‘We must preserve Canada’: Stephen Harper calls for unity from Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre at the unveiling of his official portrait

“But that will require that in these perilous times, both parties, whatever their other differences, come together against external forces that threaten our independence and against domestic policies that threaten our unity.”

Harper suggested, in French and in English, the country’s very survival depends on it. “We must preserve Canada,” Harper went on. “We must make any sacrifice necessary to preserve the independence and the unity of this blessed land.”

Carney, who had offered a generous tribute to Harper’s record as a politician of conviction and “pragmatism,” and Poilievre, whom Harper had called “my leader,” applauded the statement on the eve of their sit-down meeting Wednesday. They didn’t, however, appear to mingle together afterward.

The Liberal prime minister acknowledged he receives advice from Harper as the Star first reported, “which I have greatly appreciated.”

He said Harper “brought composure” while seeing Canada through the 2008 global financial crisis. At a time “when the world’s financial markets were in free fall, credit markets frozen, global banks failing, his government’s actions were decisive. Our institutions remained trusted. Canada stood strong,” Carney said.

Carney had “the privilege” of being named by Harper as Bank of Canada governor and, during that crisis, “our meetings were always frank, targeted and aimed at results,” he said.

The room erupted in applause when Carney said Harper came to Ottawa “as a balanced-budget conservative” who believed “rightly, that governments should live within their means”; Carney then laughingly tried to insert his next thought.

“But. When the financial crisis struck, he did not let ideology prevent him from doing what was necessary, running deficits for five years to support the Canadian economy through the worst global downturn in generations. This was not a betrayal of principles. It was an expression of a deeper principle. The purpose of sound fiscal management is to serve Canadians, not the other way around.”

It was a clear defence of Carney’s own approach, with the Liberals having projected a significant budget deficit of $78.3 billion this year alone.

Carney underscored Harper’s achievements in recognizing Quebecers as a nation within a united Canada and incorporating the concerns of Western Canada “not as a region to be managed, but as a core pillar of our national project.”

He compared Harper’s approach to his own, quoting Harper as saying that “in politics you take risks and that national unity, national reconciliation are more important than any one party or any one individual.”

“This room fully shares that vision,” Carney said, departing from his prepared text. 

Harper is “one of the greatest Prime Ministers we’ve ever had in my time,” said Premier Doug Ford. 

“A lot of politicians think they’re the smartest in the room. The fact is, he was the smartest of them,” Ford told the Star.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, another conservative ally, said in an interview there are lessons for today’s leaders. “I think the way that he approached international engagement, the growth of our economy is what we hope to see in the months and years ahead in our nation today.”

Harper’s appeal to Carney and Poilievre to pick their battles was much the same as he had made Monday from a different stage when Harper advised that the opposition should collaborate with the government “on big things like Canadian sovereignty” but warned the government should not exploit that co-operation for political advantage.

Political bonhomie was partly on display on the day Harper unveiled the massive painting by artist Phil Richards. It depicts him as a younger man in the prime minister’s Center Block office.

The painting contains 25 portraits and 25 flags, along with other symbolic references to Harper’s personal, political and professional life, the artist explained.

Richards won applause and laughs, especially from Harper and Carney, when he said he got to know a Harper personality that was very different than “that which had been created by the media.”

“What I saw was a brilliant, pragmatic intellectual with expansive interests and an authentic curiosity about the world around him, a talented historian, economist, writer and musician.”

The Sir John A. Macdonald building was jammed with hundreds of invited politicos, including former prime minister Jean Chretien, former governor general David Johnston, dozens of former cabinet ministers and caucus MPs, past political aides and advisers, ambassadors, senators and Harper’s house staff from 24 Sussex Drive.

It was a centrepiece event in a week marking the Conservatives’ 20-year anniversary of forming government under Harper’s leadership that many, including Conservatives, are dubbing “Harperpalooza” or, with a Wednesday gala event and keynote speech planned, “Harper Prom.” Harper held power from January 2006 to October 2015.

Earlier, all parties in the House of Commons gave Harper a standing ovation as he, his wife and daughter, and several former cabinet ministers attended Question Period. Poilievre hailed his presence and touted the Harper record, saying, “We look back on his many successes not just in nostalgia but with hope. Because it’s been done before, it can be done again.”