Stephen Harper facts for kids

Stephen Joseph Harper
The Right Honourable ; Stephen Joseph Harper ; PC, MP, MA
22nd Prime Minister of Canada
	In office; February 6, 2006 – November 4, 2015
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	David Johnston
Preceded by	Paul Martin
Succeeded by	Justin Trudeau
Member of the Canadian Parliament; for Calgary Southwest
	Incumbent
	Assumed office; June 28, 2002
Preceded by	Preston Manning
Member of the Canadian Parliament; for Calgary West
	In office; 1993 – 1997
Preceded by	James Hawkes
Succeeded by	Rob Anders
Personal details
Born	Stephen Joseph Harper ; April 30, 1959 (age 61); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Conservative; (2003–present)
Other political; affiliations	Young Liberals; (c. 1974 – early 1980s); Progressive Conservative; (1985–1986); Reform; (1987–1997); Canadian Alliance; (2002–2003)
Spouse(s)	Laureen Harper
Children	Benjamin and Rachel
Residence	24 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario (Official) Calgary, Alberta (Private)
Alma mater	University of Calgary
Occupation	Economist
Signature

Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) was the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. He is a member and the former leader of the Conservative Party. He was elected in February 2006 and replaced Paul Martin as Prime Minister.

Harper was born in 1959 in Toronto, Ontario and lives in Calgary, Alberta. He is married to Laureen Teskey and has two children. He is the third Prime Minister, after Pierre Trudeau and John Turner, to send their children to Rockcliffe Park Public School, in Ottawa. Stephen Harper was Prime Minister for nine years, during which Canada hosted both the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games. Harper also hosted the G8 and G20 meetings.

Harper is a conservative and supports cutting government spending and taxes. As prime minister, he has cut the goods and services tax and approved a budget that would cut funding to several government programs. He has also shown support for the military and a bigger Canadian military presence in the northern part of Canada.

Though Harper did win the seat in the Calgary-Heritage riding during the October 19, 2015 federal election, the Conservative Party was defeated by the Liberal Party of Canada, which was led by Justin Trudeau and who succeeded Harper as Prime Minister. It was thereafter announced Harper would resign as party leader and had requested an interim leader be chosen to serve until a leadership election can be held.

Images for kids

After Reform candidate Deborah Grey was elected in 1989, Harper became Grey's executive assistant, chief adviser and speechwriter.
Stephen Harper giving a victory speech to party members in Calgary after the Conservatives won the 2006 federal election.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper & Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean at 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Heads of State Reception
Harper appearing at a gala at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto to celebrate the discovery of the HMS Erebus, one of two ships wrecked during John Franklin's lost expedition.
Harper during the 'Special Address' at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at the congress centre in Davos, Switzerland, January 26, 2012.
President of Argentina Cristina Kirchner and Harper in Toronto, 2010
Harper at the 2015 G-7 summit with Shinzō Abe, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, François Hollande, David Cameron, and Matteo Renzi in Bavaria, Germany.
A banner criticizing Harper's response to the 2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict, Toronto
United States President Barack Obama meets with Stephen Harper in Ottawa, February 19, 2009.
Harper and US State Secretary Hillary Clinton at the Haiti Ministerial Preparatory Conference addressing earthquake relief in Montreal, January 25, 2010
Stephen Harper visiting Vancouver Island University's Deep Bay Marine Field Station in 2010
Stephen Harper and former CFL player Larry Smith watching a 2012 football game in Montreal.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaking at 2009 Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.