Former prime minister Stephen Harper has pledged his full confidence in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Harper officially endorsed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to become Canada’s next prime minister “without a shadow of a doubt.” Harper cited his unique relationship with Poilievre, having once employed both Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney during his time as leader.
“I am in a unique position in the election,” Harper told the crowd at Poiliever’s rally in Edmonton Monday. “I am the only person who can say that both of the men running to be prime minister, once worked for me. And in that regard, my choice, without hesitation, without equivocation, without a shadow of a doubt, is Pierre Poilievre.”
Harper said that he’s watched Poilievre’s career as a politician evolve for over 25 years, following his ascent from a backbencher to a cabinet minister and ultimately Conservative party leader.
“It is not just that Pierre excelled at all of those roles. In all of them, he grew, he got better and better. Don’t let anyone tell you that he was born to be prime minister or that he can just somehow parachute into the job fully prepared,” said Harper, referring to Carney.
“Political experience – elected, accountable political experience and the capacity for growth from that political experience – that is what Pierre has demonstrated for two decades and that is the single most important characteristic.”
Harper also wanted to set the record straight on the 2008 financial crisis, which Carney has regularly taken credit for during his campaign.
He wanted the over ten thousand supporters to know that this endorsement was coming from “the guy who actually did lead Canada through the global financial crisis.”
“I hear there’s someone else claiming it was him,” said Harper. “It was, of course, our government, the late great Jim Flaherty (who served as finance minister during that time).”
Monday’s rally marked the 11th campaign stop for Poilievre and his largest attendance to date, with over 10,000 people registered for the event.
Harper acknowledged the economic challenges posed by the Trump administration and its tariffs but said they were not the root cause of Canada’s current struggles. Instead, he placed the blame on a decade of Liberal policies.
“But the bulk of the problems that afflict our country – falling living standards, declining employment and housing opportunities, rising crime, the growing divisions between our regions and our people – these were not created by Donald Trump. They were created by the policies by three Liberal terms, policies that the present prime minister supported,” he said.
Harper went on to say that Poilievre had “consistently” opposed those policies over the years, arguing that they’ve left Canada overly reliant on the U.S., and warning against using current crises as “another excuse for Liberal failure.”
He said that a Poilievre government would be one that could “stand up to Washington from a position of strength.”
“But we will only get there with leadership from a person who has an actual policy plan,” said Harper. “From a person who’s been right on all the big issues for a decade and a person who has the energy and yes, the youth, to take us forward into a better, stronger and more united future.”