In politics, a day can feel like a lifetime, and we sometimes need to take a step back and realize that time is a necessary antidote to heal wounds and reputations. This sentiment was on full display this week as Conservatives gathered in Ottawa for the unveiling of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s portrait in the House of Commons. While many in the bubble understood that Harper would earn his place among the Canadian greats, he is finally getting the broader public recognition he deserves.
Harper’s legacy is long. Some of his achievements are self-explanatory, others less so. The former Conservative government was responsible for shepherding Canada through the financial crisis and global recession in 2008, returning Canada to a balanced budget in 2015, and expanding free trade by signing agreements with nearly 40 countries. His era was defined by a steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility, balanced against the intricate demands of navigating a G7 government.
Harper focused on tangible tax reforms that helped middle class families, and his government’s reform to Canada’s immigration system made it the envy of the world. He restored fiscal balance by shrinking the size of the federal government and leading a cabinet-wide initiative to cut back on spending and waste.
On the international stage, the former prime minister once diverted his plane to evacuate Canadian citizens fleeing violence. At the G20 Summit in 2014, he gained international accolades for telling President Vladimir Putin to ‘get out of Ukraine.’
With the good, came the bad. You don’t make it nearly 10 years in government without some level of political scandal. However, when compared to the ethically morose media cycle that consumes daily life, most Canadians would willingly rewind the clock to when the biggest story of the day revolved around a $90,000 cheque being cut and subsequently paid back by Harper’s former chief of staff.
In 2015, Harper lost the federal election but won his seat. While he promptly resigned as leader of the Conservative Party, he had an open-door policy for his remaining days as an elected official where staff, new and seasoned members of parliament, and those thinking about running for party leader could drop in for his advice.
These types of moments reflected a side of the former prime minister that the public rarely got a glimpse of during his time in office but now define his post-political legacy. Harper is a true statesman and when he speaks on the international stage as he frequently does these days, Canadians can sleep easy knowing that he remains one of our country’s greatest champions.
In today’s battle-hardened political environment, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that our leaders are real people, sent to Ottawa to act on their constituents’ behalf and to fight for their interests. Harper and his government took this commitment seriously, making good on many of the promises they campaigned on. The policies enacted delivered real, tangible results for millions of Canadians, and contributed to Canada’s reputation on the world stage. For this, we owe him a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Mr. Harper.
Josie Sabatino is a Senior Consultant at Summa Strategies, focused on providing strategic insight and helping clients meet their objectives in an ever changing and complex political and regulatory environment. Prior to joining Summa, Josie spent nearly a decade in political communications and most recently served as the Director of Communications to the Hon. Erin O’Toole, former Leader of the Official Opposition.
