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A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article on Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper published in a previous issue of "Economist."

The article offers Canadian political news briefs. Former Canadian Minister of State Helena Guergis will run as an Independent Conservative in the Canadian House of Commons elections in 2012. Insurance agent Jacques Pinet speaks about how he is often mistaken for Canadian House leader John Baird. A fundraiser was held for Liberal Member of Canadian Parliament Hedy Fry.

The article discusses René Lévesque, a Canadian political figure and founder of the Parti Québécois. The central focus of the article is the author's contention that whatever his personal failings Lévesque represented Canadian values such honesty, moderate political views and the advocacy of democratic representation.

The article discusses Ed Stelmach, the premier of the Canadian province of Alberta. According to the author a 2008 landslide re-election for his Progressive Conservative Party in Alberta has raised Stelmach's popularity and has given him a significant voice in national politics. Stelmach's anti-environmental, pro-development positions are examined.

A list of events related to Canada's land claim system is presented, including the 1947 Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons recommendation to establish a commission to manage claims, establishment of the Indian Specific Claims Commission (ISCC) in 1991, and the government's proposed reforms to the specific claims process in June 2007.

This article presents the author's opinion regarding the Canadian Liberal Party. He compares the 2006 elections for Canada's Parliament with a meeting of Liberal Party members, convened by Lester Pearson and organized by Mitchell Sharp, in 1960. This meeting in Kingston, Ontario brought about the rebirth of the Liberal Party in Canada.

The author comments on Canadian politics and the Liberal Party, in light of an upcoming June election. Liberal MPs have spent much of their time lately staring at the Opposition benches with the evident distaste of a debutante whose dinner guest uses the wrong salad fork. But the Liberals may yet learn there is something they like even less than an opposition full of Conservatives. That's an opposition full of Liberals--and not very many of them either. If the voters hand the Liberals that ticket to the wilderness, the party will be tempted by memories of Pierre Trudeau. It would be so much better for Paul Martin and the Liberals to take defeat--as a long-overdue cue to renew. The Liberals cruelly lack young talent. They haven't taken a comprehensive look at their values since the 1991 conference in Aylmer, Que. And they're mighty low on leadership stock.

The article highlights the career of Robert Stanfield who died last week in Ottawa at 90 and was eulogized for his decency in public life, his commitment to Quebec's role in Confederation and a Burkean view of social policies that defies the prevailing neo-conservatism. All things seemed possible when Stanfield won Canada's first made-for-TV leadership convention in 1967. Many Canadians remember a Canadian Press photo showing Stanfield dropping a football during a break with reporters in the 1974 federal election campaign. After losing the 1968 election to Trudeau, Stanfield vacationed in Quebec for French-immersion sessions and strongly defended the Liberals' Official Languages Act. In 1978, Stanfield wed Anne Austin and they lived quietly in Ottawa's exclusive Rockcliffe Park.

This article discusses recent elections in Ontario. When Ontario's Liberals secured a landslide victory in the provincial election of October 2nd, 2003, they also produced a political situation that Canada has not seen for 60 years. Given that the Quebec Liberals routed the separatists in their election in April, Liberals now control the two largest provinces, which together account for about two-thirds of the country's total population, economy and trade. Canada is looking increasingly like a one-party state. In the past, Canadian voters have maintained a political balance by electing different parties at provincial and federal levels. To his credit -- and, it seems, to his benefit -- Dalton McGuinty ran a high-minded campaign, ignoring the personal attacks that Ernie Eves, the normally courteous outgoing Conservative premier, allowed his backroom staff to launch. Among other slurs, they alleged that Mr McGuinty was "a kitten-eating alien." But while clean, Mr. McGuinty's campaign could prove expensive, and he will welcome any help his fellow premiers can offer as he sets about winkling money out of Ottawa to meet his election promises. His costly platform included pledges to keep class sizes for young pupils to a maximum of 20 students, which will require more teachers and classrooms, and to hire 8,000 nurses to help revive the health service.

Comments on Canadian political leadership, and offers suggestions regarding how Alliance party leader Stephen Harper could compete against the Liberal Party of Quebec. Opinion that Harper should learn from the accomplishments of Progressive Conservative leader John Diefenbaker during the 1965 federal election; Opinion that conservatives can gain votes in western Canada by focusing on Liberal Party corruption.

Offers observations on the impact of political changes in the 1960s on contemporary Canadian politics. Criticism of the response of conservatives to these changes; Contributions of liberals during this era; Forecast for the political future of Christian conservatives.

Reports on comments made by Jane Stewart, minister of Human Resources Development Canada. Stewart's opinion that Canadian companies are not, as of April, 2001, doing a good enough job training employees; Opinion that if the Canadian government wants to encourage private-sector skills training, it should create a tax and regulatory environment that encourages growth.

Compares the Canadian federal elections which will take place in November, 2000 to the 1972 Canadian federal elections. Strategies of the New Democratic Party in 1972 and the Canadian Alliance in 2000; Strength of the economy during both elections; Liberal Party complacency during both campaigns.

Discusses the state of the Canadian political parties in the wake of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's death. Attempts made by Prime Minister Jean Chretien to capitalize on Trudeau's popularity; Details of the after-effects of Trudeau's domestic policy; Possibility of the Liberal Party being pushed into a minority after the next election.

Focuses on former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Comparison to Canadian Prime Minster Jean Chretien; Reasons which the author believes that Trudeau is a hero; Assertion that his death will expand his stature; Career highlights.

Profiles former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, focusing on his career in politics. Career highlights, including the decriminalization of homosexual acts between consenting adults; How he changed Canadian politics; Belief that his weakest areas of governing were the domestic economy and foreign policy.

Recalls the relationship of the author, a reporter, with former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. First meeting in 1968; Trudeau's contempt for the press; Anecdote about Trudeau as a cheapskate.

Reports on the celebration of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's 80th birthday on October 18, 1999. Guests at the dinner; Absence of women; Celebration of the era under Trudeau's rule as well as of Trudeau himself. INSETS: Best-sellers.;Communicating in a void..

Presents the author's thoughts on three of Canada's prime ministers and what they have offered on an international basis. Brian Mulroney's Meech Lake constitutional agreement of 1987 which laid the groundwork for a free trade agreement with the United States; Pierre Trudeau's Official Languages Act which established that French and English would be treated as equal on the federal level; How Jean Chretien has worked to renovate the government of Canada as he enters his sixth year as prime minister in 1999.

Presents opinions about Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien. His failure to establish any meaningful legacy in his five years as prime minister; His career in politics; How Canadian politics have become predictable; Comparison to Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney; The impact of globalization on Canada's future.

Comments on similarities between the Liberal government of Louis St. Laurent in the mid-1950s and the Liberal government of Jean Chretien in the late 1990s. The 1949 and 1957 election campaigns of Laurent; How the Tories or Reform Party will fare in 1999.

Focuses on former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's best-selling book, `Memoirs.' October Crisis of 1970 that leaves some serious questions unanswered; Details of the events involving the kidnappings of Pierre Laporte, a senior minister in the Quebec government and British trade commissioner James Cross; Trudeau's negotiations with terrorists; More.

Looks back at the career of Canada's newly elected prime minister Jean Chretien. Two women who helped him along; Personal background; His first year in Ottawa in 1963; His position as a junior cabinet minister; Known as being famously impatient over detail.

Comments on the vision of Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to develop the Canadian sub-Arctic frontier. Revelation that the private sector has already started working towards the vision of Diefenbaker; Assertion that Diefenbaker is in the position to become a great president like former U.S. President Andrew Jackson; Factor that could hamper the business on the Arctic region.

Canadian provincial government takes minority stake in the new aircraft programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Canadian-owned publisher of children's books Kids Can Press (KCP). Topics include the role that the political climate in Canada played in the founding of KCP by former professor at the Ontario College of Art in Canada, Frieda Forman, and her students in 1973, KCP's students involved in its running as a collective, including Angela Wood, Priscilla Carrier Fitting, and Valerie Hussey, and KCP as a private company co-owned by Ricky Englander and Hussey.