July 6, 2006. Copyright 2006, Graphic News. All rights reserved

CanadaŐs Stephen Harper treads careful conservative line
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, July 6, Graphic News:  Washington issued a warm welcome to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, its neighbourŐs first conservative leader in more than a decade, on his first official visit to the U.S. capital. But, however much Harper might like to fall into the warm embrace of the White House and its president, he knows that keeping his distance is the way to stay popular at home.

While Harper is a rightwinger after BushŐs own heart -- the new Canadian leader also prefers an alternative to the Kyoto treaty on climate change, backs the war in Iraq and opposes gay marriages -- he also knows that being too cosy could cost him among his own voters who consistently give the U.S. president rock bottom ratings.

Fortunately for Harper, he has already performed a similar dance in the run-up to his election in January. By focusing on his governmentŐs economic agenda and portraying himself as a progressive conservative, he won over voters who had seen him as hardline.

HarperŐs Conservatives won 36 percent of the vote, enough to form a minority government and to relegate the Liberals to the sidelines after 12 years in office. While supporters admire his strategic skills in pulling off this feat, critics are apt to mention ŇleopardÓ and ŇspotsÓ.

Born in Toronto on April 30, 1959, Stephen Harper is the son of an accountant. He gained a MasterŐs degree in economics at the University of Calgary and worked briefly as a computer programmer before entering politcs as one of the founding members of the Reform party. In 1993 he won a seat but left in 1997 to join a conservative lobby group.

By 2002 he was back in parliament with the Canadian Alliance whose merge with the Progressive Canadian Party of Canada united the right. After he took over the leadership of the Conservatives in 2004, many believed Harper had a good chance of defeating the LiberalsŐ Paul Martin in that yearŐs federal election. In the end, however, voters were turned off by the partyŐs social conservatism and its backing for the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

HarperŐs win in January 2006 came after the party had moderated its stance on several issues and, crucially, convinced the public that it had no hidden agenda. He has outlined priorities as raising funds for childcare and healthcare, introducing accountability rules to combat corruption, cutting the national sales tax and reforming the justice system.

Harper, who is keen to bolster his support in Quebec, has said he wants to give a new voice to the regionŐs federalists. In June he won praise for appologising to Chinese Canadians for the treatment of Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century by imposing a Head Tax and other policies. But the move also led sceptics to comment that Canada could not possibly apologise to all groups it has mistreated throughout the years.

His strong backing for the military is another value shared with Washington, and Harper makes no secret of his wish for closer ties with the United States -- if not its president.

Harper is married to Laureen Teskey, with whom he has two children.
/ENDS