Free Republic

American mainstream media astroturfing notwithstanding, Monday’s one-day summit meeting in Washington with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon is the classic: “A picture is worth a Thousand Words” lesson. The American media presented the meeting as a run-of-the-mill get together of the three North American amigos.... Look at the expression on Barack Obama’s face from pictures taken during the event. The malevolent expression on Obama’s face as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was speaking tells a different story. The picture is right up there with Michelle’s countenance while looking at France’s Carla Bruni. President Barry Soetoro...

When Canadians finally granted Stephen Harper and his Conservatives the majority election victory they had long sought following two consecutive minority Tory governments, it was more than just the fulfillment of an arduous journey for the nation’s right-wing. History could show that it was a vital and fortuitous turn of events. Canada experienced years of Jean Chretien/Paul Martin Liberal rule, due in large part to the lack of coherent opposition. Conservatives were busy rebuilding, reforming into a single entity. That, combined with an effective program of personal attacks by the Liberals on both the party leader and the conservative party...

While on his way to Washington Benjamin Netanyahu stopped in Ottawa to confer with his patriot in arms, Stephen Harper. Following their morning meetings, of which we know little, the two held a very brief 'press conference' that simply highlighted the double standards under which the two operate, especially Netanyahu. Harper began with a brief statement in French and English. The French comments included advice directed towards Assad in Syria, that he should "cesse tue leur proper citoyens" - he should stop killing his own citizens. He ended his French statements hoping for a solution for Israel that would be...

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper insisted he is not preparing the Canadian public for war with Iran but, in his starkest warning yet, he said he fears the regime in Tehran is prepared to use nuclear weapons, if it manages to produce them. In an interview with the National Post and Postmedia News, Mr. Harper said Iran’s quest to develop weapons of mass destruction is “a grave threat to peace and security.” “For the first time in history, we are facing a regime that not only wants to attain nuclear weapons but a regime that has, compared to virtually...

If Canada’s “green” media — especially in the Parliamentary Press Gallery — demanded the same standards of accountability of themselves as they do of politicians, they would be killing entire forests right now apologizing to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Why? Because in sidestepping the economically suicidal stampede onto the green energy bandwagon which they relentlessly shilled for, Harper was right and they — along with the Liberals, NDP, Bloc and Greens — were wrong. Today, so-called “green” energy is in retreat all over the developed world, as taxpayers and consumers in countries that blindly raced into it are in open...

Success: Away from the low growth and high regulation of an America under Washington's thumb, our northern neighbor is economically strong. As 2011 ends, Canada has announced yet another tax cut — and will soar even more. The Obama administration and its economic czars have flailed about for years, baffled about how to get the U.S. economy growing. In reality, the president need look no further than our neighbor, Canada, whose solid growth is the product of tax cuts, fiscal discipline, free trade, and energy development. That's made Canada a roaring puma nation, while its supposedly more powerful southern neighbor...

When Stephen Harper’s Conservatives finally achieved their long-sought majority victory in the last federal election, many right wing Canadians believed that the long awaited time had finally come when their long list of policies – added or removed – would be addressed. Voters expected swift action on the usual suspects such as the long gun registry and the tightening of immigration. Those with more gumption also thought there would be action like privatizing the CBC or ending the national policy of multiculturalism or official (read: forced) French/English bilingualism. Half a year into his majority, P.M. Harper has started to act....

UNITED NATIONS — Prime Minister Stephen Harper rallied to the side of Israel on Wednesday, saying the best road for peace in the Middle East lies through negotiations between that country and the Palestinians. Harper made his move in a meeting at the United Nations with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Under Harper’s leadership, Canada has been an outspoken supporter of Israel in recent years. And on Wednesday, Harper publicly reinforced that relationship with a critically timed message of support.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, announced last week that Canada has imposed "targeted" sanctions on Syria. In a statement last Monday, Harper said his government was responding to the Syrian regime's "ongoing and violent crackdown by the military and security forces against Syrian civilians who are peacefully protesting for democracy and the respect of human rights." The sanctions, as outlined by the government, include: "a travel ban imposed on designated people associated with the current Syrian regime; an asset freeze against people associated with the current Syrian regime and entities involved in security and military operations against the Syrian...

What if I were to tell you that there is a potential Presidential candidate who has shown an ability to win multiple national elections, consistently stands up in international bodies for America's interests and those of our allies, and had the guts to embarrass the Chinese by refusing to come to the monstrous opening Olympic ceremonies in Beijing, the one which made Nazi "artist" Leni Riefenstahl blush? While in office he has supported the war in Afghanistan, and increased military spending in a dangerous and unpredictable world. He cut aid to the Palestinians when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip....

The timing of the budget is also reflective of how urgent it is regarded by the government. It comes on the first day that MPs take their seats for a full day of routine proceedings. The previous week, MPs will elect a Speaker on June 2, then the government’s Throne Speech will be read in the Senate chamber June 3 by the Governor General. Then, on Monday, June 6, as MPs start their new session, Flaherty will drop his latest fiscal update in their lap. Traditionally, the budget is tabled in late afternoon. The opposition parties rejected the March budget...

They aren’t ready to hear this yet, but the anti-poverty activists who work tirelessly to promote the interests of low-income Canadians need to ask why so many of them voted for Stephen Harper last week. They won’t like the answers they get. They won’t understand how food bank users and social housing tenants could think the Prime Minister is on their side. They’ll be tempted to interrupt or object. But their feelings are not the point. There is a serious gap in their knowledge. Left unaddressed, it will trip them up in next fall’s provincial election campaign, the same way...

Some years ago, the columnist and editor Michael Kinsley sponsored a contest to come up with the most boring headline. The winner was “Worthwhile Canadian Initiative.” Well, Canada held an election last Monday, and the result was anything but boring. It amounts to something like a revolution in Canadian politics and has lessons, I think, for those of us south of the border. The headline story is that the Conservative party of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has headed minority governments since 2006, won an absolute majority of seats, 167 of 308, in the House of Commons. It was a...

The nation which Canadian subject (and conservative author, columnist and radio and TV commentator) Mark Steyn calls the "Deranged Dominion" just elected a Conservative Party government may now be about to raise its game to the next level. It should. The fact is that, for sixty-six years, Canada has punched below its weight in world affairs. It was not always so. Winston Churchill, in Britain's darkest hour -- when the UK faced Hitler alone -- told Parliament and the British people that the overseas dominions would come to the aid of the mother country. He meant Canada (which Churchill had...

He isn’t coming in cold, with an enormous backlog of unrealistic ambitions to ram through. Instead, the Tories have a solid idea of what they want to accomplish over the next four years. Having already elected him twice previously, Canadians won’t be looking for sudden miracles. Far from it: such is the level of exhaustion with politics that most Canadians will be delighted if the government just stays out of their face for the majority of the mandate. Harper, in effect, has four years to shepherd through legislation that should come as little surprise to anyone, and he has the...

It's the day after the election. The celebrations have muted, the party supporters have grabbed a few hours sleep, and Canada has risen to a new political landscape. If there is one lesson to be learned from Election 2011, it is this: be careful what you ask for. Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives ended five years of minority rule as they achieved the majority victory they have long been asking for. No more pandering to the far left, no more kissing the collective asses of Quebec separatists. Harper repeatedly asked Canadians for a majority, citing the necessity of stability and...

It’s only been five weeks but it seems like years since this election campaign began and I’m sick and tired of it. And, frankly, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. It can’t end soon enough for me. For a political junky to admit this is hard but, really, aren’t there a few words you hope you never have to hear again after Monday? * Majority government: Once upon a time, Stephen Harper wouldn’t let the “m” word pass his lips for fear of scaring voters. But since the first day of this campaign, he’s been dinning “majority”...

Monday’s federal election may well turn out to be historic for all kinds of reasons that were not obvious when it was called five weeks ago today. Unless the pollsters have totally misread the mood of the voters, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives look to be heading for another victory. As we said on Friday, that would be bad for the country. The last thing Canada needs is an affirmation of a government obsessed with control, dismissive of critics, and determined to further diminish the role of the state in charting a better future for the country. Voters who believe that Canada...

To say that the outcome of the current Canadian federal election campaign could have a direct effect on the United States would be an understatement. Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government, Canada's economy has endured the global economic crash with less damage and is recovering faster than any other G8/G20 nation. But all of that could be for naught depending on the election outcome. In a minority situation, the opposition parties have a larger number of combined seats than the sitting government, which makes it a tenuous situation. Harper deserves credit for keeping his party in power as...

Ten days ago, the opposition parties in Canada forced a new election through a no-confidence vote in Parliament in an attempt to gain more seats and more leverage over the Conservative plurality. The election will be held in four weeks, but already it seems that the Liberal Party has miscalculated. In the latest polling, Conservatives led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper have picked up support and may win enough votes to gain a majority government on their own: The Conservatives widened its lead against the opposition Liberals in an opinion poll released on Monday.The Nanos Research tracking poll of results...