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Criticizing Stephen Harper for not having implemented ambitious new government programs (as many on the centre-left seem to do) is like criticizing chemotherapy drugs for not having caused new tissue growth.

Time will tell as to whether the new Liberal government means that the remission is over.

   

Well, they built lots of new prisons.

   

Don't worry those new cells are mostly sitting empty since the Conservatives mass incarceration plans didn't really bear fruit. The courts are really soft on unreported crime.

At least it's only Conservatives wasting money instead of wasting lives.

Fun fact: in 2012 the Harperites started a study to privatize prisons. The only private prison in Canada to date was penetanguishine, built by (you guessed it) Ontario's Mike Harris and outsourced to ( you guessed it) a US prison company. It was (you guessed it) a total failure compared to the public ones on almost every measurement criteria and so it was taken back by (you guessed it) the Mcguinty Liberals.

   

   

just wait, Liberals will be like "just kidding, we're not really going to do anything about C-51. you're all going to jail. lol"

   

Not to worry.

A Liberal hasn't declared martial law since I was a teenager.

   

Very little. However, as Mulroney did, I think he may have made it easy for people to like the next guy (as of yesterday, the current guy).

   

Stephen Harper accomplished a lot if you are a Conservative, as he threw lots of red meat to his base (tax cuts, LGR, getting rid of party vote subsidies, tough on crime, etc).

However, if you vote for any other party, then it seems like most of his accomplishments were steps backward, not forward.

It's all a matter of perspective and I assume JT's time as PM will be seen in the same light by conservatives.

   

Harper did have some good moments during his term. I can think of five significant accomplishments:
1. His handling the sub-prime crash was commendable, especially given that bailouts and stimulus spending go directly against his ideology;
2. Telling Putin to suck ass and attempting to flex sovereignty in the arctic, while symbolic, are essential to protecting Canadian interests in the region and establishing international recognition of our territorial boundaries;
3. The GST cut was an actual, tangible move to keep money in the pockets of low-income Canadians.
4. Income splitting is something I, personally, hope JT reconsiders. It's a benefit to working class, one-income families and, more importantly, it encourages Canadians to have a stay-home parent, which is absolutely one of the most important societal problems to have arisen in our country over the past 40 years.
5. New trade deals. The world is a global economy and no amount of protectionism or ideological grandstanding on our part will change that.

Too bad Harper's term in office had so many failures that outshine the good his government did, but credit where credit is due.

   

I don't care so much about TFSAs and income splitting, but to add to that - he did scrap the long gun registry as promised.

   

The credit still must go to Martin and the banking regulations. Harper wanted to de-regulate the banks. Where he can get credit is that he was slow to do any stimulus spending and that actually worked out but the negative was that he focused the spending in Conservative ridings which isn't fair (but what is in politics?). Posting signs and spending millions year after year patting himself on the back for it was horrendous.


I guess so. If he didn't do it then Putin would know that Canada would just lay down and take it.


I disagree. Actual and tangible for low-income Canadians would be an income tax cut. Like the child tax credit cheques, money to all isn't helping the low income people. Help for low income should be focused on low income, not allowing the rich people to save a few grand on their next suv.


I think there are better ways to do it than income splitting.


I'd rather go back toward protectionism. If Canadians could only buy a Canadian made car, then perhaps there would be more Canadian jobs building cars. Global economy just means that North America is outsourcing their slavery. Let China build shit for their own population. NAFTA sucks and the TPP will also suck.


I had hoped that he would do better too and I see less in his actions that I think deserve credit but I am glad you posted your list. I had forgotten about the arctic sovereignty issue.

   

Good list. I think that the trade deals especially will do a lot to rehabilitate his reputation in 10 years or so.

Also hope Trudeau reconsiders on income splitting. It's the only reason I was able to afford new furnaces and water tank this spring.

   

Does a childcare policy that gives no breaks to couples where each earns less than 44k really make sense? Are these families not working class? How does the policy help these people stay home with the kids? Does it make sense to give this break until the kids are 18? Trudeau's plan seems like a lot better idea. https://www.liberal.ca/realchange/helping-families/

   

   

When the new "Sunny Days" signs are ready.

   

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