ok time for a reality check, harper was a socially closed leader, no Karisma but over all he managed to keep canada doing pretty good compared to all others after the crash. yes he added a lot of debt which he should of stood up to the minority government on but the economy did pretty good too, lots of jobs. when he obtained a majority he began to cut the deficits down significantly without raising taxes. now that by any measure is not easily done, any fool can raise taxes.