Harper stepping down as party leader

[oneh2obabe]

OTTAWA—In the final days before the election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s top campaign organizers floated the idea of telling voters he would not seek another term if he won, the Star has learned.

Sources say Harper’s strategists urged using British Prime Minister David Cameron’s successful “lame-duck” move to salvage a Conservative government, but realized it was too late for such a Hail Mary pass.

“It was not Harper’s record or his policies — it’s just that people hated Harper and we saw it happening early,” said one insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal campaign machinations.

<snip> Right to the end, Harper, a message control freak in government, moved to control how his last speech would be covered by the media in refusing to utter the words that he was quitting as Conservative leader. Two sources said he did not want that to be the sound-bite that lived on in every post-election story about his legacy for years to come.

Harper left it to party president John Walsh to issue a brief statement kicking off a leadership race that will see caucus elect an interim leader to replace him, and a committee struck to oversee the contest ahead. <snip>

Balance of article
http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-ele ... ction.html

[Jx3]

As many Conservatives wrestled with a heartbreaking loss,

How exactly is it a "heartbreaking loss"?

It's an election, I don't think for a minute that anyone expects to win them all. The only thing that truly matters is that the NDP continues to lose them all.

[jimmy4321]

I'd be heartbroken if i came in late and short of getting that sweet a$$ pension.

[Glacier]

How exactly is it a "heartbreaking loss"?

It's an election, I don't think for a minute that anyone expects to win them all. The only thing that truly matters is that the NDP continues to lose them all.

I think it's important to always remember the words of John Wesley.

[Jx3]

I think it's important to always remember the words of John Wesley.

Mr. Wesley had the luxury of not knowing about the NDP when he wrote those words! :)

[Merry]

Stephen Harper devoted many years of his life to doing what HE believed was for the good of his country. And he did, in fact, DO some good things for his country. So, even though I was one of the people who thought it was time for a change of Government, I'm willing to acknowledge that Harper's policies were not all bad, and that I agreed wholeheartedly with many of them.

For me, it was his increasingly pervasive mean style of Governance, and the totally unnecessary practice of running roughshod over anything and everything that dared oppose the "official Party line" that simply got too much for me to bear.

I'll never understand why a Majority Government felt it necessary to resort to many of the tactics the Harper Cons did resort to, apparently in order to silence any and all dissent, when they knew they could easily pass all their proposed legislation anyway, regardless of what people said or thought about it.

And I never really understood the arrogance that makes ANY Government believe that THEY are the only ones with the correct solutions to all of the country's problems. So much so that they truly believe there is absolutely no value whatsoever in listening to the opinions of others on just about any subject. Because nobody is infallible, and we can ALL usually benefit from listening and considering views other than our own. That doesn't mean we'll necessarily always agree with the other viewpoint, but it usually ensures that we take a second look at our own point of view prior to making a final decision, and hopefully consider whether or not a few modifications might be in order.

In other words, the Official Opposition, by the very act of opposing, serves the purpose of allowing the Government the opportunity to give their proposal some sober second thought. And every time the Harper Cons tried to circumvent this process, either through the use of Omnibus Bills, or overusing closure to unnecessarily limit debate, he did this country and it's citizens a grave disservice.

So, for that reason alone, it was past time for Harper to move on. But that doesn't mean we should forget the good things he did during his many years of service to this country.

The election is over; the people have chosen a new Government. And I'm hoping that the incoming Government will provide the promised change in culture that Parliament so desperately needs. That being a willingness to allow all MP's the opportunity to study and debate the legislation they are going to be asked to vote on. And enough respect for the office those MP's hold, to have the decency to give sensible answers to respectful questions.

Fingers crossed.

[Jx3]

So, for that reason alone, it was past time for Harper to move on.

Personally I think two consecutive terms is more than enough for any leader, regardless of which party he/or she belongs to. I would like to see term limits imposed.

[hobbyguy]

I think you folks will know that I am happy to see Harper gone. And with him "pipeline Joe" and Julian Fantino (the best part of that is that Fantino was short of qualifying for his pension).

The interesting part will be "who is next?". Heaven help the CPC if they go with Jason Kenny.

[oneh2obabe]

Julian Fantino (the best part of that is that Fantino was short of qualifying for his pension).

I don't think it's going to bother Fantino that much based on what his other pensions are worth.

Fantino's pension, based on back of the envelope math, is worth almost $120,000 per year. Consider:

After five years as OPP commissioner, Fantino would be entitled to collect at least $20,000 annually under the Ontario Public Service Pension plan.

For his thirty-six years of service in his various roles that use the OMERS pension plan (London police, York Region police, Toronto police), Fantino would collect at least $87,000 per year.

Additionally, he would receive CPP pension benefits. Given his high salary he would qualify for the annual maximum: $11,210

Totalled, that is at least $118,000 in annual pensions.

But the figure could be higher:

Fantino may be benefitting from what is known as an OMERS "Retirement Compensation Arrangement." OMERS retirement compensation arrangement (RCA) is a separate trust fund that provides benefits to members whose pension benefit exceeds the pension benefit limit in the Income Tax Act and Regulation (ITA).

[I Think]

Bet there is a bunch of document shredding going on in con circles right now.

[Glacier]

I think you folks will know that I am happy to see Harper gone. And with him "pipeline Joe" and Julian Fantino (the best part of that is that Fantino was short of qualifying for his pension).

The interesting part will be "who is next?". Heaven help the CPC if they go with Jason Kenny.

I like Jason Kenny. Doug and Rob Ford on the other hand... Heaven help us all...

[logicalview]

I like Jason Kenny. Doug and Rob Ford on the other hand... Heaven help us all...

Maybe Olivia Chow wants to run. Sure beats getting paid a six-figure salary to rot young minds with socialist garbage at Ryerson.

[George+]

I hear Harper has been offered 'Political Science' at U of A.,
or was it Economics! Yiii!

Heaven help us all if more come along like him.

[The Green Barbarian]

I hear Harper has been offered 'Political Science' at U of A.,
or was it Economics! Yiii!

Heaven help us all if more come along like him.

At least he knows about political science and economics, as he has a masters degree in economics. What does Olivia Chow know about that makes her qualified to teach leftist dogma to young skulls full of mush at Ryerson? All she has is a bachelor of arts degree.

[GordonH]

So who is clear choice to take over as Party leader, will he or she be more Reform or more PC.

http://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/150 ... -Tory-post