TORONTO - With the House back in business this week, The Hill Times recently asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper a few questions about his expectations for the winter session, which could be his last before a spring election, his views on the economic recovery, his relationship with the opposition parties and what it's like to lead a minority government for five years. He said "that's one thing about the job, you're never bored."
Mr. Harper, being Prime Minister is a tough job. Leading a minority government can be very difficult. After five years, are you tired?
"Well look, I've always said that you're always on two tracks. You're always worried about governing, but you're also always aware, in the back of your mind, about the threat that the opposition could bring you down. So you have to be prepared for everything. As you know we've also been in difficult times in the global economy in the last two years. Yeah, it is demanding. But, look, I tell people I'm not bored. That's one thing about the job, you're never bored. And there are upsides and there are downsides, but I don't talk much about the downsides because it is such an honour to be Prime Minister, to have the best job in the best country in the world. So I've always said to myself, we'll just take the downsides, we'll take them, we won't complain about them, because there's so much that is such an opportunity. I mean it's the experience of a lifetime. I'll never, never have a job this good again, so I'm not going to complain about any part of this job."
You mentioned the economy and I'm sure this has been on the top of your thoughts lately.
"No doubt about it."
How would you characterize the Canadian economy at the present time?
"I think, first of all, to be frank with people, and we have to categorize it in the context of the global economy, the global economy is recovering, but it is still very fragile. We know that the various financial and debt problems that led to the crisis have not been fully resolved, and so we're watching developments in Europe and the United States very closely. But the economy is nevertheless recovering, and, in terms of the Canadian economy and that recovery, Canada is leading the recovery. The Canadian economy is one of the strongest if not the strongest developed economies in the world. And, you know, we want to work with our allies to make sure the global recovery continues, but also make sure we do the right things here so that we come out of this recovery in a strong competitive position for the long term."
What's the major challenge for your government during this recovery?
"Well, the major challenges remain outside our borders, in terms of economic developments. I think everyone agrees the fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. We all know the Canadian economy did not cause the global recovery. In fact the strength of the Canadian economy is what has allowed the Canadian economy to be the last developed economy pulled into the recession, the least affected, and coming out fastest and strongest. So we just want to make sure we continue on that track. I don't think it's any secret here, the threats domestically is that the political risks of a minority Parliament and that others may choose to put us on a course of some bad policies that could undo the recovery. But I think if we keep on the track we're on now we should come out in good shape."
I remember when the Canadian dollar was at 75 U.S. cents some were saying that...
"Even at 62."
Of course, some were calling it the toonie and they were saying that if it goes up more our economy is going to suffer and our exports destroyed. Now we're at parity with the American dollar and I don't see any of those predictions materialized. Do you really think that the dollar is having a big effect on our economy?
"Well I think, you know, the Prime Minister doesn't typically comment on the dollar. Those questions are dealt independently from the government by the Bank of Canada and the governor of the Bank of Canada. He is, he has expressed concern about the dollar and the drag it's had on Canada 's recovery. And so I'll let the governor speak. You know, the governor's views reflect my views. It's obviously something he is watching carefully. It's a concern, but it hasn't inhibited us from recovering and from creating, you know, a lot more jobs than are being created elsewhere. We've had, since the recovery began in Canada , the creation of over 450,000 new jobs. More jobs.
"There are more people working today than were working when the recession began. We've recovered all our jobs and a bit more, and we are virtually the only developed country in the world to be in that kind of a position. So not to say there aren't things like that that we're watching carefully. Obviously competition from emerging markets continues to also be a big challenge for us, but, you know, all things considered the Canadian economy showing real resilience. But we have to keep that as our priority. You know, that really has to be our priority. It has to be everybody's priority."
You mentioned the political instability. Do you think we are going to have an election? I'm not asking what you want because you already said you're against it. I'm asking what you think is going to happen.
"We're prepared for all outcomes, but I've been clear, I don't think Canadians want an election. I don't think an election is in the country's interests. The government does not favour an election, and we will not call an election, and we will not take steps to make an election happen. We will bring in a budget in the spring that will begin the next phase of the economic action plan, which is designed to deepen and strengthen the recovery. We will invest in some measures to encourage job creation and growth, but, primarily, we will be wrapping up the stimulus measures and continuing now the job of lowering the deficit so we maintain the best fiscal position in the G7. Those will be our priorities. We are very clear. I think those are the priorities of Canadians, that's what we'll be doing, and this government is not wanting an election and that is not our primary focus."
Many talk about the possibility of a tacit post-election coalition between Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois. Some, however, say that a kind of cooperation, even if it's very difficult, might be found between your party and the NDP. Even your Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, says that it is less difficult to deal with the NDP than with the Liberals. Do you share this view?
"Well, look, the fact of the matter is that we've been a minority government for five years, and we need one of the three parties to vote for anything that we do in order to pass it. And the different parties have supported us on different things. As I say, I'm not going to get into election scenarios other than to say this, that in our system of government the party that wins the election forms the government. It is not legitimate to have a coalition of losers. So if other people want to form a government they should win an election, not lose an election."
But there might be agreements before the election, starting with the next budget.
"Well, you know, we're going to bring forward policies that are good for the economy. You know, we're listening to what the other parties say. If they have some ideas that are good for the economy and are affordable, well we're looking at them. As I've also told you in the past though, I mean there's a lot of changes in position here."
Such as?
"The Liberal Party is now on a crusade to stop tax reductions for employers. Those were the only tax reductions the Liberal Party had supported from 2006 until just a few months ago. And now they've flipped positions. So the difficulty is when people say, 'Will you listen to the opposition?', of course we will, but from one month to another the policies change over there. We're going to do what's best for the economy. I think people know the general direction of the government and I think the general direction of the government's economic policy is widely supported by the Canadian population and the business community."
Last question. The last recession has forced governments of different colours together to adopte the same policies. For example, I see Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty talking about the economy much more like you do; I see Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff talking on this subject much more like Tim Hudak. Do you think that there creates a bit of confusion among the voters?
"Well I actually think Mr. Ignatieff is talking much more like the NDP these days is the truth, and we all know why that is. And it's not for what's best for the economy. Look, I'm not going to explain the positions of other governments. I think the positions this government has taken are the positions that you would expect a centre-right government to take under these economic conditions.
And that is that, you know, given a situation. We've reduced taxes since we got into government. We started that in 2006, and given what happened in 2008 and 2009 we engaged in, as every government in the world did, in a large-scale program of stimulus projects. But as a centre-right government, we did that without raising taxes. We made all that spending temporary. We did not create new programs and new bureaucracy and we're winding it up as the recession ends. And I think that's what you would expect a government like ours to do in this, in this situation. And in the end I don't think, I mean you know, I have strong views. People active in politics, as you know, have strong views about philosophy and those kinds of things, but in the end, the public wants what works. And if you look at what we've done in Canada and the results in Canada compared to every other country, we are doing what works. And I think that's ultimately the case that we feel comfortable making with the Canadian people."
