Overview for stephen-harper

Despite the Downturn, Canada Prospers

In 2007, the line ran down the street, as people queued to get in on the action. Some apparently waited for days hoping to purchase a condo in a building to be built. With such demand, the developers kept upping the unit prices – literally posting the ever-rising prices on a billboard. The …

Written by David Gratzer on Wednesday October 5, 2011

Canada's Senate Needs an Overhaul

PM Stephen Harper is being criticized for appointing defeated MPs to the Senate. But the blame is unfair especially since his efforts for reform have been rejected. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is being roasted these days for appointing a bunch of Tories to the Senate who recently failed to get …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday May 23, 2011

What the GOP Can Learn from Canada's Conservatives

Canada's right wing won control of parliament this month — but their strategy on immigration and Tea Party-types wouldn't work in the United States. American conservatives are looking at Canada's Conservative Party election win for lessons. But as my latest column for The Week points out, it's …

Written by David Frum on Wednesday May 11, 2011

Harper Wins Big

It should have been clear from the moment Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff forced an election, that there was no logical reason for Canadians to reject the Tories. Everyone -- well, almost everyone -- is surprised at the results of the general election; but what do they mean for Canada? Mark …

Written by Peter Worthington on Tuesday May 3, 2011

Canada's Liberals Face Post-Election Shake-Up

The Liberals are unlikely to lose as badly in 2011 as the old Progressive Conservatives lost in 1993. But they may be facing the same kind of identity crisis. Polls are sometimes wrong. Voters sometimes - often, actually - change their minds during the final weekend of a campaign. That said: …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 30, 2011

Why Canada Should Vote Conservative

Canada faces some crucial challenges and the Conservatives are the one party with a serious response to the issues ahead. Which Canadian leader and which Canadian political party will best respond to the challenges of tomorrow? Let's see if we can peek around the corner and discern what those …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 23, 2011

Ignatieff's Wink to Anti-Israel Voters

Liberal candidate Michael Ignatieff may not have mentioned Israel in this week's debate, but those who follow the issues closely saw signals of a return to Canada's old Mideast policies. Michael Ignatieff used this week’s English-language leaders debate to send dog whistle signals to anti-Israel …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 16, 2011

Election Majority is Harper's to Lose

With the election two weeks away, a majority government seems not only within Harper’s grasp but, judging from polls after the leadership debates, virtually a sure thing. Regardless of media opinions as to who won the debates, there’s little indication that many minds have been changed. …

Written by Peter Worthington on Thursday April 14, 2011

Pawlenty: Big in Canada

Canada's Liberal Party claims that a new Stephen Harper campaign ad bears a strong similarity to a recent Tim Pawlenty commercial. The Globe and Mail writes this morning that "a slick new Conservative television ad that seeks to present Stephen Harper as a statesmanlike leader bears an unusual …

Written by Tim Mak on Wednesday April 6, 2011

Harper Makes Ignatieff Reveal His Worst Flaw

By challenging Michael Ignatieff to a one on one debate, Stephen Harper has made Ignatieff reveal his worst flaw, his disrespect for his opponent In any multiparty election contest, the #2 candidate always wants to be alone with #1. Stephen Harper would have known that before he made his …

Written by David Frum on Saturday April 2, 2011

Canada's Bogus Scandal Frenzy

The Harper government is hardly composed of saints. Yet it is surely the most honest federal government Canada has produced in a very long time. Of all the bullpucky political scandals in history, the latest series from Ottawa must be the bullpuckiest. Italy has Berlusconi. Britain has the …

Written by David Frum on Monday March 14, 2011

Will Harper Face Spring Election?

Most Canadians may not want one, but the country's opposition Liberal party is starting to push for a general election. Will their gambit pay off? Even if most Canadians don’t want one, it’s going to be pretty hard to avoid a general election this spring. Speaker Peter Milliken’s ruling that …

Written by Peter Worthington on Monday March 14, 2011

Still Waiting for Obama's Afghan Strategy

Afghanistan is now Obama’s war. In the past six months, what Obama once called a “good war” has gotten worse. Even Bush cannot be blamed anymore, because it wasn’t this bad when he was immersed in Iraq. The “war” in Afghanistan is getting more lethal. An increasing number are saying it can’t be …

Written by Peter Worthington on Wednesday September 2, 2009

The Shifting Balance of Power

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has just announced a new ambassador to Washington: a member of Canada's left-most party, someone who can speak the language of Pelosi and Obama. Another example of how the implosion of the GOP has implications around the world. Canadian Prime Minister …

Written by David Frum on Friday August 28, 2009

Senator Frum

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that he will appoint my sister, Linda Frum Sokolowski, to the Canadian Senate. I am so proud of and thrilled for Linda, a woman of unique grace, talent and accomplishment. Linda Frum Sokolowski Canadian Prime Minister Stephen …

Written by David Frum on Thursday August 27, 2009