Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper was sworn in as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada on February 6, 2006, after leading the Conservative Party to a minority government victory in the 2006 federal election. He ended over 12 years of Liberal rule.

On June 11, 2008, Harper delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to former students of Indian Residential Schools, acknowledging the government's role in the assimilation policy and its harmful effects on Indigenous peoples.

Harper's government formally withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol on December 12, 2011, citing the inability to meet emissions targets and the economic cost of compliance. Canada was the first signatory to withdraw.

In the 2011 federal election, Harper led the Conservative Party to a majority government, winning 166 seats. This was the first Conservative majority since 1988 and allowed Harper to implement his agenda without coalition constraints.