Stephen Harper Biography

Stephen Harper, Politician
Born asStephen Joseph Harper
Occup.Politician
FromCanada
BornApril 30, 1959
Toronto, Ontario
Age64 years
Early Life and also Education
Stephen Joseph Harper was born upon April 30, 1959, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the oldest of 3 sons birthed to Margaret (née Johnston) and also Joseph Harris Harper. Stephen invested the majority of his youth in the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, where he participated in Richview Collegiate Institute. In 1978, Harper moved to Edmonton, Alberta, to work for the Imperial Oil Company together with his daddy, who was an accounting professional at the time.

During his time in Edmonton, Harper registered at the University of Calgary, where he made a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1982, followed by a Master's level in Economics in 1985. As a student, Harper came to be progressively more associated with politics, signing up with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada as well as working as the principal aide to Progressive Conservative MP Jim Hawkes.

Political Career
Stephen Harper's political job began in the mid-1980s when he functioned as a legislative assistant for the Progressive Conservative Party. Nevertheless, he soon located himself ideologically remote from the party, eventually escaping as well as becoming one of the charter member of the extra traditional Reform Party of Canada in 1987.

As a leading figure within the Reform Party, Harper went far for himself with his commentary, research study, and also policy advocacy. He first governed as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the federal riding of Calgary West in the 1993 federal election, serving up until 1997.

During his time in Parliament, Harper held a number of important roles, consisting of serving as the Opposition House Leader. In spite of his expanding popularity, he chose not to compete re-election in 1997, rather ending up being the head of the National Citizens Coalition, a right-leaning company promoting policy study, advocacy, and also lobbying.

Event Leadership and Reunification
Harper returned to political workplace in 2002 when he was chosen as the leader of the Canadian Alliance, a successor to the Reform Party. Among his most substantial accomplishments during this period was his function in the unification of the Canadian Alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party, creating the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003.

As the brand-new celebration's initial leader, Harper led the Conservatives to a minority government in the 2006 basic political election, finishing 13 years of Liberal Party guideline. This political election win saw Harper come to be the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada.

Prime Minister of Canada
Stephen Harper acted as Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. His tenure at the helm saw a significant focus on monetary obligation, economic management, and also promoting global trade. Some of one of the most significant milestones of his time in office include lowering the government Goods as well as Services Tax (GST) and authorizing a number of global profession arrangements, consisting of the Comprehensive Economic and also Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union.

The Harper government likewise put forth a tough-on-crime schedule, establishing regulation that increased fines for different offenses, changed the Canadian prison system, as well as focused on victims' legal rights. Nevertheless, this method was frequently met with objection from civil liberties teams and also criminal justice specialists.

Harper's federal government went through an unstable period throughout the global economic crisis of 2008-2009. He enacted various economic stimulus actions while still preserving a concentrate on well balanced spending plans and sensible financial monitoring.

On the global front, Harper gained an online reputation as a staunch protector of Israel and a singing critic of Vladimir Putin's Russia. He was a key player in the facility of the G-20 group of leading economies as well as played a role in Canada's participation in international armed forces initiatives, such as the war ISIS in Iraq as well as Syria.

Post-Political Career
Stephen Harper's time as Prime Minister involved an end in 2015 when the Conservative Party shed the government political election to the Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau. Harper ultimately surrendered as celebration leader and also tipped down as MP in 2016.

Because leaving workplace, Harper has been actively participated in the worldwide political field, supplying tactical guidance and also policy insights via his consulting company, Harper & Associates. In addition, he continues to be a prominent number within the traditional motion, functioning as a board member of the International Democrat Union (IDU), an international alliance of center-right political events.

In conclusion, Stephen Harper's political profession stands as a testimony to his ideological commitment to conservatism, strong monetary management, and also determined devotion to serving the people of Canada. His impact on Canadian national politics, particularly in regards to unifying the conventional activity, will certainly continue to be prominent for many years ahead.

Our collection contains 38 quotes who is written / told by Stephen.

Related authors: Lawrence Taylor (Athlete), Paul Martin (Politician), Vladimir Putin (President)

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38 Famous quotes by Stephen Harper

Small: If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away
"If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away"
Small: Human rights commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic
"Human rights commissions, as they are evolving, are an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society... It is in fact totalitarianism. I find this is very scary stuff"
Small: My own views on abortion, Im not on either pole of that and neither of the interest groups on either en
"My own views on abortion, I'm not on either pole of that and neither of the interest groups on either end of this issue would probably be comfortable with my views"
Small: I just think it would be unrealistic to suggest were going to eliminate every last domestic insurgent i
"I just think it would be unrealistic to suggest we're going to eliminate every last domestic insurgent in Afghanistan. Certainly, the history of the country would indicate that's not a very realistic objective, and I think we have to have realistic objectives"
Small: Weve got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security
"We've got to see a state where the Afghan government can handle its own day-to-day security"
Small: Thats my personal view I would say most in my caucus agree with that but there are some who dont and Iv
"That's my personal view I would say most in my caucus agree with that but there are some who don't and I've always said that on these kinds of moral issues, people have the right to their own opinions"
Small: If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people
"If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people"
Small: I think because were such a trading nation, I think Canadians understand that first and foremost were p
"I think because we're such a trading nation, I think Canadians understand that first and foremost we're part of the global economy"
Small: I do not intend to dispute in any way the need for defence cuts and the need for government spending cu
"I do not intend to dispute in any way the need for defence cuts and the need for government spending cuts in general. I do not share a not in my backyard approach to government spending reductions"
Small: Having hit a wall, the next logical step is not to bang our heads against it
"Having hit a wall, the next logical step is not to bang our heads against it"
Small: First of all, I cant forget my first responsibility - which is to be the Leader of the Opposition and t
"First of all, I can't forget my first responsibility - which is to be the Leader of the Opposition and that's to provide an alternative government"
Small: After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isnt mere policy. It has attained the status
"After all, enforced national bilingualism in this country isn't mere policy. It has attained the status of a religion. It's a dogma which one is supposed to accept without question"
Small: Whether Canada ends up as o-ne national government or two national governments or several national gove
"Whether Canada ends up as o-ne national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion"
Small: We should have been there shoulder to shoulder with our allies. Our concern is the instability of our g
"We should have been there shoulder to shoulder with our allies. Our concern is the instability of our government as an ally. We are playing again with national and global security matters"
Small: The government can only be brought down because it alienates several parties in the House
"The government can only be brought down because it alienates several parties in the House"
Small: I think the way to change it is to handle issues individually when its essential to do so
"I think the way to change it is to handle issues individually when it's essential to do so"
Small: I think in Atlantic Canada, because of what happened in the decades following Confederation, there is a
"I think in Atlantic Canada, because of what happened in the decades following Confederation, there is a culture of defeat that we have to overcome"
Small: I forget what the relevant American rate is, but I can tell you that our goal is to have a combined fed
"I forget what the relevant American rate is, but I can tell you that our goal is to have a combined federal-provincial corporate tax rate of no more than 25 percent. We're on target to do that by 2012. We will have significantly - by a significant margin the lowest corporate tax rates in the G-7, and that's our - our government's objective"
Small: What the government has to do, if it wants to govern for any length of time, is it must appeal primaril
"What the government has to do, if it wants to govern for any length of time, is it must appeal primarily to the third parties in the House of Commons to get them to support it"
Small: We have in this country a federal government that increasingly is engaged in trying to determine which
"We have in this country a federal government that increasingly is engaged in trying to determine which business, which regions, which industries will succeed, which will not through a whole range of economic development, regional development corporate subsidization programs"
Small: Canada is in budgetary deficit now only because of the recession, only because of stimulus measures, an
"Canada is in budgetary deficit now only because of the recession, only because of stimulus measures, and we will come out of it. We will go back into surplus position when the economy recovers. So there is no need in Canada to raise taxes"
Small: There is a Canadian culture that is in some ways unique to Canada, but I dont think Canadian culture co
"There is a Canadian culture that is in some ways unique to Canada, but I don't think Canadian culture coincides neatly with borders"
Small: I dont get into that second guessing of myself publicly
"I don't get into that second guessing of myself publicly"
Small: Canadians know that the promise of a recession didnt happen because of anything we did here. If you loo
"Canadians know that the promise of a recession didn't happen because of anything we did here. If you look at all the causes of the recession, problems in mortgage markets, the problems in the banking sector, the problems in government finance in countries like Greece, none of those problems were in present Canada"
Small: As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and c
"As a religion, bilingualism is the god that failed. It has led to no fairness, produced no unity, and cost Canadian taxpayers untold millions"
Small: I think first and foremost everybody should understand that Canadians are strongly committed to the sys
"I think first and foremost everybody should understand that Canadians are strongly committed to the system of universal health insurance, to the principle that your ability to pay does not determine your access to critical medical service"
Small: I dont believe an Alliance government should sponsor legislation on abortion or a referendum on abortio
"I don't believe an Alliance government should sponsor legislation on abortion or a referendum on abortion"
Small: But Ive been very clear in this campaign - I dont believe the party should have a position on abortion
"But I've been very clear in this campaign - I don't believe the party should have a position on abortion"
Small: Were not going to scrap the budget and make up some totally new platform the day after the election.
"We're not going to scrap the budget and make up some totally new platform the day after the election. So it's certainly willingness to compromise but we're not going back on the fundamental things we're running on in this campaign"
Small: Universality has been severely reduced: it is virtually dead as a concept in most areas of public polic
"Universality has been severely reduced: it is virtually dead as a concept in most areas of public policy"
Small: On the justification for the war, it wasnt related to finding any particular weapon of mass destruction
"On the justification for the war, it wasn't related to finding any particular weapon of mass destruction"
Small: Canada remains alienated from its allies, shut out of the reconstruction process to some degree, unable
"Canada remains alienated from its allies, shut out of the reconstruction process to some degree, unable to influence events. There is no upside to the position Canada took"
Small: The job numbers are positive. Weve had more jobs created now than were lost during the recession.
"The job numbers are positive. We've had more jobs created now than were lost during the recession. We're seeing that the creation, we're seeing those numbers not only grow but shift toward the private sector and shift toward full-time employment and these are all signs that the recovery is taking some hold but we're not out of woods"
Small: Make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it is less bilingual today than it has ever
"Make no mistake. Canada is not a bilingual country. In fact it is less bilingual today than it has ever been"
Small: Look, I think the worst case scenario is obvious. I think first of all it doesnt work for very long.
"Look, I think the worst case scenario is obvious. I think first of all it doesn't work for very long. It's an unstable government that raises taxes and destroys the image we're building for Canada as a strong place to invest"
Small: Its the governments obligation to look really to the third parties to get the support to govern
"It's the government's obligation to look really to the third parties to get the support to govern"
Small: Ive always been clear, I support the traditional definition of marriage
"I've always been clear, I support the traditional definition of marriage"
Small: I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I belie
"I have no difficulty with the recognition of civil unions for non-traditional relationships but I believe in law we should protect the traditional definition of marriage"