Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement rejecting Zimbabwe’s presidential runoff election of June 27, 2008 as illegitimate:

"Zimbabwe’s opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew from the presidential runoff because he considered the election environment to have been contaminated by violence and intimidation instigated by President Robert Mugabe and his government. Canada agrees fully with that assessment.

"Because no opposition candidate was fully engaged in the runoff election, Canada refuses to accept that the results are an indication of the will of the Zimbabwean people. This ‘election’ was stolen.

Read full article: 'CANADA REJECTS ZIMBABWE’S STOLEN ELECTION'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today became the first Canadian to receive the B’nai Brith International President’s Gold Medallion, in recognition of the Government’s efforts to fight discrimination and uphold human rights in Canada and around the world. The Prime Minister received the award at B’nai Brith International’s Board of Governors meetings, held in conjunction with the B’nai Brith Canada annual Policy Conference, the first time such a joint meeting has been held outside the United States.

“The award of the Gold Medallion generously acknowledges that the actions of our Government are guided by the principle that hate and discrimination have no place in a civilized society,” Prime Minister Harper said. “It’s a special honour to be so recognized by one of the world’s largest and oldest human rights organizations.”

Read full article: 'PM receives international human rights award'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the following changes to the Ministry at a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall:

* The Honourable David Emerson, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, continues his work to strengthen Canada’s place in the world and to promote Canada's values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
* The Honourable Michael Fortier, in becoming Minister of International Trade, will keep advancing Canada’s trade interests in the Americas and around the world to open up new markets for Canada’s innovators;
* The Honourable Christian Paradis becomes Minister of Public Works and Government Services and continues his important work in support of one of Canada’s key industries as Secretary of State (Agriculture); and
* The Honourable James Moore becomes Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages). Mr. Moore is a fluently bilingual British Columbian who is well suited for these assignments.

Read full article: 'PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE MINISTRY'

Today Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following statement to mark the fourth annual National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism:

“On this day, the anniversary of the worst terrorist incident in Canadian history – the bombing of Air India flight 182 – we pause to remember those who have lost their lives through acts of terror here in Canada and around the world.

“As incidents such as the bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, and the attacks of September 11, 2001, have shown, Canadians are not immune from the threat of terrorism.

Read full article: 'Statement from the Prime Minister on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today:

“June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, reminds us all of the great and rich Quebecois and French-Canadian experience. It is an ideal opportunity for Quebecers to celebrate an exceptional history. We’ve celebrated la Fête nationale for a long time, well before the Quiet Revolution, even before Confederation.

Today we mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day knowing that the Parliament of all of Canada has recognized that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.

Read full article: 'STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE OCCASION OF SAINT-JEAN BAPTISTE DAY'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that effective immediately RCMP Cadets will receive an allowance of $500 per week for the duration of their 24-week training period.

“Our goal is to make the choice of a career as a Mountie all the more attractive for the legions of smart, fit, dedicated young Canadian men and women who dream of becoming RCMP officers,” said Prime Minister Harper, who was joined at the announcement by Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Stockwell Day. “This will help cadets meet financial obligations that they cannot ignore during training.”

Read full article: 'PM announces RCMP Cadet training pay to boost recruitment 20 June 2008'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison, today announced that the three levels of government are joining together to build the South River Crossing bridge and complete the Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest Project.

“The Saskatoon Circle Drive Southwest Project will ease traffic congestion throughout the city and help keep the local and provincial economy growing by improving its connections to markets across the continent and around the world,” said the Prime Minister. “It will reduce fuel consumption and expense, improve city air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and shorten commute times.”

Read full article: 'PM announces new bridge to complete ring road and ease traffic congestion in Saskatoon'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on National Aboriginal Day:

“June 21st is a day for all Canadians to celebrate the cultures of Aboriginal people whether they are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. This year marks 400 years of common history between Aboriginal people and the first settlers.

“Together, we have made significant progress and have achieved concrete results on a range of Aboriginal issues, including land claims, education, housing, child and family services, safe drinking water, economic opportunity and the extension of human rights protection to First Nations individuals on reserve.

Read full article: 'Statement by the Prime Minister on National Aboriginal Day'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the 2010 G8 Summit will be held at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. It will be the fifth G8 Summit hosted by Canada since the country joined the prestigious international organization in 1976. The Prime Minister was joined at the announcement by Tony Clement, Canada’s Health Minister and Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka.

“Huntsville is a jewel in the Canadian Shield and an ideal location for this gathering of world leaders,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Our international guests will be charmed by the uniquely Canadian beauty of the region and by the warm hospitality of Muskokans.”

Read full article: 'Prime Minister announces Canada to host 2010 G8 Summit in Huntsville'

Despite calling it bad policy and committing to never implementing a carbon tax, today Stéphane Dion broke his word to Canadians as he publicly announced plans to impose a permanent new tax that would punish taxpayers at a time of rising prices. He dubbed his new tax grab a “green shift”.

“The only ‘green shift’ that would occur is the shifting of money out of your wallet and into Mr. Dion’s coffers,” said Conservative MP Jason Kenney after Dion’s announcement.

Read full article: 'Dion’s Carbon Tax Flip-Flop Will Punish Taxpayers'

Today, hours before Stephane Dion launches his carbon tax attack on Canadians, Liberal agriculture critic Wayne Easter and two of his caucus colleagues flatly rejected Stephane Dion’s Carbon Tax saying it will impose an unsustainable financial hardship on farmers and farm families. During a meeting of the Parliamentary Agricultural Committee today, Liberal MPs Wayne Easter, Omar Alghabra, and Lloyd St. Amand voted in favour of a Conservative Government motion to protect Canadian farm families from a Mr. Dion’s punitive, regressive Carbon Tax.

“Liberal MPs are rejecting their own leader’s tax increase and recognizing the pain this would inflict on our hardworking Canadian farm families and all Canadians for that matter,” said Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “How does Mr. Dion expect farmers to compete in this highly competitive global economy by imposing a tax on every farm input cost? Prices for everything from diesel to fertilizer would skyrocket as a result of the Dion Carbon Tax.”

Read full article: 'Liberal MPs Reject Their Own Party’s Carbon Tax'

On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an historic formal apology today to former students of Indian Residential Schools and sought forgiveness for the students’ suffering and for the damaging impact the schools had on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language.

“The treatment of children in Indian Residential Schools is a sad chapter in our history,” Prime Minister Harper said. “Today, we recognize this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly.”

Read full article: 'Prime Minister Harper offers full apology on behalf of Canadians for the Indian Residential Schools System'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity Jason Kenney and Alberta Member of Parliament Blaine Calkins, chair of the Canada-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group, met today with members of the Polish community to celebrate three important milestones in the history of Poles in Canada.

2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the first Polish settlement in Canada in the Kaszuby region west of Ottawa, the 100th anniversary of the birth of the thriving Polish community in Windsor, and the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Polish Congress, the national voice of Canadians of Polish descent.

Read full article: 'PRIME MINISTER HARPER CELEBRATES HISTORIC MILESTONES OF THE POLISH COMMUNITY IN CANADA'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, met today to begin a four-day working visit. At the conclusion of their meetings, the two leaders signed a declaration covering several memoranda of understanding designed to strengthen relations between Canada and Chile.

“The Canada-Chile relationship is a model of successful partnership in our hemisphere,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It prospers not only because of growing trade between our nations, but also because of our mutual commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”

Read full article: 'PM and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet strengthen Canada-Chile relations'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today on the death of a Canadian soldier:

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of Captain Jonathan (Jon) Sutherland Snyder, who died in a tragic accident while training members of the Afghan National Army in Afghanistan.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of Captain Snyder. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

Read full article: 'STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER HARPER ON THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN JONATHAN (JON) SUTHERLAND SNYDER'