VERBATIM Stephen Harper “The best country in the world”

In his victory speech in Calgary on May 2, Stephen Harper was speaking for the first time as the leader of a majority government, and acknowledged that it was his role and responsibility to lead a government of all Canadians, including those who didn’t vote for him, especially in Quebec.

Dans son discours de la victoire prononcé le soir du 2 mai à Calgary, Stephen Harper s’exprimait pour la première fois en tant que chef d’un gouvernement majoritaire et a reconnu qu’il lui incombait de gouverner pour tous les Canadiens, incluant ceux qui ne l’ont pas appuyé, notamment au Québec.

uelle belle soirée, what a great My friends, this has been a long five the business of government will night. And friends, I have to weeks. There has been much passionate resume tomorrow. Our first job will to Q say it: a strong, stable, debate and a tremendous amount of implement what we set out in our national, majority Conservative gov- hard work on all sides, but it’s done. budget, our plan for jobs and growth, ernment. Friends, great things are only Canadians can now turn the page on our plan to create jobs and growth accomplished by many people, by the uncertainties and repeat elections of without raising your taxes. many people working together. the past seven years and focus on build- Our second priority is to deliver Politics is a team sport. It’s always ing a great future for all of us. on our program of support for our what I’ve said and it’s true. For Laureen At the end of it all, Canadians made families and for the senior citizens of and me, there’s one thing that has this critically important decision today, this country. always been clear: we can always count friends. They chose hope, hope, unity of Third, we will continue with our on our home team, the riding associa- purpose, and a strong Canada, and plan to eliminate the deficit while tion of Calgary Southwest. Even when because Canadians chose hope, we can growing the transfers to our provinces we’re not able to be with you, to be there now begin to come together again as we by 6 percent a year for the health care with you, you’re with us, and you are must, as Canadians, as fellow citizens, system in which Canadians believe. with us all the way. And I want to thank friends and neighbours. For our part, we And fourth, we will at long last you again for the fifth time in nine years are intensely aware that we are and we pass comprehensive measures to to the voters of Calgary Southwest for must be the government of all Canadians, reduce crime and make our streets and returning me to the House of Commons. including those who did not vote for us. neighbourhoods safer. Thanks also to our national team And friends, hear me on this: all Now I should like to offer my in Ottawa and on the road, everybody the lessons of the past few years hold- heartfelt congratulations to my oppo- working those exhausting hours. You ing to our principles, but also of listen- nents, all of whom conducted hon- can all take credit, take all the credit ing, of caring, of adapting those lessons ourable campaigns. Our disagreements for the great things that have hap- that have come with a minority govern- do not blind us to their commitment to pened tonight, and have a great cele- ment, we must continue to practise as a our society and our democratic process. bration. I also want to take a moment majority government. We are grateful, First, I think I can speak for the to thank all of our candidates who deeply honoured, in fact, humbled by entire country in recognizing the deter- were not successful. You have never- the decisive endorsement of so many mination and tenacity of Mr. Layton theless made a real contribution to our Canadians. We shall be faithful to the and his remarkable campaign. This is a great Conservative victory tonight. trust that you have reposed in us. day, friends, for which the NDP has long And thanks to the tens of thousands of Whether or not you cast a vote for worked. Mr. Layton should feel proud, Conservatives from coast to coast to our party, our government must and and I look forward to working with him coast who have given so much of your will stand on guard for all regions, and in Ottawa. Mr. Ignatieff has been a pas- time and so generously of your dona- friends, we shall do that faithfully. sionate advocate for the cause of his tions and your prayers. You are our Friends, we have much to do if we party, a party which has made great and strength. You are our inspiration. You are to promptly deliver what important contributions to the develop- are our conscience. Canadians have voted for. That is why ment of this country. I extend to him

10 OPTIONS POLITIQUES JUIN-JUILLET 2011 “The best country in the world” VERBATIM

Jason Ransom The Harper family waves to the crowd on election night in Calgary. “I have to say it,” Harper declared, “ a strong, stable, national, majority Conservative government.” the high regard that is due of a worthy live by the decisions. Our Canadian honour to lead will bind itself to these opponent. political life is sometimes turbulent, values, and the government you elect- I would also like to salute Mr. but is nonetheless a thing of beauty, ed today will be a government that Duceppe, for whom I’ve always had and the envy of peoples who have yet keeps these principles at its heart, at its great respect, even though we have to achieve it. It is, friends, without a very core. substantial differences in views of our doubt a big part of what makes this Friends, it is time to go home, country. country, Canada, in a troubled world but before we do, I will just say this: To Ms. May, Elizabeth May as well, an island of security and stability. five years ago, we began to build the congratulations for the historic victo- Friends, I have to say this again; Canada that would be truly strong ry. No win is more noteworthy for any I’ve said it repeatedly during this cam- and free, the true North of our political party than its very first. paign. Travelling around our great national anthem. That work is well I should also like to congratulate country, one gets a sense of its still begun, and it is within our grasp to every Canadian who took the brave greater potential. Nothing, not reces- make that dream come true, to decision to run for office. I have been sion, not natural disaster, nor war, become a country that is as prosper- on both the winning and losing sides have ever stopped the rise of this coun- ous, as united and as strong as it can of campaigns, and I admire you all, try. There is a spirit in this land, the be, the best country in the world, but and of course, I look forward to work- true spirit, the true character of the always striving to be more. That is ing with all of those, all of you who Canadian people, a compassionate the work to which we dedicate our- won your seats in the House of neighbour, a courageous warrior, a selves, that great endeavour to which Commons tonight. confident partner; that’s the spirit of we return tomorrow. This is what democracy needs. the Canada I know. Canadians are This is what citizenship is all about: proud of that spirit, and they trust us Excerpted from a speech to the Canadian the way that we choose our govern- to live by that spirit. people in Calgary on May 2, 2011. ment, how we reconcile our differ- Fellow Canadians, my pledge to Stephen Harper is Prime Minister of ences, the manner in which we then you is that the government I have the Canada.

POLICY OPTIONS 11 JUNE-JULY 2011