Harper’s new lease on life
Nearly a year after election defeat, former PM gives up his Commons seat
OTTAWA— Stephen Harper has lined up an impressive and potentially lucrative post-politics career that includes a new consulting business with international clients, board directorships and joining a speakers’ bureau.
Harper, 57, formally resigned Friday as MP for Calgary Heritage, officially ending a political career that spanned more than two decades, including nearly 10 years as prime minster and almost 18 years in the House of Commons.
But he’s quickly moving into a series of new business ventures that will see the former prime minister put his economic expertise and vast network of global contacts to good use.
Harper will travel around the world advising corporate clients in regions like Europe, Asia and the Middle East on market access, as well as political, economic and security risks, says a source close to the former prime minister who’s familiar with his plans.
He is also launching his own Calgary-based consulting business — Harper & Associates Consulting Inc. — in partnership with his former chief of staff, Ray Novak, longtime trusted aide Jeremy Hunt and Rachel Curran, his former director of policy in the Prime Minister’s Office.
“He has got a lot of energy. He wants to build something new and be successful at doing that,” said a source.
“The focus really will be international. He’ll be doing a lot of travelling and meeting with clients.”
Harper will also associate his consulting business with a major law firm, an agreement that is expected to be announced in the next few weeks, said a source.
As well, he will join the boards of directors of at least a few major companies in the near future and sign up with a speakers’ bureau.
“He will continue to travel and speak around the world,” said a source.
On the consulting side, expect Harper to focus on advising corporate clients in regions where he is familiar with the political and economic situation, and has helped secure trade deals, including in Europe (the Canada-European Union trade deal), Asia (the trans-Pacific Partnership) and South Korea (Canada-Korea trade agreement).
Another key interest will be in the Middle East, and especially Israel.
“Those are all jurisdictions where he’s kind of very familiar with how things operate and he has got a real interest in maintaining those relationships,” said a source.
“The point is to help his clients to better frame business decisions and maximize value.”
Harper announced his resignation as MP through a message and video posted Friday to his Facebook account, and in a statement soon after to the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
The icon and political giant of the modern-day Conservative movement said it has been a “tremendous honour” representing Calgary in Parliament and thanked voters for electing him seven times.
He highlighted his government’s efforts to cut taxes, balance the budget, crack down on crime, shepherd the economy through the global economic downturn and take “principled decisions” on foreign policy.
Harper stayed on as an MP after his government’s defeat last fall, not wanting to look like he was abandoning the constituents who had just re-elected him.
Yet, he stayed out of the spotlight to avoid becoming a distraction for interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose and the party as it rebuilds and prepares to select a new leader.
“The record prime minister Harper leaves in office is a proud one,” Ambrose said Friday in a lengthy emailed statement saluting him for his efforts on foreign policy, the economy and taxes, among other areas.
Harper was the sixth-longestserving prime minister in Canadian history and the second-longest Conservative PM, behind John A. Macdonald.