Q: You did a lot for Quebec as prime minister—expanding its role in foreign affairs, recognition of its nationhood by Parliament, and [providing] billions to answer the perceived fiscal imbalance between Quebec and the rest of Confederation. And then during the election the province effectively turned on you over a minor issue of arts funding. What’s your plan in Quebec now?
A: Well, first of all I’m not sure it was that simple. We did hold our vote in Quebec and held our seat gain from 2006 which was considered a historic breakthrough. Obviously we would have liked to do better. But look, the government will continue to do what it believes is in the best interests of the country. Where there are things we can do to accommodate Quebec nationalism within a united Canada we’ll do them, and that is consistent with the Conservative party’s historic philosophy of federalism. When it comes to things we think are not in the interests of the country—spending that’s inefficient or, quite frankly, doing things like offering a governmental role to separatists—obviously this party will not do that.
Q: Will the government amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prevent unwarranted interferences in free expression by human rights commissions?
A: The government has no plans to do so. We’re certainly aware of the issue. My understanding—we’ve been monitoring this closely—I think you’ll actually see there’s been some modification of behaviour on the part of the Canadian human rights commissions. The most egregious cases right now are mostly at the provincial level. And it is a very tricky issue of public policy because obviously, as we’ve seen, some of these powers can be abused. But they do exist for valid reasons, which is obviously to prevent public airwaves from being used to disseminate hate against vulnerable members of our society. That’s a valid objective. It’s probably the case that we haven’t got the balance right, but I’m not sure the government today has any answer on what an appropriate balance would be.
Q Tories are doing well in the polls right now—you’re as high as you’ve ever been—but I don’t think there’s been a leader of a federal party in Canada who improved his standing in Parliament with an election during or right after a recession, and I also don’t think there has ever been a leader who won a majority on the fourth try after not achieving one in the previous three tries. What are the odds of a Stephen Harper majority, especially in this economic environment?
A: Look, I’ve said another election is not my focus right now. Obviously if the opposition defeats us on the budget, my view is that we should be having another election.
Q: But you want a majority, no?
A: If we have an election that will be my objective, but my objective is not to have an election. I’ve been through three national elections in four years. Since I returned to politics a little over six years ago—I guess it’s getting close to seven—I’ve been in three national elections, two leadership races, one party referendum, and a by-election to win my seat. All I’ve done is run for office continuously. I would, even during a recession, relish the occasion to actually sit back and attempt to govern for a while! But look, the fact of the matter is this, that before the 2004 election all of the pundits were predicting a crushing Liberal majority and, of course, they won a minority. In the fall of 2005, all the pundits were saying the Conservative party had no hope of winning the election. We won the election. We won a strengthened minority [in October 2008]. Granted, it’s still a minority but we won a strengthened mandate in the beginning of a recession, which is unheard of in Canadian history. I can tell you from conversations I have with foreign leaders that the results of the election stunned them, and largely, by the way, elated them because they all feel more optimistic about their own possibilities. Granted, most of them have much worse economies than we do. So look, I’ve obviously had a lot more political success in my life than I thought I would have. I’m honoured to have the job, whatever mandate the Canadian people give me, that’s the mandate I’ll work with, but the reality is that I don’t want to have an election right now. Obviously, if we had an election today somebody will have a majority because it will be either Canada’s Conservative government or the coalition.
