Tory Redux

When Common Sense Governed

February 19, 2026

The legacy of Stephen Harper has dominated political discourse this week, and for good reason. As someone who came of age politically during Harper’s leadership, I’ve had time to reflect on what his tenure meant for Canada and what we’ve lost since.

I first got interested in politics, like many in my generation, by Stephen Harper’s run for prime minister in 2004. By 2006, after 13 years of Liberal rule that had grown stale and directionless, it became clear that Harper’s vision offered the change our country desperately needed.

That election year, I volunteered for Terence Young’s campaign in my riding, who went on to become our Member of Parliament. At university, I threw myself into grassroots activism as a Young Conservative, knocking on doors, organizing events, and learning a fundamental truth that still holds today: common sense wins elections. This week’s commemoration, including the unveiling of Harper’s official portrait in Parliament and Pierre Poilievre’s tribute in the House of Commons, has sparked a necessary conversation about what effective leadership actually looks like.

The contrast between then and now is stark. By the early 2010s, Canada’s middle class had reached unprecedented strength. While after-tax incomes stagnated in the United States, they were rising here at home. Families experienced tangible tax relief through measures like the GST cut and the creation of the Tax-Free Savings Account. These weren’t flashy announcements; they were substantive policy changes that gave Canadians more room to save, plan, and build better futures for themselves.

When the 2008 financial crisis struck, Canada emerged as the strongest economy in the G7. This wasn’t luck or a happy circumstance. It was the result of focused economic planning, disciplined fiscal management, and a commitment to returning to balanced budgets. Canada achieved the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio among G7 nations, positioning us as a model of economic stability during global uncertainty.

Beyond our borders, the Harper government expanded Canada’s trade relationships beyond our traditional dependence on the United States, opening new markets in Europe and South Korea. Canada asserted its Arctic sovereignty, stood firmly with democratic allies, and led internationally on maternal and child health through the Muskoka Initiative. These weren’t performative gestures — they were concrete actions that advanced Canadian interests and values on the world stage.

This week marked the 20th anniversary of that pivotal 2006 election, with Harper himself delivering Wednesday’s keynote address. Watching the commemorations, I couldn’t help but reflect on what we’ve witnessed in Canadian politics since. The current government has given us soaring rhetoric and progressive branding, but where are the results? Housing has become unaffordable for an entire generation. Inflation has eaten away at family budgets. Our debt has ballooned while productivity has stagnated.

The Harper years remind us that governing isn’t about crafting the perfect tweet or staging photogenic moments. It’s about making tough decisions, managing the public’s money responsibly, and delivering measurable improvements in people’s lives. It’s about building economic conditions where hard work actually leads to prosperity, not just more exhaustion.

Some critics have dismissed this week’s events as nostalgia or partisan cheerleading. I see it differently. This is about establishing a standard for what constitutes serious governance. It’s about reminding Canadians that we’ve experienced better — that a strong, stable, confident government focused on results rather than slogans is not only possible but something we’ve achieved in recent memory.

As we reflect on the Harper legacy, the question isn’t whether we agree with every policy decision made during those years. The question is whether we want a government that prioritizes results over rhetoric, substance over style, and the economic well-being of everyday Canadians over virtue signalling to international audiences.

This week has been more than a commemoration of one man’s service. It’s been a reminder of what Canadian governance can achieve when leadership is focused, disciplined, and committed to delivering for the middle class. As we face mounting economic challenges and an increasingly unstable world, perhaps the most significant lesson from the Harper years is simply this: serious times demand serious leadership.

The real test is whether we’ll demand that standard again.
Canada is leading the G7 in food inflation.

January 25, 2026

Stock image of a person buying groceries

In 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney told Canadians to judge his government by the price of groceries. It was a bold promise and a fair one. Food is the most honest economic indicator there is. No spin. No press release. Just the bill at the till.

The average Canadian family is now forced to spend more than $1,000 extra a year. This expense is just to put food on the table.

With food inflation soaring, this is no longer about affording niceties. People are struggling to afford essentials. Canada now has some of the worst food inflation in the G7. Europe and the United States can lower prices. Why can’t Canada do the same? The burden falls hardest on those who can least afford it. Unsurprisingly, food bank use has surged across the country in recent years.

For generations, the Canadian deal was simple: a modest life built around simple meals, meat and potatoes on the table. Even that fundamental promise is breaking down. Canadians are being priced out of essentials, and our country is topping all the wrong lists. According to recent agri-food data, staples like coffee and beef were once everyday items. Now they are among the products most affected by food inflation.

Breaking: Canada now leads the G7 in rising food inflation

We’re topping the wrong list. pic.twitter.com/WPujCdlDps
— Jon Siemko (@Jonsiemko) January 23, 2026

This isn’t just an economic problem. It’s a societal one. When people can’t afford the basics, they lose faith that hard work will ever get them ahead. And when healthier food options become unaffordable, families are pushed toward cheaper, highly processed alternatives.

That has real consequences. Poorer diets lead to worse health outcomes, more chronic illness, and greater strain on an already overburdened health-care system. Food prices are effectively a shadow tax. This tax hits low- and middle-income Canadians the hardest. It reduces quality of life and cuts productive years short.

When Canadians can’t afford to eat well, the cost doesn’t disappear. The effects later in hospitals. There is also lost productivity. Additionally, there is a growing sense that it is no longer working for them.

When governments tax production, transportation, and energy, families pay at the checkout. If other G7 countries can bring prices down, Canada can too—but only if affordability becomes a priority again
looked back at Stephen Harper, a decade of Canadian Prosperity

January 14, 2026
Earlier this month, it was announced that former Prime Minister Stephen Harper will finally have his portrait unveiled in Parliament. For Canadian political leaders, this tradition often serves as the capstone of a public career. It is a formal and long-standing recognition of service to the country.

The unveiling will naturally prompt renewed reflection on Harper’s full record in office. Commentators, political figures, and Canadians alike will revisit his years in power. They will weigh his decisions, priorities, and long-term impact on the country.

The ceremony takes place in February. It coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Conservative Party’s first minority government. This coincidence adds historical weight to the moment. It marks an opportunity to step back from daily politics and assess a defining chapter in modern Canadian history.

Under Harper, Canada experienced a decade marked by stability, economic resilience, and clear governing priorities. While opinions will vary, his time in office left a lasting imprint on the country.

Here are a few of the key accomplishments that continue to shape his legacy.

Stephen Harper’s Record: The Facts Still Matter
1. A Stronger Middle Class
By 2012–2014, Canada’s middle class was the wealthiest in the world, surpassing the United States for the first time. While U.S. incomes stagnated, Canadian after-tax incomes rose, driven by steady growth and targeted tax relief.

2 Real Tax Relief for Families

The GST was cut from 7% to 5%, leaving billions in Canadians’ pockets. The introduction of the TFSA gave families a powerful, tax-free way to save. It remains one of the most popular financial tools in the country.

3 Global Economic Leadership

Canada emerged from the 2008 financial crisis stronger than any of its G7 peers. The Economic Action Plan supported recovery. It returned the budget to balance by 2015. It also kept Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio the lowest in the G7.

4 Expanding Trade Beyond the U.S.

Canada went from free-trade agreements with just five countries to over fifty. Landmark deals with Europe and South Korea opened new markets and reduced our dependence on a single trading partner.

5 Defending Sovereignty and Principles, Arctic sovereignty became a national priority, backed by a stronger military presence in the North. Internationally, Canada pursued a principled foreign policy. It stood firmly with democratic allies. Additionally, it led to maternal and child health through the Muskoka Initiative.

In fact, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper has grown more popular since leaving office in 2015. A recent poll conducted by Research Co. ranked Harper second among Canada’s prime ministers since 1968.

As we consider the Harper government, we see its clear record of accomplishment. This record stands as the true legacy of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It improved the lives of Canadians and served as a principled moral voice on the world stage.

That legacy includes a full decade of strong, stable Conservative government for Canada.
The Political Risks of Crossing the Floor: A Betrayal of Voters

December 17, 2025

Crossing the floor has always carried a heavy political price, and for good reason. When voters cast a ballot, they aren’t just choosing a name. They’re endorsing a set of values, a platform, and a team. That’s why Michael Ma’s decision to cross the floor feels like a betrayal. It feels like a slap in the face to the very people who helped put him in office.

MP Michael Ma must return to his constituents. He needs to explain why he now supports the Liberal government’s inaction. Meanwhile, Canadians continue to struggle with rising food prices. They also face ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

Voters in Markham–Unionville didn’t elect an independent free agent. They elected a representative aligned with a specific political banner and its accompanying commitments. Floor crossing breaks that basic trust. It tells voters that the promises made during an election campaign were conditional or, worse, disposable.

Defenders of floor crossing often frame it as an act of conscience or principle. Sometimes, in rare circumstances, that may be true. But more often than not, it looks like political convenience dressed up as moral courage. Yes, Canada adopted the Westminster-style parliamentary system from Britain. This included the technical ability for individual MPs to cross the floor. But legality isn’t legitimacy. Just because the rules allow it doesn’t mean it’s right. This is especially true when it betrays the voters who entrusted their support to a clear platform and party banner. If an elected official truly believes they can no longer represent voters under the platform for which they were elected, they should resign. They should step down. They ought to seek a new mandate honestly. It is honest to seek a new mandate.

That’s what accountability looks like. Anything less asks voters to accept a bait-and-switch that they never agreed to.

When Members of Parliament continue to cross the floor like this, it only deepens cynicism about elections. Voters are left asking a fundamental question: What is the point of their vote? Politicians can change their minds so abruptly after being elected.

Voter turnout is already trending downwards. Public confidence in institutions is under strain. Actions like this only make things worse. Democracy depends on clarity and consent. Floor crossing muddies both.

Ultimately, this isn’t about partisanship. It’s about respect. Respect for voters. Respect for the electoral process. And respect for the idea that political power is borrowed

The people of Markham–Unionville deserve much better.
Canada’s youth are becoming the most conservative in the West

November 25, 2025

Recently, Tristan Hopper of the National Post examined the growing generational divide within Canada’s electorate. Increasingly, young Canadians are emerging as the more conservative demographic. They have spent a decade watching government mismanagement drive up debts and deficits. This has widened inequality and left them with fewer opportunities than their parents and grandparents.

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Young Canadians are more skeptical of big government than their peers abroad. They are especially skeptical about spending, debt, and state intervention. This skepticism influences their political attitudes.

Canada is becoming an outlier in the West. Young adults are adopting views that challenge the typical progressive narrative linked to their age group. This change highlights a distinct shift in Canadian political attitudes.

Young Canadians are not shifting to the right because of ideology. They want more than just the promise of lower taxes; they wish for a new deal for their generation.

This makes Canada an outlier in the West. While youth elsewhere drift left, young Canadians are challenging the old assumptions about what their generation should believe. They want accountability. They want affordability. They want a country where hard work leads to opportunity, not to higher rents and heavier tax burdens.
Their shift isn’t a retreat; it’s an act of agency. If we are willing to listen, this is the most hopeful sign yet. This suggests that a rising generation is ready to rebuild what has been lost.