Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper is leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and has been Canadian Prime Minister since 2006.

Harper officially dissolved Parliament on September 7, 2008 so that an early general election could be called as early as October 14.CBC News: PM expected to launch election campaign Sunday (September 4, 2008) Financial Times: Canadian PM hints at general election (August 27, 2008) After failing to win a majority in this October election, Harper won the right to suspend the Parliament through 2009, preventing his ouster by opposition parties by another seven weeks.Bloomberg.com: Harper Suspends Canada Parliament to Avert Defeat (December 4, 2008) As the opposition Canada Parliament Coalition collapsed in late-January 2009, Harper scored a political victory after the majority opposition party Liberals offered full support for a Conservative proposed budget.Reuters: Canada govt survives as opposition coalition dies

In 2002, Harper was elected leader of the Canadian Alliance and became the Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. From there, he negotiated and agreement with the Progressive Conservative Party's leader, Peter MacKay. The two merged parties to form the Conservative Party of Canada in 2003.

Harper's Conservative Party of Canada won a minority government in the 2006 parliamentary elections to make Harper the new party's first Prime Minister. He is also the first Prime Minster in 12 years not to be affiliated with the Liberal Party.

• CBC News: Stephen Harper Timeline

• April 30, 1959: Born in Toronto, Ontario

• 1988: Runs unsuccessfully for Canadian House of Commons

• 1993-1997: Member of Parliament representing Calgary West

• March 20, 2002: Wins leadership of Canadian Alliance

• May, 2002: Officially made Leader of the Opposition

• January 12, 2004: Resigns as Leader of the Opposition

• March 20, 2004: Becomes leader of the newly-formed Conservative Party of Canada

• February 6, 2006: Assumes office as 22nd Prime Minister of Canada