Stephen Harper

[[File:Tiredharper.jpg|thumb|upright|165px|This is his opinion of you.]]{{politics}}
{{cquote|"Either you don't care, or you're incompetent. Which is it?"|||NDP Leader Jack Layton, summing Harper up nicely.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd6Kw6GIKU0]</ref>}}
'''Stephen Joseph "Our Glorious Dear Leader" Harper''' is a fan of Nickelback, 
the former head of the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]] of [[Canada]]
 (whoops) and the nation's Prime Minister from 2006 to 2015. He has become a pariah of many Canucks for his increasingly 
robotic
 autocratic style of governance,<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbPtJ1ml5Zw Build more prisons!]</ref> enough to have his support base dwarfed by an alliance of onion ring lovers.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Can-this-Onion-Ring-get-more-fans-than-Stephen-Harper/282298836447 Can this Onion Ring get more fans than Stephen Harper?]</ref> Emerging studies suggest that he was grown in the same right-wing bioreactor tank as former US President [[George W. Bush]].

In May 2011, he won his third straight federal election, this time with a majority; this resulted in [[wingnut|reactionaries]] mocking critics of Harper's regime<ref>ie. [http://shitharperdid.ca.nyud.net/ ShitHarperDid]</ref> as "libreal [sic] fucktards"<ref>[https://twitter.com/rickmercer/status/324938224256548864/photo/1 Will always have this to remember], eh?</ref> and the rest of the civilized world scratching their heads on the sudden failure of the Great White North's [[education]] system.  Since then, Harper has tried to act as a "{{wpl|Red Tory}}," most likely to appeal to centre-right voters that usually voted [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] but scoffed at the rise of (now-deceased) Jack Layton and the [[New Democratic Party|NDP]]. However, his admiration by the [[GOP]]<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/01/24/newt-gingrich-stephen-harper_n_1228009.html Newt Gingrich: Stephen Harper gets shout-out from Republican hopeful], ''The Huffington Post''</ref> and track record is enough to raise serious alarm for the state of the country.<ref>Well...not really, as everyone outside of Western Canada now hates his guts.</ref>

==Origins==
Stephen Harper was born in Toronto but left for [[Alberta]] after high school and has since ignored the city (well, all the [[Liberal|libruls]] and [[Homosexuality|gays]] live there!). He worked as a mail clerk at Imperial [[Oil]] with his father in Edmonton, that being his only job experience before entering politics. He is also a member of the evangelical [[Holiness movement|Christian and Missionary Alliance]].

After the disastrous ending of the Progressive Conservative majority in 1993 under {{wpl|Brian Mulroney}} (losing all but two seats in Parliament), he became a prominent member of the Refooooooorm! Party<ref>Not the [[Reform Party|American one]], rather {{wpl|Reform Party of Canada|this}}</ref> as "Steve Harper." The Reform Party later became the Canadian Alliance (first aptly known as the Canadian '''C'''onservative '''R'''eform '''A'''lliance '''P'''arty<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/conservativeparty/ No, seriously.] (But you can't trust those commies at the [[CBC]]!)</ref>), then merged with the PCs (creating the current Conservatives) for a chance to challenge the Liberals in the mid-2000s.

==Reasons to like him==
*'''Anti-abortion change of heart''': [[Stephen Harper#Inspiring quotes|Not shockingly]], Harper's staunchest support is with [[fundies]] that, to this day, continue to influence the party on [[abortion]] laws. However, he doesn't want to reopen debate about it,<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/26/abortion-canada-stephen-harper-stephen-woodworth_n_1454678.html Stephen Harper Says He'll Vote Against Private Member's Bill On Human Definition], ''The Huffington Post''</ref> perhaps to prevent pissing off the general electorate. In a hilarious case of [[blowback]], Tory backbenchers who ''really'' want to reopen the abortion debate are currently rebelling because of the de-facto [[censorship]] he's placed on their right to speak in Parliament.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/03/26/pol-backbench-mps-rebel-against-pmo-control.html Tory MPs rebel against Prime Minister's Office control]</ref>
*'''Same goes for them queers''': When [[same-sex marriage]] was being debated in Canada prior to the passing of the law in 2005, Harper promised to hold a free vote on reopening the issue if the Conservatives won. He also said he wouldn't use the risky Notwithstanding clause<ref>Simply put, if a bill would constitute a violation of certain specific clauses of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Notwithstanding clause can override that violation for up to five years by a majority vote, renewable indefinitely so long as it keeps passing votes. Its use tends to be politically costly because it legitimizes some forms of unconstitutional laws, such as Quebec's French-only language laws. After Harper won a majority government in 2011, he could have forced a Notwithstanding vote through any time he wanted.</ref> even though it would be necessary to successfully overturn gay marriage as equality is guaranteed under the Charter. After a minority Conservative win, a 2006 vote to return to the debate failed, and Harper has had the good sense ever since to ignore the fundie backbenchers' braying and conclude that Canadians don't want to reopen the discussion.
*'''Discontinued the minting of pennies''': The [[stopped clock|sanest thing he's ever done]], and did so without any major opposition.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU4E6SSy5Yg CGPGrey]</ref>
*'''Made scholarship and fellowship grants to students non-taxable''': That was nice of him.

==Reasons to "meh" him==
*'''Apologizing for cultural assimilation of Aborigines''': In a move that surprised many, Harper (in fact, all Canadian party leaders) apologized, in front of an audience of Aboriginal delegates, and in an address that was broadcast nationally on the CBC, for the past governments' policies of assimilation. He apologized not only for the known excesses of the residential school system but for the creation of the system itself and 
undertook efforts
 was forced to institute a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to uncover the full truth of the episode. Once the commission was done, Harper refused to do jack shit or even reply.<ref>http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-remains-silent-on-truth-and-reconciliation-recommendations/article24785944/</ref><ref>http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/wab-kinew-et-al-make-reconciliation-an-election-issue</ref>
*'''Put the "[[monarchy|Royal]]" back in the Canadian military''': Wouldn't have mattered either way, but preferred by a majority of Canadians.{{Citation needed}}
*'''Negotiated the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)''': For [[Ontario]], [[New Brunswick]], [[British Columbia]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], and [[Nova Scotia]], which combines the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to "improve the competitiveness of Canadian businesses." BC later held a referendum<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-votes-55-to-scrap-hst-1.1011876 B.C. votes 55% to scrap HST] (CBC News)</ref> rejecting the HST in favour of separate GST and PST.<ref>The referendum was held in August 2011 and legislation took effect on April 1, 2013, to eliminate BC's HST and reinstate the split sales taxes.</ref>
*'''[[Free trade]]''': Is establishing links from the [[EU]] to [[China]].
*'''Fan of {{wpl|Nickelback}}.'''

==Reasons to dislike him==
*'''Tarnishing the recovery''': Tackling the [[Great Recession]] was going to be a pain in the ass whoever was in charge, but Harper has taken credit for things that he was never responsible for.<ref>Whether you liked the Chrétien/Martin years or not ({{wpl|Adscam|and there was a lot not to like}}), it must be stressed that it was the Libs who prevented [http://canadaonline.about.com/library/weekly/aa121498.htm the collusion of the "Big Five" banking industry] (a move Harper [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16911298 hated at the time]) and created a decade's worth of [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/08/us-crisis-canada-tame-idUSTRE77766I20110808 balanced budgets], while preserving most of the [[welfare state]] (compare this to the [[United States]]). Stevie and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty [http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=81b4e168-5b2f-42fa-946e-b5f5fafe1542 denied the occurrence of a recession] on numerous occasions (Harper has a master's degree in [[economics]]) and it took a threat of a [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7855311.stm non-confidence vote] for them to even pass some sort of a stimulus package.</ref> Sent Action Plan checks disproportionately to important party ridings,<ref>[http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/just-the-facts-independent-reports-back-up-liberal-analyses-of-conservative-stimulus-spending-bias/ Independent reports back up Liberal analyses of Conservative stimulus spending bias]</ref> and started creating deficits ''before'' 2008<ref>[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:32j6-7rLRBoJ:v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080227.wbudget27/front/Front/Front/+small+change+for+tighter+times+globe+and+mail&hl=en&client=safari&gl=ca&strip=0 Small change for tighter times], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref> (the latter due to being an apparent [[tax cut]] addict, intentions now questioned by economists<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/stephen-gordon/ottawas-gst-cut-a-mistake/article1943859/ Ottawa's GST cut a mistake], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>).
*'''Stripping Statistics Canada's power''': Considered one of the best of its kind, Harper eliminated the long-form [[census]] simply for ideological reasons.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2010/10/canadas_statistics-gathering A senseless census reform], ''The Economist''</ref>
*'''Egotistical''': Filled the government lobby with [[personality cult|photos of just himself]],<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20160102200730/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9c6b53f6-f0a2-4eca-93bb-559023144731 Harper gallery leaves MPs speechless], ''Ottawa Citizen''. Archived 02 Jan 2016</ref> had the Government of Canada listed as the "Harper Government" in official communications,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170117062051/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/documents-show-harperization-of-government-communications/article2253080/ Documents show ‘harperization’ of government communications], ''The Globe and Mail'', Archived 30 November 2011</ref> and used [[Fox News]] lookalike [[Toronto Sun|Sun News]] to concoct an act of [[propaganda]] worthy of Failblog mention.<ref>[https://archive.is/0Wc3b Kenney refuses to apologize for fake citizenship broadcast, blames bureaucrats], ''National Post''. Archived 7 July 2013.</ref> In Canada Day festivities on Parliament Hill, he insisted on accepting the Royal Salute ahead of the former Governor General. Illegally, even, because heads of state should be greeted at ''Rideau Hall'', not Centre Block. Hell, the red carpets and flags in the main hall of Parliament are completely contrary to Canadian tradition, and using Centre Block as a stage for pomp and ceremony for visiting presidents is contrary to their Constitution.
*'''Love for [[logical fallacies]]''': [[False dilemma]] and [[Godwin's Law]], anyone?<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/04/27/pol-kady-harper-history-storify-ndp.html?cmp=rss How the PM's dig at Mulcair sparked a #HarperHistory lesson], CBC</ref><ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/john-ibbitson/article2336889.ece Tories on e-snooping: ‘Stand with us or with the child pornographers’], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>

==Reasons to hate him==
{{Template:Writing help}}
[[File:Stupid_burns.png|thumb|This has been every Tory supporter since 2003.]]
{{cquote|“You won’t recognize Canada when I’m through with it.”|||Harper himself, upon his election in 2006.}}

'''WARNING''': This list is not for the faint of heart. [[RationalWiki]] will [[RationalWiki:Site_support|rebate]] any breakfasts/lunches/dinners, etc., that are lost while reading this section.
* '''Americanization''': Easily the most right-wing asshole Canada ever put in office, with a ton of eerie parallels with the [[GOP]] nearly across the board on policy. <ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34321263</ref>
* '''Silencing dissent''', knowledge, and democracy, bit by bit. <ref>http://voices-voix.ca/sites/voices-voix.ca/files/dismantlingdemocracy_voicesvoix.pdf</ref>
* '''Police State fan''': Taking cues from the [[Patriot Act]], Harper introduced several bills that entrench the powers of the intelligence-security apparatus to such an extent that, due to their broadly-phrased wording, would cause untold thousands of people to be arrested and detained without due process. First off, '''Bill C-30''' allows the Canadian government to monitor the online activities of its citizens—without warrants, of course. '''Bill C-44''' expands the surveillance powers of CSIS to NSA levels (not just Anglophone countries would be affected), while granting anonymity protection to CSIS informants and allowing for new conditions under which Canadian citizenship can be revoked. '''Bill C-639''', introduced on Dec. 3, which impinges on the Constitutional right of assembly and would criminalize people exercising their democratic right to public protest. '''Bill C-51''', the Anti-Terrorism Act 2015, contains draconian measures that protect "critical infrastructure", namely private property that is owned by wealthy plutocrats or corporations. Even those who, for example, protest Israeli wars on Gaza, those same civilians would be arrested on the basis of "supporting terrorists" (a la Hamas) and have their citizenship revoked. Workers who begin striking at, say, oil companies in Canada would be arrested for potential "damage" done to "critical infrastructure".<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c-51-passes-in-house-of-commons-1.3064235 It was passed with support from the Liberal Party.]</ref><ref>https://systemicdisorder.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/canada-targets-tar-sands-critics/</ref>
* '''Anti-Sex''': He introduced and legalized a December 2014 bill that criminalizes the purchase of sex, while keeping it legal to sell sex, which effectively prohibits prostitution for no good reason other than to piss on the little guy again (now we're all for consumer protection, but it's just a dick move (so to speak!) to make it legal to hire a prostitute but illegal to act as one).
* '''Unacceptable Cowardice''': When a crazed gunman went on a rampage in Ottawa and came within ten meters of over 200 members of Parliament as well as the Prime Minister and both Opposition Leaders, Stephen Harper—the Prime Minister—hid in a closet. By contrast, the Members of Parliament grabbed flagpoles, transformed them into spears, and held them at the ready within their offices, waiting for the gunman to show up so they could impale him like Ancient Greeks in a phalanx formation.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-attack-mps-fashioned-spears-while-harper-hid-in-closet/article21278580/?click=sf_globefb We are dead serious]</ref>
* '''Anti-LGBT''': Specifically and successfully blocked protections for transgender Canadians.<ref>[https://news.vice.com/article/documents-reveal-efforts-to-block-protections-for-trans-people-in-canada?utm_source=vicenewstwitter If he can't get the gays, he'll get the trans!]</ref>
* '''Anti-Citizenship''': Introduced a bill that, if passed, will make it harder for immigrants to earn Canadian citizenship and easier for current Canadians to lose it.<ref>[http://www.straight.com/news/645271/if-bill-c-24-passes-canadian-citizenship-will-be-harder-get-and-easier-lose Don't let them take our jerbs!]</ref> New immigrants will have to wait longer before they can apply for citizenship. Older and younger people will now have to pass language and knowledge tests to qualify for citizenship. The citizenship application fees have been tripled. There will be no right of appeal for those who are refused.
*'''NAFTA wannabe''': He pushed for the pending passage of CETA, a NAFTA-esque trade deal that gives priority to investor and intellectual property rights above environmental and consumer regulations.
*'''Considers science an inconvenience''': He shut down a "groundbreaking" freshwater research station, because fuck it.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-shut-down-groundbreaking-freshwater-research-station/article2436094/ Shut it down!]</ref>
*'''[[Chickenhawk]] envy''': Despite having no military experience, he blindly supported the 2003 [[Iraq War|Invasion of Iraq]],<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPVOhva_cwI Sorry, Steve.]</ref> regardless of the consequences, illegality, or unpopularity. Harper pushed Parliament in 2006 to extend Canada’s mission in Afghanistan for an additional two years, successfully at that. In 2007, a Liberal motion to end Canada’s Afghanistan role in 2009 was defeated by a voting coalition led by Harper’s Conservatives. He did the same in 2011. In 2014, he put Canada into a state of war with ISIL while his Conbots laughed, cheered, clapped, and did a few thumbs-ups, so basically made a circus of the motion. In other words, being euphoric over the possible deaths of the children of other Canadians, as well as civilian casualties in the area ISIL occupies.<ref>[http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/10/08/its-war-stop-treating-it-like-a-game Basically, the Conservatives think the war on ISIL is a video game and that there's nothing better in life than pwning the noobs IRL with no scope 720 headshot snipes (or in this case, bombings).]</ref> Again, contrast to his own behavior in the gunman incident above.
*'''Americanization of Canadian government''': His policies emulate much of those perpetrated by the [[GOP]], like having his soldiers trained by [[Blackwater]],<ref>[http://www.globaltoronto.com/canada/canadian+troops+trained+by+blackwater+without+us+permission+court+documents/6442693591/story.html Canadian troops trained by Blackwater without U.S. permission: court document], ''The Canadian Press''</ref> [[torture|torturing]] prisoners for information,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/07/pol-cp-torture-csis.html CSIS may use intelligence derived from torture, Toews says], CBC</ref> and supporting [[Israel]] "whatever the cost." This includes pushing Canada to become the first country to cut off financial aid and diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority after Hamas took power following Palestinian elections. In the summer of 2006, as Israel warred with Hezbollah, Lebanese civilian deaths led to calls for a ceasefire from other Western countries, except Canada, as Harper supported the vicious response from Israel. He even directed Canada to abstain from UN resolutions singling out Israel for its violations and abuses.<ref>[http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/99489--harper-says-he-ll-support-israel-even-if-it-hurts-canada-politically Harper says he'll support Israel even if it hurts Canada politically], ''The Canadian Press''</ref>
*'''Socially regressive behaviour''': Attempted to reinstate a {{wpl|Members of the 39th Canadian Parliament and same-sex marriage|gay marriage ban}} immediately after taking office,<ref>To be fair, he hasn't touched it ever since.</ref> shut down 12 out of 16 federal Status of Women offices,<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/804414--conservatives-accused-of-culture-of-intimidation?bn=1 Tories accused of culture of intimidation], ''Toronto Star''</ref> fired most non-Christian chaplains from Canadian prisons,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/05/bc-federal-prison-chaplain-cuts.html Feds rehire some non-Christian prison chaplains], CBC</ref> and has funneled money into a headscratcher of an initiative called the "Office of Religious Freedom," seemingly created to pander to [[Catholic]]s.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/the-office-of-religious-freedom-more-conservative-slice-and-dice/article8981199 Because a Department of Foreign Affairs and constitutional charter isn't enough.]</ref>
*'''Witch hunts on opponents''': [[McCarthyism|McCarthy]]-esque [[Anti-intellectualism|crackdowns]] on government dissenters<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/meet-the-tory-hit-list/article1677414/ Meet the Tory hit list], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref><ref>[http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/StatsCan+loses+economic+analyst+over+census/6087970/story.html StatsCan loses top economic analyst over census], ''Ottawa Citizen''</ref> and liberal university professors<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/936704--tories-accused-of-digging-up-dirt-on-liberal-profs Tories accused of digging up dirt on ‘Liberal’ profs], ''Toronto Star''</ref>
*'''Hastening human extinction''': A ''dismal'' record on [[global warming]],<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/08/04/pol-environment-job-cuts.html Environment Canada job cuts raise concerns], CBC</ref><ref>[http://www.straight.com/article-275894/vancouver/copenhagen-canada-takes-colossal-fossil-distinction-third-year-row At Copenhagen, Canada takes “Colossal Fossil” distinction for third year in row]</ref><ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tory-senators-kill-climate-bill-passed-by-house/article1802519/ Tory senators kill climate bill passed by House], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref><ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/radical-groups-spur-tories-to-speed-pipeline-review-process/article2295542/ ‘Radical groups’ spur Tories to speed pipeline review process], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref> "[[censorship|muzzling]]" climate scientists<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16861468 Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists'] BBC</ref><ref>[http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100929/full/467501a.html Canada must free scientists to talk to journalists], ''Nature''</ref> and calling [[Kyoto Protocol|Kyoto]] "a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations."<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lagging-green-standards-hamper-competitiveness-ottawa-told/article2434343/ In reality...]</ref> He then formally withdrew Canada from its commitment to the Protocol, making it the first country of the 191 ratifying signatories to do so.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16153800 Canada withdraws from Kyoto pact], BBC</ref>
*'''Restricting the press''': He regulated the Ottawa press gallery in a really bad way, by limiting the number of questions they can give him and only approving softball queries by pro-Harper reporters,<ref>[http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=89eafbaf-ddbe-45b6-aff9-f33ec9cb20a3 Stephen Harper vs. The Press]</ref><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20060524/harper_media_060524/ Harper to avoid national media, claiming bias], CTV</ref> thus effectively limiting (or even silencing) journalists from asking questions
*'''Prorogued Parliament to cover his ass''': He dismissed Parliament twice in two years, the latter in fear of facing oppositional criticism over the {{wpl|Canadian Afghan detainee issue|Afghan detainee scandal}}, the former when facing a vote of confidence that he would have lost as a minority government, while the Liberals, NDP and Bloc had signed an agreement to form a coalition government. He ironically claimed that the coalition was "something nobody voted for" and "undemocratic", while the parties in the coalition carried 54% of the vote to his 38%. In the next election in 2011, the Conservatives were elected to a majority government with 39% of the vote, which is truly [[First past the post|undemocratic and something for which nobody voted]].
*'''Hates being questioned''' (bet you didn't see that coming): Harper wanted to prevent a CTV camera from boarding his plane to Malaysia because he wanted to ask him a question.<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/10/02/pmo_backs_down_on_threat_to_bar_journalist_for_asking_stephen_harper_a_question_tim_harper.html Because fuck reporters, amirite?]</ref>
*'''Careless spending''': Wasted almost $1 billion in three days for security and other costs during the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto.<ref>[http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/summit-survivor/2010/05/26/833-million-security-bill-for-g20-and-g8-called-insane/ $833-million security bill for G20 and G8 called “insane”], ''Toronto Life''</ref> The {{wpl|2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests|resulting protests}} became the largest mass arrests in Canadian history, making the 1970 FLQ crisis under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Trudeau Pierre Trudeau] look like [[Quebec]] never wanted to separate from Canada (just [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Heb9BXjYcII watch this]). If you're not raising pitchforks ''yet'', G20 military records were found to equate "embarrassment to the Canadian government" to [[terrorism]].<ref>[http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/10/embarrassment-to-the-canadian-government-considered-security-threat-at-toronto-g20-summit-documents/ ‘Embarrassment to the Canadian government’ considered security threat at Toronto G20 summit: documents], National Post</ref>
*'''Halting a [[UN]] resolution to declare [[water]] as a basic [[human rights|human right]]''',<ref>[http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=b65b35fd-477f-4956-98f4-c17a46fe3e26 UN rejects water as basic human right]</ref> has 
pressed to maintain the freaking [[asbestos]] industry<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-parties-in-mining-town-as-canada-keeps-asbestos-off-hazardous-list/article2074399/ Harper parties in mining town as Canada keeps asbestos off hazardous list], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>
 reluctantly ended funding for the Chrysotile Institute in May 2012 after international condemnation<ref>[http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/asbestos+advocacy+group+shuts+doors/6537818/story.html Pro-asbestos advocacy group shuts its doors], ''Montreal Gazette''</ref> (plus a good mocking by [[Jon Stewart]]), drastically cut foreign aid to [[Africa]],<ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20101125/canada-foreign-aid-africa-latin-america-101125/ Canada's foreign aid shift from Africa questioned], CTV</ref> and literally wants the poor to starve<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-shrugs-off-un-warning-on-hunger-and-nutrition/article2434556/ Ottawa shrugs off UN warning on hunger and nutrition], ''The Globe and Mail''</ref>
*'''Brutalizing the environment unconstitutionally''': Used his majority to ram a 400-page "budget bill" through Parliament, damaging everything from the environment to social protections and opposed by almost every scientist and constitutional expert in the nation.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=dc782ba7-653f-4660-a8c7-061d0338fe6b Scientists, ex-ministers slam federal changes to Fisheries Act]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/06/19/pol-budget-bill-passes.html Budget bill moves on to the Senate for final approval], CBC</ref> Once the Harper-instituted budget office realized it was probably illegal, they were [[irony|told to fuck off]].<ref>[http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/tory-created-parliamentary-budget-office-overstepping-its-mandate-baird-says-159626795.html Tory-created parliamentary budget office overstepping its mandate, Baird says], ''Winnipeg Free Press''</ref>
*'''Presidential Prime Minister''': He rules the Conservatives and, by extension, the government with an iron fist. Nothing happens in his party without his approval, and every policy imposed by the government has Harper's influence, regardless of what Parliament has to say. Now, in this case, it's technically legal because Prime Ministers are still sitting members of the legislature, so they're allowed to shape policy so openly and directly. As a result, the PM’s words carry especially great weight—they signify the legislative direction the country is likely to take. On the other hand, he goes about it wrong, like when he offered to bribe the family of a cancer-stricken MP if said MP would vote with a bill Harper supported.
*'''Disdain for Opposition''': He insists that the Opposition is not truly part of the government, excludes local Opposition MPs from announcements in their ridings, bars local groups from holding events at which federal dollars are involved with their own MP (unless that MP is Conservative), and refuses to grant information to Opposition MPs in case they wanted to change or implement a fiscal policy out of line with Harper's vision.
*'''Emboldening Crooked Government elsewhere''': It's one thing if Harper, for example, tries to prorogue Parliament before they could sniff him out. It's another when the Premiers of provincial governments act the same way in Ontario, British Columbia (both Liberals), as well as  Quebec. This includes blocking evidence-based arguments, the use of public data and government funds for partisan purposes, and claiming that their critics are out of touch with the "silent majority".<ref>[http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/20/quebec_government_embraces_stephen_harpers_approach_to_governance_hbert.html As expected of Marois, of course]</ref> Lord knows how successive governments will act after Harper inevitably leaves.
*'''Filtering Refugee Applications By Religion''': A few months after images flooded the world of dead Syrian children washing up on the shores of Europe's beaches, it was revealed that Harper's office had directed the Citizen and Immigration Bureau to send all asylum-seeker requests to him personally so that he and he alone could judge whether they were worthy, even in cases where the UN had already deemed the refugee's situation untenable.<ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prime-ministers-office-ordered-halt-to-refugee-processing/article26713562/ Prime Minister’s Office ordered halt to refugee processing]</ref> If you're a government employee, you'll know that communicating with one department is not a simple process and, as a result, Harper's insistence on micro-managing a complex asylum process delayed desperate people's applications too long, resulting in deaths. Worst of all, there are also accusations that Harper sought to only approve asylum cases with minorities that could be courted for votes and instructed officials not to consider Shia and Sunni Muslim cases because these would be harder to present in a future campaign.<ref>[http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/pmo-sought-political-gain-in-prioritizing-certain-syrian-refugees-sources-1.2601028 PMO sought political gain in prioritizing certain Syrian refugees]</ref> In short, Harper's response to the Syrian Civil War was to effectively put up a "Christians only" sign at Canada's ports.
*'''Tried to steal ballot boxes''' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TVOgNoGvqY] and make stimulus plan signs permanent.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150415083333/http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/2729950-economic-action-plan-signs-could-become-permanent-/ Economic Action Plan signs could become permanent], ''The Canadian Press''. Archived 15 April 2015.</ref>
*'''Negligence over the $7 million Bev Oda scandal'''<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150415083413/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/amid-cries-of-contempt-harper-backs-bev-oda/article1908960/ Amid cries of contempt, Harper backs Bev Oda], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 15 April 2015.</ref> and the {{wpl|In and Out scandal|"In and Out" scandal}}
*'''Let the Treasury Board President take $50 million''' from the G8 fund to spend on gazebos in his own constituency<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170116053632/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lawrence-martin/gazebos-and-the-governing-morality/article2146443/ Gazebos and the governing morality], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 16 January 2016.</ref> and allowed the Defence Minister to use a search-and-rescue helicopter as a personal limo<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150415083350/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/desperate-tories-fire-back-at-mackays-critics-with-raes-1992-chopper-ride/article2263097/ ‘Desperate’ Tories fire back at MacKay’s critics with Rae’s 1992 chopper ride], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 15 April 2015</ref>
*In a 
terrifying
 hilarious move, '''[[Plagiarism|fully copied]] one of [[Tim Pawlenty]]'s 2012 presidential ads'''<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20180709142822/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-accused-of-following-tea-partiers-script-in-new-ad/article1972359/ Tories accused of following Tea Partier's script in new ad], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 09 July 2018.</ref>
*'''Allowing the military junta in Egypt''' to indefinitely detain Canadian journalists who filmed military brutality, with no signs that he'll even attempt to pursue their release.
*'''Blatantly lied about the cost''' of 65 F-35 fighter jets (you know, the ones ''loved'' by [[John McCain]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150415083357/https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/19/usa-fighter-lockheed-idUSN1913876120110519 CORRECTED - UPDATE 2 - Costly US fighter under fire from lawmakers], ''Reuters''</ref>. Archived 15 April 2015.), expected to be tens of billions of dollars more than official projections.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20160805161422/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ottawas-fighter-jet-estimate-all-hogwash-us-watchdog-warns/article1971274/ Ottawa’s fighter-jet estimate ‘all hogwash,’ U.S. watchdog warns], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 05 August 2016</ref> Oh, and they also have a nasty habit of losing communication in the High [[Arctic]]. Good thing Canada isn't trying to enforce its ownership of the North!
*'''Imposed American 'tough-on-[[crime]]' laws,''' while all [[evidence]] points to the current system working since the 1970s.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150415083324/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/tories-judge-evidence-of-falling-rates-inadmissible/article625980/ Tories judge evidence of falling rates inadmissible], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 15 April 2015.</ref> And fibbing about the cost.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20170427100413/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/huge-price-tag-for-provinces-attached-to-crime-bill/article2271769/ Huge price tag for provinces attached to crime bill], ''The Globe and Mail''. Archived 27 April 2017</ref> Shocker!
*'''Used {{wpl|Robocall scandal|stuffed the ballot box}}, robocalls''' to send Liberal voters to the wrong voting locations, in the very election where Stevie 'won' his majority government.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/04/pol-robocalls-ip-address-traced.html Robocalls linked to Guelph Tory campaign worker's computer], CBC</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20150421231310/http://www.macleans.ca/general/robocall-fallout-haunts-tories/ Robocall fallout haunts Tories], ''Maclean's''. Archived 21 April 2015.</ref> And then had the audacity to use robocalls to manipulate public opinion against changing Saskatchewan's rigged electoral boundaries.<ref>[hthttp://web.archive.org/web/20161206044306/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-admit-making-robocalls-in-saskatchewan-1.1304586 Conservatives admit making robocalls in Saskatchewan], CBC. Archived 06 December 2016.</ref>
*'''Made [[John Lennon]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOt2Qp0H9G8 cry out in terror from beyond the grave]'''

...and finally, after ''all'' of that:

*'''Being the first ever PM to be held in contempt of Parliament,''' something never before seen in the [[Elizabeth II|British Commonwealth]].<ref>[http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110325/wpg_election_110325/20110325/?hub=WinnipegHome Harper government topples on contempt motion, triggering May election], CTV</ref> Enjoy, eh.

==The End==
In 2013, the Tories' continued insistence of relegating all of the above out of the spotlight (in favour of a mantra to balance the federal budget by 2015) was shattered by the Senate expenses scandal.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/06/canadas-prime-minister Canada's prime minister: The Teflon wears off], ''The Economist''</ref> Similar in nature to the [[UK]] extravaganza that bit ruined [[Gordon Brown]], Harper (despite being integral to the Alberta Reformers that were hell-bent on abolishing the upper chamber) appointed all but one of the senators who were caught stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from public coffers. The Auditor General is now investigating not just the four main crooks, but all 105 senators.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/08/15/pol-senate-expenses-auditor-general.html Auditor general to review all senators' expenses], CBC</ref> Word is still out about the {{wpl|Canadian Senate expenses scandal#Wright/Duffy affair|Wright/Duffy affair,}} which could start resembling [[Watergate]] very quickly. 

With the [[New Democratic Party]] ''trouncing'' the PCs in [[Alberta]], thereby ending their 40-year dynasty, Harper was given a glimpse into the future for his party on the federal level. Following a 78-day(!) campaign, voters took to the ballots on October 19, 2015, and finally booted Steve out of office after nine long years. A majority of seats were won by the Liberal Party led by [[Justin Trudeau]], the son of former PM Pierre Trudeau, thereby making the largest comeback of any political party in Canadian history (before the election, they were in third place with 36 seats; after the election, they had 184). The NDP, despite losing Official Opposition status to the 99-seat Cons, still remain in play with their 44 seats, their second highest in party history.

Harper resigned as leader of the CPC shortly thereafter.

==Inspiring quotes==
"Canada is a vast and empty country."<ref>[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Stephen_Harper Wikiquote on Stephen Harper]</ref>

"[[God]] bless Canada."<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/10/pol-harper-speech.html Harper speech fires up convention crowd], CBC</ref>

"It's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians."<ref name="Speech">[http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SpecialEvent7/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/ Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech], CTV</ref>

"The [[universal health care|Canada Health Act]] must be [[privatization|opened up]]. The federal government is playing an entirely negative role in health care."<ref name=Quotesfail/>

"[[Same-sex marriage]] is not a human right...undermining the [[traditional values|traditional definition]] of marriage is an assault on [[multiculturalism]] and the practices in those communities."<ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=Hansard&Mee=58&Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1 38th Parliament, 1st Session]</ref>

"In terms of the [[poor|unemployed]], of which we have over a million-and-a-half, I don't feel particularly bad for many of these people.<ref name="Speech"/>

"I don't believe that any taxes are good taxes."<ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20051201/election_campaign_051201/ Tory tax cut promise dominates campaign Day 3], CTV</ref>

"The [[New_Democratic_Party|NDP]] is kind of proof that the [[Devil]] lives and interferes in the affairs of men."<ref name="Speech"/>

“I'm not ashamed to say that, in caucus, I have more [[anti-abortion]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_of_parliament MPs] supporting me than supporting [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockwell_Day Stockwell Day].”<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/25/cv-election-harper-dossier.html Tories compiled Harper's most controversial quotes], CBC</ref>

"[[Xenophobia|You've got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from Eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into Western Canadian society]]."<ref name=Quotesfail>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/04/the-harper-quotes-dossier-a-sample.html The Harper quotes dossier: a sample], CBC</ref>

"It's a little harder to read, you know, we have kind of all [[liberal media]]-sponsored polls here." To Faux News about Canadian opposition to the Iraq War<ref name=Quotesfail/>

"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Black Conrad Black] has recently assumed control of the Southam chain of newspapers, including most of Canada's large metropolitan dailies. Those papers, monolithically liberal and feminist under previous management, are quickly becoming more pluralistic, with a strong representation of conservative voices." As part of the National Citizens Coalition in 1997 with Tom Flanagan<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/51938443/Stephen-Harper-and-Tom-Flanagan-Our-Benign-Dictatorship-Next-City-Winter-1996-97 "Our benign dictatorship"]</ref> (yes, ''that'' Tom Flanagan <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flanagan-regrets-wikileaks-assassination-remark-1.877548 Flanagan regrets WikiLeaks assassination remark]</ref>)

"For taxpayers, however, it’s a rip-off. And it has nothing to do with gender. Both men and women taxpayers will pay additional money to both men and women in the civil service. That’s why the federal government should scrap its ridiculous pay equity law." On [[feminism|women's economic rights]]<ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2484588&Language=E&Mode=1 39th Parliament, 1st Session]</ref>

"I think people should elect a [[cat]] person. If you elect a [[dog]] person, you elect someone who wants to be loved. If you elect a cat person, you elect someone who wants to serve."<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/02/no-more-dog-days.html No more dog days], CBC</ref>

"We don’t govern on the basis of [[statistics]]." Rob Nicholson, Harper's former Minister of Justice and current Minister of Defence<ref>[http://www.skepticnorth.com/2010/08/we-dont-govern-on-the-basis-of-statistics/ We Don’t Govern on the Basis of Statistics], Skeptic North</ref>

"[The [[USA]]], and particularly your conservative movement, is a light and an inspiration to people in this country and across the world."<ref name="Speech"/>

*One brave soul has even managed to create a piano arrangement of these comments.<ref>[http://www.sfu.ca/~jdo1/ArghCanada.pdf Argh Canada for Speaking Pianist], James O'Callaghan</ref> It is stressed that it be played "with a blue sweater, if possible."

==See also==
*[[Silvio Berlusconi]]
*[[Rove's Law]]
*[[Ethical oil]]

==External links==
*[https://twitter.com/FakeSteveHarper His Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-P08sAY1P4 His brilliant mastery of the French language]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZjGGWk528 Stephen Harper steals speech from Emperor Palpatine] 
*[http://compellingcomics.justsomeguy.com/CanadaVotes2011/Canada.html What now, Canada?]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kPoUZqwUmk Harper is declared Douchebag of the Year, for the third time in a row]

==References==

{{reflist|3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Stephen}}
[[Category:Anti-LGBT bigots]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Canadian politicians]]
[[Category:Canadian politics]]
[[Category:Chickenhawks]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Conservative deceit]]
[[Category:Denialists]]
[[Category:Economists]]
[[Category:Global warming denialists]]
[[Category:Government incompetence]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Islamophobes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Neoconservatives]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:Sexists]]
[[Category:Shysters]]
[[Category:Transphobes]]
[[Category:War on science]]

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