Talk:Stephen Harper/Archive 1

message: *With this sponsorship scandal getting really nasty, he probably will be the next Prime Minister...also I changed it slightly since he would become the Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper.
: Don't you think you are jumping the gun just a wee bit here ?  Talk about counting chickens .... :-) Xamian 04:16, 20 May 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't have a problem with this being here.  It's only a discussion page and if someone wants to do this work to be prepared should Harper become prime minister, that's his/her own business.  That said, this box on Harper as PM seems to have confused at least one other person, who seems to believe it is part of the article.  Perhaps, Earl, you would consider moving it to your own discussion page to avoid further confusion?  HistoryBA 13:40, 29 May 2005 (UTC)

text: Rt. Hon is reserved for the Governor General of Canada, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Chief Justice of Canada. Steven Harper is not the prime minister, and he may never be for all we know. It would be like someone writing and article on a death row inmate and declaring they were already deceased simply because they were in line to be executed. This is why I have changed Steven Harpers title back to Hon, the only prefix he is currently entitled to. 04:46, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Untitled

message: Let's try to keep this article neurral and verifiable as much as possible. I have removed the comment about "independent observers" because no information on who these people are was provided. I also modified the statement about Harper's position being "manufactured" as that sounded unnecessarily critical. Let's just state the facts and let the reader draw his/her own conclusions. Ditto for Belinda Stronach "defection... in exchange for a cabinet position". "Crossing the floor" is neutral, "defection" is POV. Did she cross the floor just because she wanted to be in cabinet, or because she disagreed with CPC policy? Only she knows -- we can't know her true motivation. Ground Zero 17:42, 31 May 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: NPOV

message: A little while ago operating out of the University of Guelph a broadcaster announced something about Stephen Harper having connections with the CIA? I don't know much about what was broadcasted because I only heard it from a friend who is a ammature radio operator. Can anyone give me more information on a possible Harper/CIA link?
I got something for you dude, there is no link. Detractors of the guy do anything to play him up, including starting rumors of CIA involvement to make him seem like a scary American plant. Don't even worry about this. --SFont 07:13, 12 October 2005 (UTC)
thread_title: Harper and the CIA?

message: I think we should stop this article on Stephen Harper from being edited because of the constant vandalism SFrank85 16:21, 20 December 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: It's an election, you'll always get people with nothing better to do trying to mess up the article. I'm just glad I'm not babysitting the Wiki on President Bush.  John Hawke 07:01, 21 December 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: It's also wikipedia policy to not lock high-profile pages (aside from the front page). FireWorks 00:12, 31 December 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  Block this page from edits 

message: This is not a "random Stephen Harper quote of the day" site.  We have a sister site called http://www.wikiquote.com/ for listing quotes, and I have now added a link to the Stephen Harper entry on Wikiquote (look under "External link" to find the wikiquote box and click on it).
In general, quotes should only be added to the main article if they are directly relevant to and part of the person's biography (eg, Martin Luther King Jr. and "I have a dream...").  The Wikiquote site was created for other quotes. -- Curps 02:30, 14 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Stephen Harper quotes 

message: Is Harper's birthday really April 20? Seems a little too convenient. And google indicates that the entry used to have April 30. No solid info on the net, though.
Cincinnatus c 23:34, 14 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Birthday 

message: A question for any passers-by. Does Harper speak French? I viewed some of the French ads on the Tory website and noticed that he wasn't in them, which was different in my mind to the Liberal ads. - Thanks, Hoshie |  14:17, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, he does, he participated in the French debates.  My conjecture as to why he isn't in French ads are because he isn't as popular as a leader there, and they go for more of the "vote for our party, and we'll decentralize" message.Habsfannova 14:32, 19 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Erm, my suspicion on why Harper isn't in the French ads is that his French is still rather clumsy.  On CBC's Your Turn he described himself as something like "still a beginner in French".  Though he certainly gets points for improvement from 2004. --Saforrest 15:55, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

text: Even if it was, he could easily make a prepared statement on a TV commercial.Habsfannova 18:23, 26 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  A French speaker? 

message: Hello, I was wondering why Stephen's religion is no longer on his info bar? Good on you for calling him the Rt. Hon.! HD 123321, 7:16pm (PST)
*I will fix that now. SFrank85 03:19, 21 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Hold your horses. :)  He's not Right Honourable yet, though all indications are that he soon will be. --Saforrest 15:57, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Infobar 

message: User:Harperbruce 03:48, 23 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Don't worry... over the next few days this article will be edited quite a bit. Things will work themselves out. Cheers. --LV (Dark Mark) 03:29, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

text: For now, we can use this source. --LV (Dark Mark) 03:33, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Examine 2006 section 

message: Is this even remotely true?  Can anyone provide a citation?  Exploding Boy 03:39, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Ummm... I don't think that's true. The platform is that the PC would pass legislations barring any further same-sex marriage, but keep any current ones. I can't see an opposite position being taken by their leader. At least that's my view. --LV (Dark Mark) 03:45, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

text: Oh, in high school??? No idea. A source would be nice. --LV (Dark Mark) 03:47, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

text: I'm in agreement, this should be locked...or semi-protected at the very least.Habsfannova 19:58, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Harper as gay activist??!

message: As Harper hasn't yet been appointed Prime Minister he isn't styled the Right Honourable.   I'm going to revert it.   Only when he takes office should it be put back up. (Alphaboi867 05:17, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Rt Hon? 

message: Could someone fix the page layout? Dooga 06:43, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Page layout 

message: Please put sh:Stephen Harper. --M. Pokrajac 19:10, 24 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  sh: interwiki link 

message: All Canadian media refer to his wife Laureen by her maiden name, not as Laureen Harper. Given the media style guides, which default to women's preferences, there is no evidence she prefers otherwise.
This National Post article says that she has kept her maiden name but that she wants to be known as Laureen Harper in the political arena. Most media call her Teskey, so I'm not sure what that means. Perhaps they just put "Stephen and Laureen Harper" on ads sent to conservative people:
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:DLomGda3WzAJ:www.robanders.com/News/20040522Smyth.htm+laureen+teskey+maiden+name&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=3
: I think there was a bit of ambiguity and uncertainty on this point. I'd noticed as well that all mentions of her in the media recently were using Teskey, but I'd also previously seen media references to her as Harper. I asked for clarification at the Canadian Wikipedians' discussion board, and got no answer — so in light of this, I've moved her article to Laureen Teskey, but Laureen Harper will also stand as a redirect. Bearcat 23:54, 25 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, I just read something about this in the Globe and Mail -- and the article referred to this Wikipedia article on Teskey-Harper. --Westendgirl 00:59, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Laureen Teskey 

message: Mainly detailing his victory, his speech and his new vision as Prime Minister? -b 18:21, 25 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  How about a section 4.1 

message: My understanding is Martin will be staying as leader of the Liberals until the convention. He should be listed, therfore, as the leader of the Opposition in the infobox. 23skidoo 18:22, 26 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Leader of the Opposition

message: I've changed Harper's biography box: from Feb/6/2006- present, to Due to take office Feb/6/2006. Why? because he's only scheduled to take office on that day, he hasn't taken office yet. So, why not wait until February 6th, 2006 GoodDay 21:20, 26 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: He needs :Template:Infobox PM anyway (which is currently at the top of the talk page). I suppose there's no harm adding it now, provided it includes your caveat. Mackensen (talk) 22:34, 26 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I don't know what WP standard is but I'd prefer waiting.  I know that it is almost certain to happen but it hasn't yet.  WP is an ecyclopedia after all.  At the very least, it should not say that Martin is his predecessor yet and also that he is not the incumbent yet.  --JGGardiner 06:23, 28 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Wait until February 6th

message: I think that it is rather trivial to say that he enjoys ice hockey.  I'd prefer to see the space used for something more substantive.  As a side note, I would note that a lot of politicians try to humanize themselves by connecting to popular sport like that.  Have you ever seen the footage of Diefenbaker pretending to enjoy the Summit Series?  It is very difficult to watch.  Or perhaps how Hillary Clinton says that she secretly enjoyed the Yankees while growing up in Illinois?  I'm not doubting Harper, I just think that it isn't very meaningful because everyone likes it or fakes it.  --JGGardiner 22:36, 27 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: He's writing a history of hockey so I assume he likes it a bit more than the average Canadian. Mithridates 05:48, 30 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: That's the kind of thing I was looking for.  It sounds like it should be in the article.  --JGGardiner 15:55, 30 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: On a personal note

message: But who is she? Just though I'd point out to the more enterprising researchers out there that his father mentioned by name but his mother isn't. 69.157.184.7 00:10, 1 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: According to this CBC profile (see section "A very private man"), Harper's mother's name is Margaret.  He also has two younger brothers, Robert and Grant. --Saforrest 16:58, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

text: That's right. Harper's mother's name is Margaret. I saw William Johnson's book on Stephen Harper being sold at Save On Foods this week in Delta, B.C. and quickly broused through it.  Johnson mentions this fact. I believe she is alive although Harper's father is well known to have died in 2003. Harper did a touching eulogy about his father's influence on him at the funeral and has mentioned many times how he misses getting advice from his father. --Leoboudv 04:44, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

text: Margaret Harper is alive. According to the Toronto Star story, she will be flown from Calgary to Ottawa to witness her son's inauguration as will Harper's 2 brothers and their respective families. It is interesting that all 3 brothers followed Joseph Harper's career into accounting. Maybe Harper will do better than just balance Canada'as books. Methinks Canada has had too many lawyers governing Canada over the years. Regards. Story --24.87.128.182 10:15, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

text: Hmm?  No one said she wasn't alive.  Incidentally, while Harper's two brothers may be accountants, Harper is not: both his undergraduate and masters degrees are in economics.  (I'm not sure whether that makes him an "economist"; like "physicist" and "mathematician" that title seems to be reserved for those with doctorates in the subject). --Saforrest 15:46, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Even Stephen Harper has a mother. 

message: : He is also an avid fan of ice hockey and of the Calgary Flames.
I thought I had read somewhere that he is still a Leafs fan (he grew up in Toronto, after all) along with his wife and kids.  Is that not true?  (I suppose it might be partially true and could've been spun a bit to make him friendlier to Ontarians.) --Saforrest 15:55, 6 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Hockey team allegiance? 

message: "The Right Honourable" should appear in bold before "Stephen Harper" in the first paragraph
Petro_56
: No, it is explicit policy not to use The Honourable or The Right Honourable in the introductory text about a politician.  Look at the source for the relevant link to the Wikipedia Manual of Style. --Saforrest 06:53, 13 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Typos to fix

message: I don't know why Stephen Harper's electoral results are needed, it's not on any other prime minister or member of parliament, so I removed them... any input?
*I've been adding these to other MPs' pages, and I've not received many complaints so far.  The other PMs don't have an "electoral results" section yet, but (i) they might, in the near future, and (ii) that's no reason to delete here, one way or the other.  I'm somewhat puzzled as to why you believe it's so important to remove the information.  CJCurrie 23:38, 8 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree with Tkyle, actually...I think it's a bit too much.  It should be in his riding page(s).Habsfannova 00:52, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Electoral Results 

message: I don't know about the rest of the wikipedia community, but when I see the words dumbest in bold (dumbest of 4 brothers) and stuff about Canada's prime minister beeing a drunk I would normally consider that slander and vandalism and I'm a liberal!  I am reverting this to its pre-vandalized state. --Diploid 20:18, 7 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Vandalism?

message: Someone (possibly Willy on Wheels) has replaced the images of Paul Martin and Stephen Harper with borderline-pornographic images.  This appears to be advanced vandalism, in that simply deleted the "image" in the template has no effect.  Please do not return the template until this matter is resolved.  CJCurrie 20:46, 7 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Advanced Vandalism

message: I'm sorry, but I really don't see that quote section as being either necessary or an improvement to the article. There is already a link to wikiquote, which has all the quotes here plus many more. The article is already quite long, adding all those quotes makes it look cumbersome.
I've removed the quotes previously only to be reverted, so I thought I'd raise the issue here. 207.6.31.119 21:41, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Why was the section called 'famous quotes'?  They seemed like a collection of partisan quotes with no apparent purpose.  What was "famous" about them?Michael Dorosh 21:55, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Quotes section

message: Under 'Trivia', it says that his father was a collector of badges till his death. Is there any reason that this is euphemised to 'passing'?Stearnsbrian 01:52, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'm Canadian.  It's in my blood to be polite. :-P  If it is against the manual of style, feel free to change it.Michael Dorosh 04:28, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Euphemising

message: the statistics are nice, they are very detalied, but isn't there a map that has the provinces highlighted? It would be less of an headache. The pointer outer 23:21, 10 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  stats 

message: What happened??? 24.82.136.103 17:40, 11 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Religion on Infobar 

message: This man is an imposter, for I am the prime minister of Canada!!!! Fear my wrath for I control the Candians!! The most feared fighting force in the known world!!!!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 152.163.100.9 (talk • contribs) 
*Good luck with that, eh! SFrank85 15:17, 12 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Candaian PM!!!!

message: Substituted at 22:07, 3 May 2016 (UTC)
thread_title: Assessment comment