Changes

In an election in 2006, the Conservative Party of Canada elected enough members of parliament to unseat Liberal Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] and form a [[minority government]]. Stephen Harper became the Prime Minister on February 6, 2006.  

In an election in 2006, the Conservative Party of Canada elected enough members of parliament to unseat Liberal Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] and form a [[minority government]]. Stephen Harper became the Prime Minister on February 6, 2006.  

Harper's Conservative Government has largely followed his election platform of five key priorities. They are :

Harper's Conservative Government largely followed his election platform of five key priorities. They were:

*Federal Accountability

*Federal Accountability

*Tax Reform (including dropping the Canadian [[VAT]], the GST from 7% to 5%)

*Tax Reform (including dropping the Canadian [[VAT]], the GST from 7% to 5%)

*Health Care

*Health Care

In addition Harper has focused his energy on rebuilding the Canadian Forces and the war in Afghanistan.  

In addition, Harper focused his energy on rebuilding the Canadian Forces and the [[Afghanistan War|War in Afghanistan]].  

In 2007 Harper promised Canadian farmers over $1 billion Canadian in farm subsidies but at the same time promised to end the Wheat Board of Canada's sales monopoly in Western Canada,<ref>[http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/ cwb.ca]</ref> (a government group that manipulates the prices of wheat and barley through [[supply management]]).  Some farmers believe this would cost the Canadian farming industry billions of dollars in lost revenues while others feel the industry would benefit by allowing farmers in the West to market and sell their produce as they see fit; just as farmers in the east are allowed to do. The [[United States]] also wants the Wheat Board of Canada removed from power because it claims price fixing is unfair to free-trade. Wheat exports to the United States account for only 10% of Canada's wheat production.

In 2007 Harper promised Canadian farmers over $1 billion Canadian in farm subsidies but at the same time promised to end the Wheat Board of Canada's sales monopoly in Western Canada,<ref>[http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/ cwb.ca]</ref> (a government group that manipulates the prices of wheat and barley through [[supply management]]).  Some farmers believe this would cost the Canadian farming industry billions of dollars in lost revenues while others feel the industry would benefit by allowing farmers in the West to market and sell their produce as they see fit; just as farmers in the east are allowed to do. The [[United States]] also wanted the Wheat Board of Canada removed from power because it claims price fixing is unfair to free-trade. Wheat exports to the United States account for only 10% of Canada's wheat production.

A fixed election date measure was passed, setting the next general election for October, 2009.  However, the measure was not binding, and on September 7, 2008, Harper advised the Governor-General to call a general election for October 14, 2008, one year early.  The Conservatives won the election, increasing their total number of seats, however they did not win an outright majority of the seats in the House of Commons. This left open the possibility of the remaining parties forming a coalition and displacing the Conservative government, and an unofficial Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition was formed a month after the election; however, Harper successfully had parliament suspended until February 2009 before the coalition could bring forth a vote of no confidence. Liberal leader [[Stephane Dion]] resigned his position after the suspension of parliament, and succeeding leader [[Michael Ignatieff]] has distanced himself from the coalition, meaning that the Harper government was theoretically safe for the foreseeable future (although not truly safe, like any minority government). The Conservatives then lost the 2015 election when the Liberals, now led by Justin Trudeau, came from their third-place position to return to power. As a result, Harper announced following the election that he would be stepping down as Conservative leader and has requested an interim leader to serve until a leadership election can be held.<ref>[http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/stephen-harper-resigns-as-conservative-leader-1.2617950 Stephen Harper resigns as Conservative leader] at CTV News</ref>

A fixed election date measure was passed, setting the next general election for October, 2009.  However, the measure was not binding, and on September 7, 2008, Harper advised the Governor-General to call a general election for October 14, 2008, one year early.  The Conservatives won the election, increasing their total number of seats, however they did not win an outright majority of the seats in the House of Commons. This left open the possibility of the remaining parties forming a coalition and displacing the Conservative government, and an unofficial Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition was formed a month after the election; however, Harper successfully had parliament suspended until February 2009 before the coalition could bring forth a vote of no confidence. Liberal leader [[Stephane Dion]] resigned his position after the suspension of parliament, and succeeding leader [[Michael Ignatieff]] has distanced himself from the coalition, meaning that the Harper government was theoretically safe for the foreseeable future (although not truly safe, like any minority government).

 

The Conservatives won a major victory in the 2011 election, capturing majorities in parliament.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pm-returns-to-ottawa-after-majority-win-1.988740 PM returns to Ottawa after majority win]. ''CBC News''. May 3, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> However, the Conservatives then lost the 2015 election when the Liberals, now led by [[Justin Trudeau]], came from their third-place position to return to power. As a result, Harper announced following the election that he would be stepping down as Conservative leader and has requested an interim leader to serve until a leadership election can be held.<ref>[http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/stephen-harper-resigns-as-conservative-leader-1.2617950 Stephen Harper resigns as Conservative leader] at CTV News</ref>

 

Harper's government passed several [[pro-gun]] laws. In 2012, Bill C-19 became law, which abolished the long gun registry and ordered the destruction of existing records.<ref>[https://openparliament.ca/bills/41-1/C-19/ Bill C-19 (Historical)]. ''openparliament.ca''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://nfa.ca/news/bill-c-19-law-%E2%80%93-canada%E2%80%99s-long-gun-registration-ends Bill C-19 is law – Canada’s Long Gun Registration Ends]. ''National Firearms Association''. April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> In addition, Bill C-42 became law in 2015, which removed several bureaucratic regulations in its gun laws.<ref>[https://openparliament.ca/bills/41-2/C-42/ Bill C-42 (Historical)]. ''openparliament.ca''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.ammoland.com/2015/06/common-sense-firearms-licensing-act/#axzz3zzCnE9K4 The ‘Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act’ Is Now The Law Of The Land In Canada]. ''ammoland.com''. June 18, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref>

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