Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at a Conservative rally at Royal Roads University in Victoria. (Geoff Howe/Canadian Press)
I’m not a regular reader of Maclean’s Aaron Wherry, but thanks to the advent of Twitter I often come across his blog entries. Today’s was quite interesting, actually, as it pertains to Stephen Harper’s Prime Ministerial tenure approaching the top 10 longest-serving PMs.
On Sunday, Jan. 9, Harper will surpass Alexander Mackenzie for 12th spot on the list at four years, 337 days in power. On Feb. 6, he’ll slip into 11th spot, surpassing the esteemed Lester B. Pearson at precisely five years in power.
Whether you like him or not, Stephen Harper is rapidly approaching a list of very distinguished members found in Canada’s political history books. Those who have made significant impacts in the direction of our country, its policies and its reputation.
Again, my math is little better than Aaron Wherry’s, but Harper can reach the top 10 by surviving to late April (surpassing R. B. Bennett), which is a strong possibility, should no election be forced. He would have to also survive a possible fall election to pass John Diefenbaker for 9th spot.
After that, his chances fall off precipitously without a real shift in Canadian politics that brings stable, majority Conservative governments:
1. William Lyon Mackenzie King: 21 years, 154 days
2. Sir John A. Macdonald: 18 years, 359 days
3. Pierre Trudeau: 15 years, 164 days
4. Sir Wilfrid Laurier: 15 years, 86 days
5. Jean Chrétien: 10 years, 38 days
6. Brian Mulroney: 8 years, 281 days
7. Sir Robert Borden: 8 years, 274 days
8. Louis St. Laurent: 8 years, 218 days
…
13. Stephen Harper (incumbent): 4 years, 335 days
A third mandate would also put him into an exclusive list of just six other men who won that many elections.
If PMSH wins a majority in the spring, he takes over Mulroney’s #6 spot, one seat behind Chretien.
If there is an election this year, barring an unfarseen disaster, Harper should win, at least, another minority, and unless the Tories lose 20 seats, they will likely keep him as leader and PM. this all adds up to a probably minimum of 2 more years with the top job. there is a pretty good chance he will be siting in 6th before he is done. the reason? he has proven he is very, very competent.
The pundits/critics said Stephen Harper was ‘unelectable’,
then, once elected, they said PMSH wouldn’t last a year into his first mandate….
a coalition of 3 men tried, but failed to replace PMSH.
Credit goes also to the Harper team of MPs and advisors, and especially Laureen.