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.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper PC
22nd Prime Minister of Canada
In office February 6, 2006 – November 4, 2015
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Michaëlle Jean David Johnston
Preceded by	Paul Martin
Succeeded by	Justin Trudeau
Chairman of the International Democrat Union
Incumbent
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	Jean Chrétien Paul Martin
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 Calgary Heritage Calgary Southwest (2002–2015)
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 (1959-04-30) April 30, 1959 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Conservative (2003–present)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (before 1985) Progressive Conservative (1985–87) Reform (1987–97) Alliance (2002–03)
Spouse(s)	Laureen Teskey (m. 1993)
Children	2
Residence	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater	University of Toronto University of Calgary (BA, 1985; MA, 1991)
Occupation	Author, economist, politician
Awards	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) Woodrow Wilson Award (2006) Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) Order of Liberty (2016)
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, the Conservative Party was defeated by the Liberal Party of Canada, which was led by Justin Trudeau and who succeeded Harper as Prime Minister. 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.