Home > Topics > Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper is a Canadian politician and a former Prime Minister of Canada. He was the 22^nd Prime Minister of Canada and served at this post from 6^th February 2006 to 4^th November 2015. He was also the first Prime Minister of the modern Conservative Party of Canada, formed by the merger of Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance. . Harper was a proponent of lower taxes and an enlarged military, his standing strengthened when his Conservative Party earned a majority in the 2011 federal election. In 2015 Harper tenure as prime minister came to an end after he was defeated by Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau. In his political career, he was the MP representing Calgary Southwest from 1993 to 1997. On 26^th August 2016, Harper stepped down as MP and retired from politics.

Stephen Harper was born on April 30, 1959, in Toronto, Canada. During high school, Harper joined the Young Liberals Club, which turned out to be just the beginning of a politically active life. After graduating in 1978, Harper moved to Alberta and worked in the petroleum industry for three years before attending the University of Calgary, where he received both a bachelor’s degree (1985) and a master’s degree (1991) in economics. During this period he also began his political career, working as the executive assistant to Calgary’s Progressive Conservative MP Jim Hawkes.By 1986, however, Harper had become disillusioned with the political landscape, in large part due to the region's seemingly diminished importance in relation to national affairs. That year, he left Hawkes's side, and the following year he was involved in the founding of a new political party to address his and others’ concerns, the socially conservative Reform Party of Canada.Harper moved up the ranks of the Reform Party, and in 1993, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as its candidate. That same year he married Laureen Teskey, with whom he has two children, Benjamin and Rachel. After a falling out with Reform leader Preston Manning, Harper decided not to seek reelection in the 1997 race, and he eventually took the reins of the National Citizens Coalition, a right-wing lobbyist group. The Coalition was based on a philosophical foundation of low taxes and free-market capitalism, and also opposed the Canadian government's response to the separatist movement in Quebec. In the face of a favorable political landscape, Harper resigned as president of the coalition in the summer of 2001 and soon declared his candidacy to lead the Canadian Alliance Party, the successor to the Reform Party. Victory in the winter election ensued, and in early 2002, Harper headed to Parliament under the Alliance Party banner. Just a few years later, the political winds had shifted again, and the Alliance Party merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to form the new Conservative Party, of which Harper took the leadership position in 2004.As a Conservative candidate, and with a minority government, Harper was sworn in as Canada's 22nd prime minister in February 2006, bringing to an end a 13-year liberal government. He proved to be a staunch proponent of laissez-faire capitalism, smaller government and social conservatism. The neoconservative mindset of the Harper administration also focused on reducing taxes, enlarging the military and securing Arctic waters for their energy resources is credited with having steered the Canadian economy through the 2008 financial crisis. Harper's government continued with its efforts to reduce government and spending and also introduced a controversial bill that allowed for greater domestic surveillance amidst growing concerns about terrorism. It also backed away from the Kyoto Protocol, choosing instead to implement more relaxed climate-change policies that drew harsh criticism from environmental groups.Amidst a fraud scandal involving a member of his government and public outcry over Harper's stance on a Muslim woman being prevented from wearing a niqab during a citizenship ceremony, in the October 2015 elections, Harper ousted by 43-year-old candidate Justin Trudeau, whose liberal party also claimed a majority 184 seats. In the wake of the defeat, Harper kept his seat in the House of Commons but resigned as leader of the Conservatives.On 26^th August 2016, Harper stepped down as MP and retired from politics.

Harper is married to Laureen Teskey and they have two children, Benjamin and Rachel. He is a die-hard hockey fan and in 2013 Harper published the book A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey. He is also a piano player and has frequently performed with a rock band at Conservative Party events.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to visit India next month
PTI Feeds | January 22, 2018 8:16 PM IST
New Delhi, Jan 22 (PTI) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will arrive in India next month for a...
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to visit India next month
indiacom
2018-01-22T09:16:39+00:00
2018-01-22T09:16:39+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Will China's growing influence affect international order?
PTI Feeds | January 17, 2018 11:48 PM IST
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Do global institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary...
Will China's growing influence affect international order?
indiacom
2018-01-17T12:48:13+00:00
2018-01-17T12:48:13+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
PM Modi expresses his gratitude to Harper for lauding BJP's win in UP
ANI Feeds | March 13, 2017 5:06 PM IST
New Delhi (India), Mar. 13 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his gratitude to former...
PM Modi expresses his gratitude to Harper for lauding BJP's win in UP
indiacom
2017-03-13T06:06:22+00:00
2017-03-13T06:06:22+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Justin Trudeau announces inquiry into missing, murdered native women
Press Trust of India | December 9, 2015 5:41 PM IST
Ottawa, Dec 9: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced an inquiry into why 1,200 indige...
Justin Trudeau announces inquiry into missing, murdered native women
indiacom
2015-12-09T06:41:34+00:00
2015-12-09T06:41:34+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Son of late PM Pierre Trudeau becomes Canada's new PM
Press Trust of India | October 20, 2015 3:57 PM IST
Toronto, Oct 20: Canadians voted for a sharp change in their government, returning a legendary name ...
Son of late PM Pierre Trudeau becomes Canada's new PM
indiacom
2015-10-20T04:57:03+00:00
2015-10-20T04:57:03+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Top Sikh car dealer backs Stephen Harper in Canada election
Indo-Asian News Service | October 19, 2015 11:36 PM IST
Toronto, Oct 19: An India-born Sikh car dealer in Canada has backed Canada Prime Minister Stephen H...
Top Sikh car dealer backs Stephen Harper in Canada election
indiacom
2015-10-19T12:36:05+00:00
2015-10-19T12:36:05+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Canadian election could see Pierre Trudeau's son become PM
Press Trust of India | October 19, 2015 7:58 PM IST
Toronto, Oct 19: Canadian voters cast their ballots today to decide whether to extend Conservative l...
Canadian election could see Pierre Trudeau's son become PM
indiacom
2015-10-19T08:58:54+00:00
2015-10-19T08:58:54+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Hilarious! Canadian politician caught urinating in coffee cup (Watch Video)
India.com Staff | September 7, 2015 2:19 PM IST
September 7: A candidate running for Canada's Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper's party bro...
Hilarious! Canadian politician caught urinating in coffee cup (Watch Video)
indiacom
2015-09-07T03:19:34+00:00
2015-09-07T03:19:34+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Canada in recession; Prime Minister Stephen Harper denies it as election looms
Press Trust of India | September 2, 2015 11:14 AM IST
Toronto, Sep 2 Canada has fallen into a recession, dragged down by falling energy prices and economi...
Canada in recession; Prime Minister Stephen Harper denies it as election looms
indiacom
2015-09-02T00:14:39+00:00
2015-09-02T00:14:39+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Canada, Israel modernise free trade agreement
Indo-Asian News Service | July 22, 2015 8:30 AM IST
Ottawa, July 22 : Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday announced that his country has...
Canada, Israel modernise free trade agreement
indiacom
2015-07-21T21:30:53+00:00
2015-07-21T21:35:01+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Homecoming for PM Narendra Modi after three-nation tour
Indo-Asian News Service | April 18, 2015 5:08 AM IST
Vancouver, April 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed home after ending his three-nation tour, w...
Homecoming for PM Narendra Modi after three-nation tour
indiacom
2015-04-17T18:08:23+00:00
2015-04-17T18:08:23+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Visit will enhance India, Canada ties: Narendra Modi
Indo-Asian News Service | April 17, 2015 5:57 PM IST
Vancouver, April 17: This visit will further enhance India-Canada ties, said Prime Minister Narendr...
Visit will enhance India, Canada ties: Narendra Modi
indiacom
2015-04-17T06:57:50+00:00
2015-04-17T06:57:50+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Hinduism not a religion but a way of life: Narendra Modi
Press Trust of India | April 17, 2015 4:30 PM IST
Vancouver, Apr 17: Accompanied by his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Narendra M...
Hinduism not a religion but a way of life: Narendra Modi
indiacom
2015-04-17T05:30:04+00:00
2015-04-17T05:30:04+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Narendra Modi gifts Guru Nanak Dev miniature painting to PM Stephen Harper
ANI | April 16, 2015 2:46 PM IST
New Delhi, Apr 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has gifted Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper a ...
Narendra Modi gifts Guru Nanak Dev miniature painting to PM Stephen Harper
indiacom
2015-04-16T03:46:21+00:00
2015-04-16T03:46:21+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Interaction with Indian diaspora an ‘unforgettable experience’: Narendra Modi
ANI | April 16, 2015 2:24 PM IST
Toronto, Apr 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the Indian diaspora event h...
Interaction with Indian diaspora an ‘unforgettable experience’: Narendra Modi
indiacom
2015-04-16T03:24:51+00:00
2015-04-16T03:24:51+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Canada to supply uranium for India’s nuclear plants
Indo-Asian News Service | April 16, 2015 10:35 AM IST
Ottawa, April 15 Turning a new chapter in its relationship with Canada, India clinched a multi-mill...
Canada to supply uranium for India’s nuclear plants
indiacom
2015-04-15T23:35:01+00:00
2015-04-15T23:35:22+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Ottawa Boosts Child Benefits to $2000 Per Year
The Weekly Voice | April 1, 2015 5:49 AM IST
Ottawa— The Harper Government will be introducing legislation in the coming days to enhance the Un...
Ottawa Boosts Child Benefits to $2000 Per Year
indiacom
2015-03-31T18:49:08+00:00
2015-03-31T18:49:08+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Canadian PM Greets Community With Best Wishes for Holi
The Indian Diaspora | March 12, 2015 1:21 AM IST
By Ajit Jain Toronto— Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen have extended th...
Canadian PM Greets Community With Best Wishes for Holi
indiacom
2015-03-11T14:21:45+00:00
2015-03-11T14:21:45+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
India ‘A-List’ Presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
The Weekly Voice | February 20, 2015 3:15 AM IST
Ottawa— Prime Minister Stephen Harper was recently presented with a book, "The A-List" authored by...
India ‘A-List’ Presented to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
indiacom
2015-02-19T16:15:45+00:00
2015-02-19T16:17:39+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com
Gujarati Diaspora is Integral to State’s Success
The Indian Diaspora | January 29, 2015 7:28 AM IST
By Ajit Jain Toronto— Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, who was leader of the...
Gujarati Diaspora is Integral to State’s Success
indiacom
2015-01-28T20:28:35+00:00
2015-01-28T20:28:35+00:00
Stephen Harper
India.com