Stephen To grip

History

To grip grows with Toronto, where it was born, and made studies in Richview Collegiate Institute before being an employment in the Oil industry in Alberta as a data-processing programmer, whereas it was at the beginning of the score. It makes studies with the Université of Calgary, taking down a Maîtrise in economy. Its bonds with the university are remained strong: it is frequently invited there like lecturer and its most important political adviser, Tom Flanagan, was professor there. To grip wife Laureen Teskey in 1991. They have two children: Benjamin, born in 1996, and Rachel, born in 1999.

It is implied in policy for the first time when it is still adolescent, at the secondary school, where he is member of the Club of the young liberals of his school. However, its allégance political exchange when he is opposed to the national energy Programme (PEN) of the government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau; To grip considers that this program harms the Oil industry innate Alberta. In 1985, he is assistance-in-chief with the deputy progressist-conservative Jim Hawkes, and is useful with Hawkes on several parliamentary committees. However, it is quickly disillusioned by the government of Brian Mulroney and the Party progressist-conservative. Particularly to grip critical the fiscal policy of the government, like its incapacity to completely revoke the PEN before 1986. It leaves the party in 1986.

One of its professors, Tom Flanagan, recommends the Harper young person to Preston Manning, founder and chief of the Parti reformist. The young man impresses Manning, which invited it to join the party. To the 28 years age, it gives an important speech to the congress founder of the party in 1987, with Winnipeg. It would be responsible for the electoral platforme party in 1988, like to have found the slogan of countryside, " The West Wants In! " ( the West wants its share! )

To grip is presented to the elections of 1988 in a district of Calgary, but east demolishes by a very great margin by Hawkes, its former employer. In 1989, Harper is named executive assistant of the deputy reformist lately elected Deborah Grey. It is useful as a its adviser as a chief and composes his speeches until in 1993. To grip book a better performance at the time of the election of 1993, gaining the victory over Hawkes and gaining the district of Calgary-West for the Party Reformist. To grip quickly becomes one of the most important members of the caucus reformist. At the Parliament, Harper is made a reputation of preserving tax and federalistic convinced, with more moderate positions on the questions of statutory values. For example, it is one of only two deputies reformists to be voted in favor of the Canadian Registre of the firearms.

Quoting concerns as for the style of direction and with the political positions of Preston Manning, as well as a fear which the Party reformist was made invade by socially preserving lobbies, Harper leaves its front seat the election of 1997 to accept the post of vice-president, then of president of the national Coalition of the citizens. With the orders of the CNC, To grip lance a legal battle against the reform of the financing of the federal elections. To grip is also briefly political commentator with CBC. In 1998, Harper is requested by the very influential “ Blue Tory Committee ”, like by the deputies progressist-conservatives Jim Jones and John Herron, so that it stands as a candidate to the direction of the Parti progressist-conservative. To grip refuses the offer, fearing that his/her former colleagues reformists do not see it like a traitor. Following the disappointing results of the Canadian Alliance with the election of 2000, To grip, disappointed, joint with other conservatives of the west to compile a document which would be known like the “ letter avoids-feu ” (entitled The Alberta Diary ). The letter invites the Alberta to reform the public finance of the health system, to replace the Régime of pensions of Canada by a similar provincial plan and to replace the royal Gendarmerie of Canada (GRC) by a provincial police body. This is interpreted by its detractors like an encouragement with the secession of Alberta.

Chief of Canadian Alliance

When Stockwell Day yields under the internal pressure of the party and resigns as " chief; allianciste" in the summer 2001, Harper launches out in the race to the subsequent direction. At the time of the vote, the March 20th 2002, Harper gains at the time of the first turn of vote and becomes " chief; allianciste". It becomes also chief of the Opposition at the time of its return to the common in a by-election in April 2002.

In 2002, Harper declares that the Atlantic Provinces have a culture of the defeat. The Chambre of Parliament of Nova Scotia adopts a motion unanimously condemning its comments. The Prime Minister for the New Brunswick Bernard Lord and federal the progressist-conservative chief Joe Clark also condemn them. To grip is not excused for as much not for its words, saying reactions which it was about policy partisane.

Its first eighteen months as chief of the opposition are largely devoted to the consolidation of the fractured elements of the Canadian Alliance, like defying the liberal government and encouraging a union of the forces alliancists and progressist-preserving. The goal of this union was to present only one party of center-droite to the next federal elections, thus preventing the division of the electorate which had occurred in the past. The two parties amalgamate in second half of 2003, creating a new party, the Conservative party of Canada.

Chief of the Conservative party

The January 12th 2004, To grip advertisement its resignation as chief of the opposition to present his candidature for the direction of the Conservative party of Canada. To grip gains the race easily, with a majority at the time of the first turn against Belinda Stronach and Tony Clement the March 20th 2004. The victory To grip includes/understands a sweeping of several Ontarian districts , a strong support in some Québécois districts and of the results surprising in the Seaboard provinces where it gains several districts with a strong popular organization.

Federal election of 2004

To grip directs the conservatives in the federal election of 2004. Several consider that it has good lucks overcome liberal the Prime Minister Paul Martin. After a report/ratio shingling of the auditor general, Sheila Fraser, relating to the diversion of the Program of the mixed liability companies in the years 1990, and coupled so that several observers regard as anger of the voters in Ontario against liberal the Prime Minister Dalton McGuinty which had broken its electoral promise not raise the taxes, several surveys nez-à-nez show the conservatives with the liberals. Late in the countryside, the conservatives start to draw negative attention because of certain remarks discussed on behalf of some deputies and candidates concerning the Homosexualité, the official bilingualism and the Avortement. Moreover, the Liberal party diffuses televised publicities showing of the covered cities of smog and the firearms; they seek to make believe that a conservative government under Stephen Harper will return the Canada similar to the the United States in a negative way. To grip is also criticized to have supported the invasion of the Iraq directed by American in 2003. The expression “ diary caché ”, frequently used in the election of 2000 against Stockwell Day, starts to remake surface with a growing regularity, this time relating to the health care. To grip, in its turn, shows the liberals to make a negative campaign “ with the américaine ” and to test “ to pack the scandal in the flag canadien ”. The momentum starts to be turned over against its party, even if certain surveys suggest until the day of the poll that the two parties are still with equality.

The Conservative party succeeds in obtaining seats in Ontario, where the Party reformist and Canadian Alliance had never managed to make important profits, but Martin is re-elected with a minority government and 135 seats. The conservatives finish good second with 99 seats. Although the conservatives improve their total of 72 seats which they held before the election, the party collects only 29,6% of the popular vote, less than the 37,7% which the votes formed combined for Alliance and the progressist-conservatives in 2000. To grip guard the support of the members of the party because it succeeded in linking Party PC and Alliance to carry out an electoral battle in very little time. Moreover, the election of a new head of party in the middle of a minority legislature is not seen like strategically possible.

Conservative leader of the opposition

The first conference of the Conservative party proceeds 17 with the March 19th 2005, with Montreal. The party tries to adopt more moderate tendencies, in agreement with what several estimate to be the goal To grip. The opposition to the Abortion and the Bilinguisme is purged preserving platforme; the party chooses nevertheless the conservation of a position being opposed to the Homosexual marriage. To grip receives a vote of confidence of 84% of the delegates.

Under Gripping, the Conservative party tries to make Scandale of the mixed liability companies, the ethics and the corruption of the liberal the central stakes of the Canadian policy.

The opposition of the party to the Homosexual marriage raises the controversy somewhat. Canadian is very divided on this question, but the preserving base tends to being more in favor of the traditional Définition of the marriage; three delegated out of four vote to preserve this definition. To grip is subsequently criticized by a group of close law professors liberal dice to have declared that the government could cancel the provincial decisions of the courses without having recourse to the derogatory clause, a clause of the Canadian Charte of the rights and freedoms. In contrast, To grip and Vic Toews, the Minister for Justice and public prosecutor of Canada, suggest that this clause is not necessary to ratify the traditional definition of the marriage. The proposal To grip to grant to the homosexual couples the rights inherent in the traditional marriage via a form of Civil union was recently recognized as being constitutional by the lawyer firm Lang Michener. The Supreme court of Canada, as for it, specifically refused to come to a conclusion about the constitutionality of rétablissment of the traditional definition of the marriage.

Following the revealing, in April 2005, testimony striking of Jean Brault in front of the Commission Gomery, revealing the corruption spread at the Liberal party, several surveys place well the conservatives in advance of the liberals. The conservatives had up to now abstained from voting on the budget 2005, since it is clear that Canadian is not interested by an election. With the collapse of the support of the liberals and discussed the budgetary amendments brought by NPD, the party exerts a considerable pressure on Harper so that it makes fall the government.

In May, To grip advertisement which the government does not have any more “ moral authority for gouverner ” and swears to make fall the government as soon as possible. The Québécois Bloc supports this idea, while the NPD currency its support with the government in exchange of budgetary amendments in conformity with their goals. The effort to make fall the government fails following the decision of the influential preserving deputy Belinda Stronach to make defection towards the Liberal party. This gesture is very discussed and regarded as opportunism by the preserving observers. The liberals show the conservatives of “ to sleep with the séparatistes ” and thus to miss patriotism. The vote of the May 19th on the second reading of the budget passes with the support of the conservatives; however, the bill on the budgetary amendments of the NPD receives 152 votes for (liberals, néo-democrats and two deputies independent) and 152 votes against (conservatives, bloquists and independent). According to the parliamentary tradition, when there is equality of the voices, the president of the room must vote to continue the debate; the president Peter Milliken vote thus in favor of the liberals, and the Liberal party is authorized, by only one vote, to continue to control. To grip is severely criticized for its failure, like to have criticized new the Stronach minister.

To grip is also criticized for its support with the preserving deputy Grumant Grewal. Grewal had produced cassettes containing of the recordings of conversations between him and Tim Murphy, the chief of the office of the Prime Minister, in whom Grewal pled that Murphy had offered to him positions in exchange of its defection. When it appears that the recordings seem to be modified, certain believe that it is a bad strategy on behalf of the team of communications To grip which to have made them public.

In June 2005, the Conservative party announces that Harper would embark on an estival round of barbeques and other events of leisures, with an aim of allowing Canadian to personally know the conservative leader. In July, five members of its team of communications give their resignation to him. The detractors To grip suggest that it is an indication of divisions in the party, which is contradicted at once by the party and the resigners.

Project of book on hockey

At this time he worked with the writing of a book on hockey, which would partially explain the enormous place which is offered to this sport on the chains of State.

Federal election of 2006

To grip carries out an electoral campaign where he faces the same rivals as in the preceding election. The Paul Martin Prime Minister had promised to start a new election in the thirty days following the final report of the judge John Gomery, now awaited for February 2006. However, the election is finally started earlier, despite everything the efforts of the liberals to save their government. Indeed, Jack Layton, chief of the NPD, deposits a motion requiring of the government to resign and start elections in time for one day of poll in February. Conservatives and bloquists join in Layton to support this motion. The liberals sweep it reverse of the hand. The opposition parties are thus intended to make fall the government by a Motion from distrust. The date of the poll is fixed at the January 23rd 2006. After a long campaign, Harper gains the election vis-a-vis the outgoing Prime Minister Paul Martin. However, the fight is tight with the liberals, particularly in the big cities: he thus becomes chief of a minority government.

Prime Minister of Canada

Cabinet

Although the majority of the preserving deputies came from the provinces of the Western, Harper mainly chooses deputies of the Ontario and Quebec to form its first the Council of Ministers, in the interest to preserve a regional balance. The new preserving cabinet is much smaller than that of the old Martin government and eliminated also the ministers juniors (called ministers of state and, before, Secretaries of State). Certain experts in the media qualified the cabinet To grip of moderate, temperate person the alliancists roots and reformists of the Conservative party.

Two of the selections To grip generated a certain controversy. It names the outgoing liberal minister for Industry, David Emerson, as Minister for the International business and Minister for the Main door of the Pacific and the Plays olymic of 2010, and Michael Fortier, preserving strategist of long time, as public Minister for Labor, also naming it with the Sénat. Emerson had been re-elected at the Parliament under the liberal banner a few weeks only before, while Fortier had not presented a whole. To grip affirmed that the nominations were necessary so that two of the more Canadian big cities (Vancouver and Montreal) have a representation with the Cabinet, since no conservative had been elected in these cities.

Politicians of the opposition and others critical tackled the nomination of Emerson, describing it as hypocrite since Harper and the conservatives had severely criticized Belinda Stronach for its defection towards the liberals in 2005. The decision of Emerson also met opposition in its district, where the conservative candidate had collected less than 20% of the voices in the preceding countryside, although Emerson itself had gained it by a very great margin in front of the adversary néo-democrat. The government To grip defended the nomination of Emerson by making the point that it was a question of recruiting a politician who had experience preliminary to the federal cabinet. Emerson itself with suggested that would help to center the Conservative party on the political chessboard.

The nomination of Fortier was it also discussed, the conservatives having criticized the not-democratic nature of the Senate a long time. To grip and Fortier have both affirmed that the nomination with the Senate is temporary, and that Fortier will resign of its seat to the next federal elections in order to aspire to a seat with the House of Commons. For the moment Fortier thus represents the second plus big city of Canada without never not to be elected.

The other choices To grip were accommodated more positively. The mayor of Toronto, David Miller, greeted the selection of Lawrence Canon, describing it of “very positive” and “signal that Mr. Harper is sincere in his will to work with the cities”. Although Toronto itself is not represented with the cabinet, Harper named Jim Flaherty so that it represents the city at the same time as the great area of Toronto. Flaherty represents the district of Whitby-Oshawa, in the part is area of Toronto, and its nomination at the post of minister of Finances was accommodated positively by the community of businesses of Bay Street.

March 3rd, 2006, the police chief with ethics Bernard Shapiro announced that it launched an preliminary investigation on the allegations of conflict of interest against Emerson and Harper. Shapiro explained why it will examine the influence which was used in the decision of Emerson to join the conservatives. The conservatives criticized the investigation of Shapiro, describing it as partisane and showing it to apply a double standard, considering which it had been named by the preceding liberal government and that it had refused of the requests asking him to make investigation into the similar defection of Belinda Stronach in 2005, in exchange of which it had received a station with the cabinet. Shapiro was also the target of criticisms on behalf of the former leader néo-democrat ED Broadbent who shows it to have “problems of extraordinarily serious credibility”. Although of agreement with Gripping that the investigation of Shapiro was inappropriate, Broadbent and of the deputies of the opposition criticized Harper for its confrontation with the police chief. Shapiro bleaches Harper as much that Emerson on March 20th, 2006, according to the letter of the payment, but the police chief with ethics indicated that the “spirit” of the code of ethics on the conflicts of interest was violated by the defection of deputies and encouraged the Parliament to revise and amend the laws and procedures on the defections.

Deputy Prime Minister and succession

Contrary to its recent predecessors, Harper did not name one of his/her colleagues at the especially honorary station of Deputy Prime Minister. Several observers had expected that it names MacKay, former chief of the Parti progressist-conservative and chief-assistant To grip, or Lawrence Canon, as a Québécois lieutenant, at this station. However, Harper named an order of succession which must act for him in certain circumstances, starting with Canon, then Jim Prentice, then the balance of the cabinet in order of precedence.

Interior policy

Supreme court

With share of its legislative diary, Harper named Marshall Rothstein like new judge puîné of the Supreme court of Canada the February 23rd 2006. In agreement with its electoral promise of a new process of nomination of the judges, Harper announced that Rothstein was to appear before a special committee of 12 members of Parliament. However, the committee did not have the capacity of veto on the nomination, which certain preserving members had asked.

Federal law on the responsibility

The April 11th 2006, the president of the Council of the Treasury John Baird, in the name of the government To grip, deposited the Federal law on the responsibility and action plan . The plan will reduce opportunities of exerting influence with money by prohibiting the political gifts of the companies, of the trade unions, as well as the great gifts of individuals; by founding a five years prohibition for the former ministers, their assistants and the senior officials to make lobbyism; by ensuring a protection the revealing ones; and by increasing the capacity of the auditor general to recall the money spent by the government. The government hopes to make adopt this law before the summer.

Democratic reform

Stephen Harper expressed a desire to transform the Sénat of Canada into a body elected rather than named, a object previously proposed by the Parti reformist of Canada; its government filed in a bill aiming at limiting the mandates of the senators to 8 years. The September 7th 2006, Harper became the first Canadian head of government to testify before a committee to the Senate in order to promote the arguments of the government in favor of a reform of the Senate.

To grip also preaches the elections on fixed date (except in the case of minority governments). The May 30th 2006, the government filed in the C-16 bill which aims at modifying the Electoral law of Canada to found fixed dates for the elections. The bill stipulates that there must be an election in 2009, third Monday in October (October 19th, 2009) — it would be the first election on fixed date in Canada. However, the government can very in the same way be demolishes with the communes before this date, which would start an election automatically.

Project of attack

Québécois nation

Stephen Harper a long time prevented coming to a conclusion about the thorny question of the Québécois nation, affirming several times to recognize or not Quebec as a nation is a debate of semantics. It was satisfied to recognize the fact that the National Assembly of Quebec voted for a resolution recognizing that Quebec constitutes a nation, without coming to a conclusion about the bottom. The debate again starts to make the cuffs in the context of the race to the direction of the Liberal party of Canada of 2006. The candidate perceived as being the leader, Michael Ignatieff, had given an opinion for the recognition of the Québécois nation, while its adversaries, whose Bob Rae and Stephan Dion, had been opposed to its position, considering it too risky. The members of the Liberal party themselves are extremely divided. Benefitting from the situation, the Québécois Bloc deposits a resolution with the House of Commons requiring of the Room to recognize “ that the Québécois ones and the Inhabitants of Quebec form a nation. ” On November 22nd, 2006, before the motion of the Block is not discussed, Harper demounting its own motion: “ That the Inhabitants of Quebec form a nation within Canada uni. ”

The Liberal party and the New Democratic party immediately gave their support to motion (the NPD preaches the recognition of the Québécois nation for a long time; the Liberal party, as for him, is divided on the question, and does not impose a line of party on its deputies, of which some envisage to vote against motion). The Québécois Block, initially opposed to the mention of the “ Canada uni ” in the text of motion, made volte-face and decided to support motion at the time of the vote of next Monday.

If motion is approved almost unanimously in Quebec, it is discussed in English Canada. Whereas certain commentators applaud motion and affirm that there is not to worry, making the point that Canada contains several nations and that motion will weaken the independence cause and thus will be beneficial for the federalism, others support that it is about an attack to the existence even of Canada, fearing that the recognition of the Québécois nation does not help the cause of the independence of Quebec or does not lead to new constitutional negotiations in the style of the agreements of the lake Meech and of Charlettetown, which left a bitter memory to all the Canadians. Motion To grip is adopted with 266 votes against 16 on November 27th, 2006; the opposite voices come exclusively from the Liberal party and an independent deputy, Garth Turner. However, motion causes the resignation of the Minister for the intergovernmental Businesses and the Sport amateur, Michael Chong, which abstains from voting on motion. The motion of the Québécois Block, as for it, is demolished by 233 votes against 48.

Following the adoption of motion, a survey reveals that 67 pourcent Canadians reject the concept that the Inhabitants of Quebec form a nation; by not counting Quebec, this proportion amounts to 77 pourcent. The only group mainly in agreement with the notion of the Québécois nation are the French-speaking Inhabitants of Quebec, to 71%. However, this motion neither helped, nor night with the electoral supports of the Conservative party.

Foreign politics

First travels overseas

On March 11th and 12th 2006, Harper carries out a voyage-suprise in Afghanistan, where manpower of the Canadian Forces are deployed since 2001, to return visit to the troops in order to show its support with their efforts and to the rebuilding and stability in the area. The choice To grip for its first visit abroad had been well kept press until it arrives to Afghanistan (for safety reasons), and is regarded as a major change in the relation between the government and the military forces. Although other world leaders visited Afghanistan, the voyage To grip was described as without preceding in its duration and its extent.

Canado-American relations

To be congratulated shortly after by George W. Bush for her victory, Harper has reprimand the ambassador of the United States in Canada David Wilkins to have criticized the preserving plan to ensure Canadian sovereignty on water of the Arctic with the armed forces.

The February 16th 2006, Harper named the former minister progressist-conservative Michael Wilson at the post of ambassador of Canada in the United States, replacing the liberal Frank McKenna. Wilson affirmed at the time of his first press conference that as an ambassador, the sawlog is clearly in top of the list of priorities.

The first meeting To grip with the US president took place at the end of March 2006, and although little was concluded in solid terms of agreements, the voyage was described in the media like a signal of more solid bonds between the two countries. However, Harper affirmed with the press that it used a " coloured language which would not be appropriate to the télévision" whereas it pressed president Bush into private on her opposition to an American law which would oblige the Canadian citizens to show their passports when they would cross the border to enter to the United States. Bush affirmed that Harper was " a very open guy, very direct If it has a problem, it expresses it in a clear way so that everyone includes/understands, and it is the way which I prefer to treat with the gens."

Little information on this meeting was revealed with the public, then having only photographs available in the media, those were satisfied to criticize the vestimentary choices of the Prime Minister.

The April 27th 2006, To grip advertisement with the House of Commons which its government had concluded an agreement from seven years with the United States within the framework of the Conflit of the sawlog. The three large producing sawlog provinces - the Colombia-British, the Ontario and the Quebec - accepted the agreement, as well as the Canadian industry of the sawlog. However, the chief of the opposition Bill Graham and the chief néo-democrat Jack Layton have both criticized the agreement not to have required of the United States the total refunding of the 5 billion $ collected in customs tariffs on wood-of work Canadian.

According to a debate and a vote with the communes, the Harper government renewed the agreement of NORAD with the United States, making it permanent and adding maritime defense to it; the agreement had previously related to only air defense. The deputies néo-democrats who strongly opposed the agreement affirmed that this one would reduce the sovereignty of Canada on internal water of the country.

Sino-Canadian relations

Since the come to power of the conservative government, it would seem that the sino-Canadian relations were tightened, in particular after the 14 {{E}} Dalaï Lama received the Canadian citizenship of honor on September 9th, 2006 and the complaints for commercial espionage of Chinese agents in Canada. Stephen Harper however met Chinese President Hu Jintao on November 19th, 2006. The conversation lasted 15 minutes at the top of APEC. Though short, the discussion was, according to Mr. Harper, “very frank”. October 29th, 2007, Stephen Harper met Dalaï Lama publicly. In a few weeks, Harper was the 4th leading one of a Western country to meet this one.

Israélo-Lebanese conflict

At the beginning of the israélo-Lebanese Conflict of 2006, Harper affirms that “ Israel has the right of défendre ”, adding that “ I believe that the Israeli answer was measured considering the circonstances. ” Relative with the resolution of the conflict, he declares, “ It is essential that the Hezbollah and the Hamas slacken their Israeli prisoners; all the countries in the area which have an influence on these organizations must encourage the end of violence and encourage the recognition of the right of Israel with the existence. ”

The qualification of the answer of Israel like " mesurée" by Harper creates the controversy in Canada. The July 17th 2006, Harper appeared to moderate its remarks, noting that the situation had been degraded since its initial comments, but which it was difficult for Israel to fight of the " forces non-gouvernementales" when those hide among the civil population. To grip repeats its support with the Israeli position, by inviting the two sides to show reserve and to minimize civilians deaths.

Approximately 30.000 Canadians, mainly of orignie Lebanese, were with the Lebanon at the time of the release of the hostilities, and the made Canadian government of the efforts to evacuate those which wish to leave the country; this operation was the object of criticism for its perceived slowness and its inefficiency. The July 17th, a group of demonstrators, mainly of Lebanese origin, gather in front of the Israeli consulate with Montreal to protest against the bombardments in Lebanon. Other demonstrations take place the July 22nd through Canada.

To grip and the Foreign Minister Peter MacKay reiterated their support with the Israeli position, while calling with reserve and preaching a cease-fire. Questioned on the situation at the same time in Lebanon and Gaza the July 18th, Harper affirms with the journalists: “ We all want to encourage not only one cease-fire, but a resolution. And a resolution would be reached only when everyone assoit with the table and each one admits the recognition of the other, ” referring to the refusal of Hezbollah and Hamas to recognize the right of existence of Israel. To grip affirms the responsibility for Hezbollah in the death of the civilians on the two sides. “ The objective of Hezbollah is violence, it affirmed. Hezbollah believes that through violence it can bring the destruction of Israel. Violence will not lead to the destruction of Israel and the inevitable result of violence will be mainly the death of innocents. people; ”

Bilderberg business

Stephen Harper is discussed because of its nondiscrete membership of the international group Bilderberg. Indeed, in 2007 it is announced that Bilderberg wish to create a North-American Parlement and a North-American Tribunal which trônerait above the Supreme court of Canada and of the supreme Cours American. The reaction To grip vis-a-vis these revelations is quiet and lets plane the doubt as for its national allegiances.

Arctic sovereignty

In August 2007, the Russia lance a forwarding to assert its exclusive rights on the North pole and its underground oil richnesses. The Denmark makes a similar gesture later a few days. To grip reacts by announcing that Canada will widen a national park in the far North and that the Canadian Scandinavian presence will be reaffirmed by sending military units and while taking part in the scientific studies on the question.

Various facts

Harper is the first chief of the Canadian government since Lester B. Pearson not to have made studies in right.

an article in the newspaper The Globe and Mail identified the actor Robb Wells, who interprets the role of Ricky in the popular series televised Trailer Park Boys , like a distance cousin To grip.

Harper has a large collection of discs in vinyl. He is a large fan of the Beatles, having memorized the words of all their songs, as well as AC/DC.

It is known, among his/her friends, for the imitations which it makes of other politicians (its imitation of Jean Chrétien is, seems he, particularly skilful). He makes sometimes these imitations with the annual dinners of the Gallery of the press.

In 2007, Yann Martel, author of the novel History of pi , was offusqué by the nonchalante attitude Harper Prime Minister opposite the fifty years of the Canadian council for arts, artistic institution important. It thus decided to send to him, each week since April 16th, a novel with reading, as well as comments on work in question. ()

Quotations

“ Our swords from now on will be pointed towards the Liberals, and not one towards the other. ”

— Declaration To grip made the Canadians the October 16th 2003, when he announced with Peter MacKay the fusion of the Canadian Alliance and the Parti progressist-conservative.

“ a terrible business for the country… The worst international agreement than this country ever signed. ”

— In connection with the agreement of Kyoto.

“ the question is simple: Québécois and Québécois ones form a nation within plain Canada? The answer is yes. Québécois and Québécois ones form a nation independent of Canada? The answer is not, and it will be always not. ”

— Extract of the speech To grip with the House of Commons before the deposit of the resolution recognizing the nation québécoise

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