Stephen Harper, 22nd Prime Minister of Canada | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Former Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, discusses his views on politics, leadership, and the rise of populism, emphasizing the importance of understanding the concerns of ordinary people and making informed policy decisions.

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Timing and luck play a significant role in political success.
• 📺 Leadership styles can vary in politics, but a sense of direction and vision is important.
• 😮 Understanding the concerns of ordinary people and making informed policy decisions is crucial for addressing the rise of populism.
• 👮 Immigration policy should be based on labor market needs, while also considering public support and law enforcement.
• 🏛️ Conservative leaders should aim to build long-term institutional forces and consider the impacts of market-oriented policies on working middle-class people.
• 🖕 Canada has not experienced the same level of political polarization and populism as some other countries, partly due to the steady income growth of middle-class individuals.

Transcript

[MUSIC]. [APPLAUSE]. Prime Minister Harper, thank you so much for joining us today. >> Well, thanks for having me. >> Before we begin, could I please get a quick show of hands from all the Canadians in the audience? Raise your hands? >> Wow. >> [APPLAUSE]

An all Canadian campus here, who would have known? >> You've clearly got some pull around h... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Stephen Harper approach the decision to unite different right-leaning parties in Canada?

Harper saw the need for greater unity among these parties to increase their chances of winning and surviving in the political landscape. He took advantage of the internal struggles within one party to lead the effort and successfully merged the two parties, utilizing his background and experience.

Q: What is Harper's view on immigration policy?

Harper believes that immigration policy should be based on labor market needs and requirements, while also allowing for humanitarian and family reunification streams. He emphasizes the importance of public support and law enforcement when it comes to immigration, acknowledging that illegal immigration is not popular anywhere in the world.

Q: How does Harper suggest addressing the growing divide between the coastal elite and the rest of America?

Harper highlights the need for policies that address the concerns of working middle-class people, ensuring that globalization and market-oriented policies do not leave them behind. He suggests carefully considering the impacts of policies on ordinary people and adapting to their concerns to avoid polarization and populism.

Q: How did Harper handle the 2008 financial crisis and its impact on Canada?

Harper recognized the need for a significant stimulus program to address the economic collapse, despite his initial pledge not to run a deficit. He utilized his background in economics and economic history to make informed decisions and assured his caucus and the public that these measures were necessary but would not jeopardize the long-term financial structure of the country.

Summary

In this video interview, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper discusses a wide range of topics, from hockey to his beginnings in politics, to his leadership style and foreign policy. He talks about his favorite hockey teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames, and how Canada's success at the Olympics is something to admire. He also shares how he never intended to be a politician during his university days, but his interest in public policy and economics led him to a career in politics. Harper delves into his role in uniting right-leaning parties in Canada and the challenges he faced in that process. He also highlights the importance of incrementalism in policy-making and how it helped shape his government's decision-making process. Harper then discusses Canada's immigration policy and how it is based on labor market needs, as well as the importance of enforcing immigration laws to maintain public support for such policies. He touches on Canada's multiculturalism and how it has contributed to the country's diversity and integration. Harper also talks about the benefits of free trade and how Canada's successful trade agreements were a result of thorough consultations and understanding of the country's economic interests. He shares an interaction with Vladimir Putin at a G20 summit and his firm stance against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Harper emphasizes the need for leaders to be respected rather than liked, as well as the importance of being true to one's principles while making tough decisions in leadership. He concludes by discussing his passion and pride for Canada, which stems from his deep connection to the country as a seventh-generation Canadian.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is it true that Stephen Harper doesn't have a favorite hockey team?

No, that's not true. Stephen Harper has two favorite hockey teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames. He grew up in Toronto and his father was a Maple Leafs fan. As an adult, he resided in Calgary, so he also supports the Flames. However, since Canada hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1993, Harper is desperate for any team to win the cup.

Q: What drew Stephen Harper to politics?

Harper's interest in politics began at a young age. From the time he was about nine years old, his parents expected him to read the newspaper and be conversant in public issues. In university, he studied economics and became interested in public policy. His first job in politics was as a researcher, and he saw himself as a research assistant with plans to become an economist and be involved in public policy and academia.

Q: How did Stephen Harper manage to unite right-leaning parties in Canada under one banner in 2003?

Harper explains that his path to becoming Prime Minister was unusual, as he came up through a third party. After working as a research assistant in Ottawa and becoming disillusioned with the government's inaction on deficit reduction, he left his job and the party. He then became involved with the Reform Party, a new political party advocating for market reforms. Harper played a key role in the party, eventually becoming the policy chief. However, he realized the party was stalled and decided to do something different. He led a conservative political action committee before being approached by discredited members of the Reform Party to lead them. Harper agreed and eventually united the party with the Progressive Conservatives under his leadership, resulting in the formation of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Q: How did Stephen Harper maintain public support for Canada's immigration policy?

Harper attributes Canada's success in maintaining public support for its immigration policy to two factors. First, Canada progressively moved its immigration system to be based on labor market needs, responding to the country's employment requirements. This shift allowed Canada to admit immigrants based on skills and labor force considerations. Second, Harper emphasizes the importance of enforcing immigration laws to sustain public support. He argues that illegal immigration is not popular anywhere in the world and that in order to maintain public support for legal immigration, it is crucial to enforce immigration laws and ensure that the system is fair and transparent.

Q: How did Canada manage to create a multicultural society that is both diverse and cohesive?

Harper explains that Canada's success in creating a multicultural society is rooted in the country's history and demographics. Unlike the United States, Canada has never had a clearly defined national culture, with two official languages and a diverse population with various religious and ethnic backgrounds. This diversity has naturally shaped Canada into a multicultural society. Furthermore, Harper mentions that Canada modified its multiculturalism policy to align with Quebec's practice of interculturalism. This approach encourages immigrants to retain aspects of their identity and traditions while promoting broader social unity and participation. Harper believes that immigrants, while wanting to retain their cultural identities, also want to belong and integrate into Canadian society. This philosophy has contributed to Canada's successful integration of immigrants and its strong support for multiculturalism.

Q: What lessons can other countries learn from Canada's approach to immigration?

Harper asserts that other countries can learn two important lessons from Canada's immigration system. First, he believes that immigration policies should be based on labor force needs and requirements. Canada has successfully moved its system towards prioritizing skills and labor market considerations, while still accommodating humanitarian and family reunification aspects. Second, Harper highlights the importance of maintaining public support for immigration through strong enforcement of immigration laws. He contends that illegal immigration is widely unpopular and can erode public support for immigration systems, emphasizing the need for a legal and orderly immigration process. Additionally, he notes that making legal immigration more accessible and reducing barriers can also contribute to a more popular and successful immigration policy.

Q: How did Stephen Harper handle his interaction with Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit?

Harper recounts an interaction with Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Australia. He had been publicly critical of Putin and had advocated for his removal from the G8. When Putin approached him to shake his hand, Harper accepted but immediately told him to get out of Ukraine. Putin responded that he was not in Ukraine, to which Harper remarked that it was a waste of his time to talk to him. Harper explains that the other leaders witnessed this exchange, and their interactions with Putin became less friendly afterward. He emphasizes the importance of taking a stand and how sometimes even symbolic actions can influence the behavior of others.

Q: How would Stephen Harper handle Vladimir Putin in today's world?

Harper believes that Russia cannot be ignored as a major power but would continue to minimize contact with Putin unless it is necessary for foreign policy purposes, such as in Syria. He advocates for keeping economic sanctions in place and maintaining a firm stance against Russian aggression. Harper asserts that Putin does not want to be friends with the West, as he carries a chip on his shoulder for the fall of the Soviet Union and sees undermining the West as an end in itself. Recognizing this, Harper emphasizes the need for Western countries to be firm and united in dealing with Putin.

Q: What led Stephen Harper to adopt his assertive leadership style in politics?

Harper explains that his assertive leadership style in politics was driven by his goal of winning elections and achieving his policy objectives. He wanted to contrast himself with his opponents and address weaknesses he saw in their positions. He recognized that being combative was necessary in a campaign and that successful leaders throughout history have been combatants. Harper acknowledges that he faced criticism from the liberal media for his approach but believes that taking a stand and attacking opponents on legitimate weaknesses is important in politics. He emphasizes the importance of being respected rather than liked, as leadership styles may differ in politics but ultimately, leaders will face a tremendous amount of opposition and criticism.

Q: Did Stephen Harper ever make decisions he wishes he had made differently?

Harper acknowledges that there are decisions he wishes he had made differently but does not reveal which ones. He clarifies that he rarely made decisions that he fundamentally disagreed with, although there were non-optimal decisions that he had to make due to political realities. Harper emphasizes that being true to his principles and making decisions that he believed were the right ones was important to him. He also acknowledges that success in politics involves making choices that may not always align with one's personal preferences.

Q: Where does Stephen Harper's passion and pride for Canada come from?

Harper says that he doesn't know where his passion and pride for Canada come from. However, he mentions that he is a seventh-generation Canadian and feels a deep connection to his country. He believes that love and pride for one's country should be inherent, regardless of its source. Harper's passion and pride likely stem from his strong political conservatism and his conviction that his vision for Canada's future is the right one.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Stephen Harper reflects on his journey into politics, from his early interest in public issues to his role as a researcher and eventual involvement in the Conservative Party of Canada.

• Harper discusses his decision to unite different right-leaning parties in Canada under one banner and his approach to managing the difficult task, highlighting the importance of understanding the interests and needs of the country.

• The former prime minister shares his insights on immigration policy, free trade, and foreign relations, emphasizing the need for policies that are based on labor market needs, considering the impact on ordinary people, and maintaining strong relationships with other countries.