Stephen Harper's Conservative Government in Canada

This assignment examines the ideological history of politics and government in Canada, specifically focusing on the tenure of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It analyzes his key policy areas such as crime, tax reforms, child care, accountability, and health. The paper also discusses Harper's impact on lobbying rules, union regulations, and international relations with a particular emphasis on the relationship with the United States during the George W. Bush administration. The analysis considers criticisms of Harper's government and its legacy compared to previous administrations.

Running head: IDEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVRNMRNT IN CANADA 1
IDEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN CANADA
Student’s name
Institution of affiliation

DEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVRNMRNT IN CANADA 2
DEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVRNMRNT IN CANADA
Stephen Harper is the Canadian longest serving conservative prime minister. He was the 22nd
prime minister of Canada. He was elected under the umbrella of conservative party of Canada
which was formed as a result of merger between Canadian alliance party and progressive
conservative party in 2003 by successive talks initiated by Harper. His government was the
longest serving minority government in the Canadian History.
The conservative government focused on the following areas during its campaigns; crime, tax
reforms, child care, accountability and health. The conservative government formed in 2006
strengthened the lobbing rules in the country by approving the federal accountability act and
initiated for the formation of several independent institutions whose role was to oversee the
government operations. For example the government introduced the parliamentary budget officer
whose role was to oversee the government spending and accounting. Harper’s government also
eliminated unions and corporate donations to political parties.
In the Harper government Tenner tax rate for goods and services was lowed from seven percent
to five percent, this had an impact to the federal government revenue, and it denied the
government thirteen billion dollars every year. This move was strongly supported by the
conservatives.
The Conservatives had promised to eliminate the program of public funded child care initiated
and agreed by the previous liberal government. This was replaced by 1200 dollars per year
distributed to each child under the age of six, disbursed directly to the parents without major
considerations.

DEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF POLITICS AND GOVRNMRNT IN CANADA 3
In international relations, Harper’s federal government became central to the party agenda. It
supported the United State administration of President George. W. Bush in many issues. In this
period Canada started missing in the United Nations activities as a result the funding of non-
governmental organizations in Canada was significantly reduced.
The government was face by media criticism after laying down its foundation on the major
issues the analyst claimed that the government lacked direction. Although the government had
set up the laws to fix election dates on the beginning of October every four years which was to
begin in October 2009, there was a call for early election in 2008 by Harper with the reason that
the opposition party was delaying the works of parliament.
Harper government was not a backdating of Mulroney government as it was independent and
focused towards improving the living standards of the citizens.
Canada has been dominated by two political parties, conservative party of Canada and liberal
Party of Canada. Since the election of Joe Clerk as a prime minister in 1979 under the ticket of
conservative party of Canada, there has been dominance by conservative party in Canada politics
and government.
Justin Trudeau will hold the foundations for accountability and transparency of government
operations as it was laid down by Harper’s government. In his statement during the opening of
the parliament, Trudeau focused towards having a government that is accountable. This does not
indicate any significant change on Canadian politics and government.

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REFERENCES
Johnson, D. (2006). Thinking government: Public sector management in Canada. University of
Toronto Press.
Malcolmson, P., Myers, R., Baier, G., & Bateman, T. (2016). The Canadian regime: An
introduction to parliamentary government in Canada. University of Toronto Press.