Stephen J. Harper made history exactly 20 years ago today by leading his Conservative Party to their first-ever victory, ending 13 straight years of Liberal rule. He would go on to earn another minority mandate in 2008, and it was followed by a strong, stable majority win in 2011. The Rt. Hon. Mr. Harper’s was a remarkable journey through history, particularly in crafting the new Conservative Party out of the legacy Reform and PC parties, a history-making achievement of lasting impact. In office from 2006 until 2015, his government signed approximately 40 free trade agreements around the world — a precursor to today’s efforts by the Carney government to diversify the nation’s trading patterns away from the U.S. He also brought a renewed respect for time-honoured Canadian traditions like the Monarchy to Canada’s highest political office.
As a public historian, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Harper government’s passionate commitment — led personally by the PM — to promoting knowledge of key moments in our proud nation’s history, like the bicentennials of the births of Macdonald and Cartier, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, and the Prime Minister’s personal dedication to shining a proud light before the world on Canada’s far north and on through the endless Arctic. These lands he often called, rightly, Canada’s “call to greatness.” Again, it is only since the arrival of the second Trump Administration that many are now saluting Mr. Harper’s efforts in the North.
For me, I will never be able to thank Mr. Harper and his family enough for their support of me over many years, and for the incredible experiences I was able to have while working as a speechwriter in this special man’s PMO.
It is therefore a great personal privilege for me to send out 20th anniversary congratulations to our 22nd Prime Minister, his wife Laureen, and their children, Ben and Rachel.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.