| A leader of competence and vision
Stephen Harper is a leader who can be trusted to run the country, manage the economy and protect our security in the greater public interest at a time of global uncertainty. Uniting our federation – and keeping his commitments – he is delivering on a people-focused agenda.
On January 23, 2006, Canadians chose a Prime Minister who is inspired by their values – for the first time in decades, a Prime Minister who speaks their language about the real issues that matter. As Prime Minister, he has taken big-money unions and corporations out of the political financing picture. He’s lowered taxes, toughened crime laws, delivered direct support to families, rebuilt the Canadian Forces and stood up for Canada’s sovereignty, values and interests at home and abroad. He has also taken active and personal involvement in some of the Government’s most meaningful initiatives, including compensation for Hepatitis C victims and the Chinese head tax and Indian residential school apologies.
Born into a middle class family in suburban Toronto in 1959, he was the first of three sons for Margaret Johnston, a secretary from a farm near Durham, Ontario, and Joseph Harper, an accountant hailing from Moncton, New Brunswick. Stephen was a student at Northlea Public School while living in Leaside, and later moved to Etobicoke, where he attended John G. Althouse Middle School and Richview Collegiate Institute. Stephen enjoyed cross-country running and excelled in academics. He was a member of Richview’s Reach for the Top team, graduating from high school at the top of his class. He moved West, worked in the oil patch as a computer programmer and later earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics at the University of Calgary. While some people join political parties for social networking or career advancement, Stephen has always been policy focused. He got into politics to change things for the better. Through political involvement and public advocacy, he pursued a deep interest in issues and policies aimed at strengthening the federation, reforming our institutions and keeping the tax burden down – the appeal of public policy always motivating him towards strong, principled positions on matters that were important to him.
Well beyond the mechanics of running the government and managing the economy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pursues with passion issues such as national unity, Arctic sovereignty, opportunity for new Canadians, mental health and cancer. Stephen Harper: a leader driven by what drives hardworking Canadians, determined in his pursuit of a better future, proud of his country and honoured to lead it. |
He believes in a country of merit and opportunity, where what matters is what you’ve done and where you’re going – not where you’re from or who you know. He looks out for the millions of people who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules – people who strive to teach their kids right from wrong, and give back to their communities. 
But the Stephen Harper story begins much earlier. 
Stephen and Laureen Teskey were married in 1993, one month after he was first elected to Parliament as the Reform MP for Calgary West. While Stephen took a one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa, Laureen stayed at their home in Calgary’s Scenic Acres neighbourhood, focused on building her graphic design and desktop publishing business. Their son, Benjamin – now an avid young hockey player – was born three years later. Daughter Rachel – an aspiring dancer and swimmer – was born in 1999. The family enjoys spending weekends and holidays together at Harrington Lake. It’s been a while since they all piled into the PM’s 2003 burgundy Chevrolet Malibu four-door. But they still call their detached, two-storey, three-bedroom house in northwest Calgary home.
