COLUMN: View from the Legislature – Harper legacy one of stable government

It is the nature of our electoral system that when governments, and by extension their leaders, are voted out of office, it takes some time for their true legacy and impact to be understood. That is because when governments change, its likely the public is dissatisfied with some aspect of the government or, as the political saying goes, its time for a change. Also, any new incoming government spends some time, usually too long, disparaging and denigrating the government they have just defeated.

This week there has been a great deal of reflection happening on the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper which marked 20 years since it originally took office. Many people gathered in Ottawa to see the unveiling of Mr. Harper’s prime minister portrait and to reminisce about their tenure in government. And there was much to be proud about. As is usually the case, history reflects better on many of the decisions made by governments than is the case in the moment.

Many Canadians will look back on the years of Harper and remember that he was known as a serious person who was knowledgeable about policy and world affairs. His government not only reduced taxes (notably the Goods and Services Tax), but also oversaw a time of stable inflation and steady growth. Home prices increased which added to the wealth of many Canadians but they still remained within reach of new home buyers. On the world stage, Prime Minister Harper maintained strong relations with U.S. presidents of different political backgrounds while taking strong and principled stands against the human rights violations of China and the aggression of Russia against Ukraine. Famously, at one global meeting he reluctantly shook the hand of the Russian president and told him frankly to get out of Ukraine. Harper was also an unwavering friend of Israel, recognizing that it was one of the few countries in the middle east at that time that shared Canadians values and democracy.

Critics at the time often viewed Harper as a rigid Conservative. Yet, he demonstrated pragmatism whenever it was in the best interest of the country. Recall it was Conservative Prime Minister Harper who appointed then NDP Premier Gary Doer to be Canada’s ambassador to the United States. He specifically tapped someone of a different political ideology because he knew that Mr. Doer was adept at making political allies across party lines. It proved to be a wise choice and benefited Canada.

As well, when the global financial crisis occurred in 2008, Harper, who was trying to bring fiscal Conservatism to the federal budget, realized that there was a need for an economic stimulus program that would set back his goals for fiscal restraint. But he approved the program because it was understood that it was needed for the economic health of the country and for Canadians who were struggling. When the crisis passed, there was a return to more measured fiscal expenditures.

When Harper left government the economic fortunes of our country were strong, Canada’s global relationships with our allies were assured and life was affordable. While his successor, Justin Trudeau promised that the budget would balance itself and that inflation and interest rates were of little concern, Canadians continue to pay the price for the last decade of federal government policies.

Most of all, Harper was what one could call a serious prime minister. He was famously not the politician Canadians identified as someone they would like to have a beer with, but he was someone you could trust with difficult decisions. While many may not agree with the policy directions of the current Liberal Prime Minister, Mark Carney, there is also a feeling that he is a person who is both serious and taking the job seriously. While these traits should be taken for granted for our leaders, it is not always the case as history has shown us.

The legacy of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is one of a stable and serious government. Steadfast, pragmatic and dependable. Perhaps in a world that is lacking so much of that stability, it is little wonder that this week history reflected so well on Mr. Harper and his government.