Benjamin Harper, the son of Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was born in April 1996 so that makes him 15. He has a sister, Rachel, who is three years younger than he is.
Stephen Harper was born in 1959 and became Canada's first conservative prime minister for 13 years in January 2006. As prime minister he has worked hard to improve the image of conservatives, and consequently, their appeal, while at the same time negotiating and trying to work with the other three parties that make up the Canadian Parliament.
Harper grew up in a middle class family in Toronto. In 1978, he moved to Alberta to work in the oil industry but soon enrolled at the University of Calgary and got both Bachelor's and Master's degree in economics. Whilst at university he enjoyed political debate with his peers and avidly followed the careers of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
Not impressed by Canada's Prime Minister of the time, Brian Mulroney, Harper joined the new right wing Reform Party, which made him their political chief in 1987. He ran for a seat in the Canadian Parliament a year later, but lost.
• In 1991, Harper met his wife-to-be, graphic designer Laureen Teskey at a Reform Party convention.
• In 1993, he ran again for Parliament and this time he won. He spent four years in sharp opposition to the center-left Liberal Party, which had the majority. He left Parliament but was elected again in 2002, and replaced Stockwell Day as leader of the former Reform Party, which was renamed the Canadian alliance.
• In 2003, Harper negotiated with the new leader of the Progressive Conservatives to merge their two parties, of which he became leader in 2004. Two years later he beat all opposition and became Prime Minister.
Stephen Harper was born in 1959 and became Canada's first conservative prime minister for 13 years in January 2006. As prime minister he has worked hard to improve the image of conservatives, and consequently, their appeal, while at the same time negotiating and trying to work with the other three parties that make up the Canadian Parliament.
Harper grew up in a middle class family in Toronto. In 1978, he moved to Alberta to work in the oil industry but soon enrolled at the University of Calgary and got both Bachelor's and Master's degree in economics. Whilst at university he enjoyed political debate with his peers and avidly followed the careers of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
Not impressed by Canada's Prime Minister of the time, Brian Mulroney, Harper joined the new right wing Reform Party, which made him their political chief in 1987. He ran for a seat in the Canadian Parliament a year later, but lost.
• In 1991, Harper met his wife-to-be, graphic designer Laureen Teskey at a Reform Party convention.
• In 1993, he ran again for Parliament and this time he won. He spent four years in sharp opposition to the center-left Liberal Party, which had the majority. He left Parliament but was elected again in 2002, and replaced Stockwell Day as leader of the former Reform Party, which was renamed the Canadian alliance.
• In 2003, Harper negotiated with the new leader of the Progressive Conservatives to merge their two parties, of which he became leader in 2004. Two years later he beat all opposition and became Prime Minister.
