Canada’s PM vows a steady course

No turn to right despite mandate for Conservatives

May 04, 2011|By Rob Gillies, Associated Press

Until Mondays vote, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had never held… (GEOFF ROBINS/GETTY IMAGES )

TORONTO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said yesterday that he will not shift to the hard right after his Conservatives won a long-sought majority in Canada’s Parliament.

Monday’s election marks a change in the country’s political landscape with opposition Liberals and Quebec separatists suffering a punishing defeat.

Harper said the Conservatives won their mandate because of the way they have governed so far and sought to allay fears he would implement a hidden right-wing agenda.

Harper, who took office in 2006, has won two elections but until Monday’s vote had never held a majority of Parliament’s 308 seats, forcing him to rely on the opposition to pass legislation.

Harper has deliberately avoided sweeping policy changes, but now has an opportunity to pass any legislation he wants with his new majority.

“We got that mandate because of the way we have governed, and Canadians expect us to continue to move forward in the same way,’’ said Harper, who has incrementally moved Canada to the right.

In past elections, Harper did not explicitly ask for a majority, to avoid raising fears among Canadians that they would implement a hidden right-wing agenda. Yesterday he sought to reassure the country of his commitment to public health care.

“I think we’ve made it very clear that we support Canada’s system of universal public health insurance,’’ Harper said after the Conservatives won 167 seats, which will give him four years of uninterrupted government.

While Harper’s hold on Parliament has been tenuous during his five-year tenure, he has managed to nudge an instinctively center-left country to the right, gradually lowering corporate and sales taxes, avoiding climate change legislation, and promoting Arctic sovereignty.

He has also increased military spending, extended Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan, and staunchly backed Israel’s right-wing government.

The White House said President Obama called Harper to congratulate him on his victory and said Obama wants to renew a commitment to improve security and trade along the border. Harper also congratulated Obama for his successful operation against Osama bin Laden.

Despite their political differences, Harper is said to get on better with Obama than he did with George W. Bush, possibly preferring the current US president’s cerebral style to his predecessor’s back-slapping Texas charm.

Harper appeared happier than ever yesterday.

“I obviously am feeling great,’’ said Harper, who joked that his staff forced him to take a swig from a champagne bottle after his big victory.

Meanwhile, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff announced he will step down from the post, following the party’s worst defeat in history. Ignatieff even lost his own seat in a Toronto suburb.