Portrait of Stephen Harper
Politician · person
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Stephen Harper on Justin Trudeau

Vocal critic (strong)

TL;DR

Stephen Harper maintains a strongly critical stance on Justin Trudeau's leadership and policy direction since his 2015 electoral defeat.

Key Points

  • He criticized the Trudeau government's large-scale deficit spending during the COVID-19 pandemic as "overkill" in a 2021 podcast appearance.

  • In October 2017, he criticized the current Prime Minister's handling of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

  • Footage from May 2025 showed the two leaders sharing jokes and laughs before the Speech from the Throne.

Summary

Stephen Harper's position on Justin Trudeau is characterized by strong public criticism spanning several years, particularly following the Liberal Party's victory in the 2015 federal election, which succeeded his tenure as Prime Minister. His critique has targeted numerous aspects of the government's agenda, including what he terms "overkill" deficit spending during the COVID-19 pandemic and the promotion of "woke culture." Furthermore, he criticized the administration's handling of foreign affairs and specific policy implementations, such as his assessment that the current Prime Minister was too eager to make concessions during NAFTA renegotiations and his criticisms regarding Chinese government interference in Canadian elections.

In the lead-up to his own defeat, Harper was noted for having underestimated his opponent, with one analysis suggesting that the mocking way he addressed Trudeau ultimately cost him the election in 2015. Since leaving office, Harper has positioned himself as a voice offering an alternative conservative perspective, openly supporting the Conservative Party's subsequent leadership contenders. Despite this adversarial public posture, footage from the 2025 opening of Parliament showed the two former rivals sharing a friendly moment, exchanging jokes and laughs, suggesting a complex dynamic beyond the political contest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stephen Harper is a vocal critic of Justin Trudeau, frequently expressing strong disagreement with his governance style and policy decisions since losing the 2015 election. His critique covers areas like fiscal management and social policy. This criticism is a key feature of his post-premiership public commentary.

His public stance remains largely negative and critical of the Prime Minister's tenure. However, in May 2025, he was observed in friendly conversation with Trudeau during a formal state event, suggesting that public political antagonism may not preclude private civility.

One analysis suggests that Stephen Harper underestimated Justin Trudeau and that the way he mocked his opponent contributed to his own electoral defeat in 2015. The Liberal Party, led by Trudeau, succeeded the Conservatives after that election.