Stephen Joseph Harper
- Born:
- April 30, 1959, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Nationality:
- Canadian
- Profession(s):
- Politician, Economist
Early Life and Education
- Grew up in Toronto, Ontario.
- Attended Northlea Public School and John G. Althouse Middle School.
- Graduated from Richview Collegiate Institute in 1978.
- Briefly attended the University of Toronto before dropping out.
- Later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics (1985) and a Master of Arts degree in Economics (1991) from the University of Calgary.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a policy analyst for the Reform Party of Canada.
- Elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1993 representing Calgary West.
- Resigned from Parliament in 1997.
- Became President of the National Citizens Coalition.
- Returned to Parliament in 2002 as a Member of Parliament.
- Elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada in 2004.
- Served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015.
- Led the Conservative Party to minority governments in 2006 and 2008, and a majority government in 2011.
Notable Works
- Authored "Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption" (2018).
Legacy and Impact
Stephen Joseph Harper, the subject of this 'pm harper biography for kids', served as Canada's Prime Minister for nearly a decade, implementing significant policy changes, particularly in fiscal policy and foreign affairs. His tenure is marked by a shift towards conservative governance and a more assertive role for Canada on the international stage. He retired from politics after his party lost the 2015 election.