About Stephen Harper:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has worked through the right-leaning parties in Canada, and as Leader of the Canadian Alliance Party oversaw its merger with the Progressive Conservatives to form the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. By nature more comfortable with policy than as a political glad-hander, Stephen Harper has slowly become more at ease in leadership. He ran a meticulous campaign in the 2006 federal election, and led the Conservatives to a minority government.
Prime Minister of Canada:
2006 to present
Birth:
April 30, 1959 in Toronto, Ontario
Education:
- BA - University of Calgary 1985
- MA - University of Calgary 1991
Profession:
- Economist
- President, National Citizens Coalition 1998
Political Party:
Federal Ridings:
- Calgary West (1993 to 1997 - Reform Party)
- Calgary Southwest (2002-04 - Canadian Alliance Party; 2004 to present - Conservative Party of Canada)
Political Career of Stephen Harper:
- Stephen Harper began his political career as Executive Assistant to Jim Hawkes, Progressive Conservative MP for Calgary West in 1981.
- He became Chief Policy Officer for the Reform Party in 1987.
- He became Legislative Assistant to Deborah Gray, the Reform Party's first MP in 1988.
- Stephen Harper was first elected to the House of Commons as the Reform MP for Calgary West in 1993.
- He served as the Reform Party critic for finance and national unity.
- Stephen Harper did not seek re-election in 1997.
- In March 2002, Stephen Harper was elected Leader of the Canadian Alliance Party.
- He was elected to the House of Commons in Calgary Southwest in May 2002.
- After on-and-off negotiations, Stephen Harper signed an agreement with Peter MacKay of the Progressive Conservative Party to merge the Canadian Alliance Party and the Progressive Conservative Party into the Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003.
- Stephen Harper stepped down as the Leader of the Canadian Alliance to run for the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada in January 2004.
- Stephen Harper was elected Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada in March 2004.
- In the 2006 general election Stephen Harper led the Conservative Party to victory with a minority government.
- Stephen Harper was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada on February 6, 2006.
