be prime minister as Liberals surge to majority". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. "Stephen Harper resigns as Conservative leader". CTV News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
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