Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian economist, entrepreneur, and retired politician. He was the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He is a member and the former leader of the Conservative Party. He was elected in February 2006 and replaced Paul Martin as Prime Minister.
Stephen Harper | |
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22nd Prime Minister of Canada | |
In office February 6, 2006 – November 4, 2015 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General | |
Preceded by | Paul Martin |
Succeeded by | Justin Trudeau |
Chairman of the International Democrat Union | |
Assumed office February 21, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Sir John Key |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office March 20, 2004 – February 5, 2006 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | Paul Martin |
Preceded by | Grant Hill |
Succeeded by | Bill Graham |
In office May 21, 2002 – January 8, 2004 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | |
Preceded by | John Reynolds |
Succeeded by | Grant Hill |
Leader of the Conservative Party | |
In office March 20, 2004 – October 19, 2015 | |
President | Don Plett John Walsh |
Deputy | Peter MacKay |
Preceded by | John Lynch-Staunton (interim) |
Succeeded by | Rona Ambrose (interim) |
Leader of the Canadian Alliance | |
In office March 20, 2002 – December 7, 2003 | |
Preceded by | John Reynolds (ad interim) |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for
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In office June 28, 2002 – August 26, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Preston Manning |
Succeeded by | Bob Benzen |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Calgary West | |
In office October 25, 1993 – January 14, 1997 | |
Preceded by | Jim Hawkes |
Succeeded by | Rob Anders |
Personal details | |
Born | Stephen Joseph Harper April 30, 1959 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Political party | Conservative (2003–present) |
Other political affiliations |
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Spouse(s) | Laureen Teskey (m. 1993) |
Children | 2 |
Residence | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
Alma mater |
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Occupation | Author, economist, politician |
Awards |
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Signature | ![]() |
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.
Even though Harper did win the seat in the riding of Calgary Heritage during the October 19, 2015 federal election,[1] the Conservative Party was defeated by the Liberal Party of Canada, which was led by Justin Trudeau and who succeeded Harper as Prime Minister.[2][3] 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.[4]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "Conservative leader Stephen Harper wins Calgary Heritage riding". Global News. Global News. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ↑ "Liberals projected to win majority". Toronto Star. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Justin Trudeau to be prime minister as Liberals surge to majority". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Stephen Harper resigns as Conservative leader". CTV News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.