Redekop is a professor emeritus at Wilfred Laurier University and an adjunct professor with Trinity Western University. He has done five previous “report cards” on prime minister Stephen Harper.
Three years have passed since Stephen Harper’s Tories formed the government of Canada. This report card evaluates the past six months. Marks assigned six months ago appear in brackets.
1. Cabinet Development and Performance: Cabinet appointments after the Oct. 14 election were generally impressive. The prime minister needs to delegate more responsibility and to share the spotlight. B+ (B-)
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2. Performance in the House of Commons: Many opposition and government MPs still behave like juveniles during Question Period.
The public deserves better. Some government MPs have improved.
The replacement of Peter Van Loan by the affable Jay Hill as Conservative house leader ended an unwarranted combative style. The government MPs’ refusal to testify at a Commons committee inquiry into questionable election expenses – the “in and out” – scheme, was inappropriate. B (B-)
3. Social Policies: The Harper government has substantially increased health-care grants to the provinces.
The pension-splitting provision for seniors was progressive.
The establishment of the $5,000 per annum Tax-Free Savings Account is commendable. Despite shortcomings in housing, transportation, and the delivery of health care, the Conservative record is comparatively good. A- (A-)
4. Economic Policies: Finance minister Jim Flaherty’s October financial update, while innovative, was overly optimistic and counter-productive. His Jan. 27 budget was more impressive.
Did the 180-degree reversal on massive deficits mark a betrayal of principle or was it a brilliant, unavoidable policy shift given United States and global developments?
Should Canada start undoing the $105 billion debt reduction of the past decade? A- (A)
5. Foreign Affairs: This sector is in competent hands. Relations with the U.S. are strong but will U.S. protectionist policies seriously hurt Canada?
Ottawa has pressed hard to save the lives of Canadian brothers Mohamed and Sultan Kohail in Saudi Arabia. The handling of the Omar Khadr situation in Guantanamo Bay is disappointing. B (B-)
6. National Unity Policy: The anti-Ottawa stance common in Quebec is surely one of the most perplexing examples of ingratitude of all time.
Federal funds flow to Quebec. The prime minister led Parliament in affirming Quebec as a nation within a united Canada and undertook major correction of an actual or imagined fiscal imbalance.
Unfortunately, during the election campaign he misread the fickle mood of Quebec and lost a parliamentary majority. A- (A-)
7. Environment Policies: The environment commissioner and auditor general have reported serious enforcement failure as well as failure to ascertain how the provinces have spent their $1.5 billion in federal grants.
Unfortunately, Ottawa has mandated a five percent ethanol content in gasoline by next year even though the C.D. Howe Institute has demonstrated that, all factors considered, there is likely no reduction in energy use or carbon output. C- (C+)
8. Crime and Justice Issues: Important legislation has been enacted.
Three key challenges remain: prison facilities are very over-crowded; court backlogs sometimes produce up to five-year delays; and the Harper government has not managed to sell its crime control policies in Quebec. A- (A-)
9. Defence and Military Policies: Tory policies are generally commendable but too optimistic concerning Afghanistan.
While Canadian forces struggle valiantly to establish freedom in that land, the masses and the politicians seem to have other priorities.
The provision of helicopters saves lives as the roads become increasingly dangerous. B (C+)
10. Parliamentary Reform: Harper tried to reform Senate appointments. When opposition parties resisted, he had no choice but to continue traditional practices.
Harper finally corrected a blatant error by promising Ontario its rightful quota of Commons seats. B+ (B)
11. Specific Initiatives: Improved inspection of product labels, $8.3 billion for job training, $500 million for sports and recreation facilities, and $7.5 billion for hard-hit industries and other initiatives warrant commendation.
Attack ads against Stephane Dion, constriction of Ottawa’s access-to-information policy, and setting aside Harper’s election law, which should not have been enacted in the first place, do not. A- (A+)
12. Keeping Electoral Promises: Harper’s record is impressive, except in two areas. General health care and the 2006 election promise to reform capital gains taxation. A- (A-)
13. Overall Performance of the Prime Minister: The economy has generally been managed well. The attempted elimination of public funds for political parties, while popular, was not astute.
Besides, most democracies provide such assistance to reduce sector influence.
“You don’t slip controversial provisions into omnibus legislation if you are serious about making a minority Parliament work.” (Harper in March 2005.)
Pressing the governor-general to prorogue Parliament, after losing Commons confidence, saved Harper’s day but compromised integrity.
Strategic missteps by Harper cost the Tories a deserved majority. Having allowed a situation to develop in which Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is now in control, Harper must settle for Grit-lock. C (C+)
The overall mark for the last six months: B+ (B)
