Canuck Politics

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is interviewed on Sky News while at the G-20 meeting in London, England.

Harper rejects a global financial regulator, saying soverign countries will never accept international regulation of their monetary policies.

President Obama and Prime Minister Harper answer questions from the media during Obama’s first foreign visit to Ottawa.

Afghanistan

Climate Change

Free Trade  and Economic Integration

The five federal party leaders debate the election issues in the English language debate.

Harper strongly supports Isreal in a speech at a campaign rally in Toronto.

Stephen Harper confirmed Canadian Forces will withdraw from Afghanistan in 2011 as per the legislative agreement reached with the Liberal Party earlier in the year.

We’re planning for our withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan in 2011 … I don’t want to say we won’t have a single troop there, because obviously we could aid in some technical capacities.  But the mission, as we know it, we intend to end it.

- Stephen Harper

January 22, 2008 - The Manley Panel recommends Canada remain in Afghanistan until the local government can maintain its own security, contingent on NATO providing additional troops and equipment in Kandahar.

Stephen Harper appointed former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister John Manley in October to head the independent panel considering Canada’s future role in Afghanistan.

Despite the report, Stéphane Dion holds to his position that Canada should end its combat role when it expires in February 2009.

Links:

• Final Report: Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan (PDF)

Prime Minister Harper appointed former Liberal deputy Prime Minister John Manley to head an independent and non-partisan panel of 5 prominent Canadians to review the Afghan mission, and Canada’s future involvement in Afghanistan after the current mission expires in February 2009.

The panel will deliver its report in January 2008.

Good policy is good politics.

-Hon.  John Manley
former Liberal deputy Prime Minister

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion welcomed the creation of the committee but insisted the combat mission should end by February 2009.

NDP Leader Jack Layton dismissed the panel as a partisan delay tactic, saying Canadian forces should withdraw from Afghanistan immediately.

September 25, 2007 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper answered questions from members of the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based non-partisan think tank for international affairs.

Harper answered questions on a wide range of issues including climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, the differences between the US and Canada, and why America is ‘hated’ but Canada is not.

Harper said there is a high possibility of another minority government after the next federal election, but that Canada’s foreign policy would not change even if they achieved a majority.

I believe that when it comes to foreign affairs and global security, this is one area where you do what is right in the long-term interests of the country, your allies and the world … Under a minority government, this government’s foreign policy will not be any different than it would be under a majority government.

- Stephen Harper

August 21, 2007 – President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon held a press conference to end this year’s Security and Prosperity Partnership meeting. The leaders answered questions about the SPP, conspiracy theories, Afghanistan, Canadian Arctic sovereignty and the Northwest Passage.

Harper, Bush, Calderon take questions

The SPP summit was held amid growing suspicions of a secret agenda, and accusations that police tried to incite violence by posing as protesters.

Union leader stops police provocateurs

Anti-globalization activists claim the SPP and other supra-national agreements threaten the sovereignty of Canada and other member states.

Links:

• Video: Quebec police admit going undercover at Montebello protests

Prime Minister Stephen Harper endorses a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel.

Canada’s new government supports the creation of a viable, democratic Palestinian state that will live peacefully beside a secure, prosperous Israel.

The road to this much needed state, however, will not be paved with the blood of innocent victims of terror. It will only be achieved by negotiations carried out in good faith by serious players who actually desire peace.

- Prime Minister Stephen Harper