Harper says Canada’s difficulties can’t all be blamed on Trump in gala speech

OTTAWA — Former prime minister Stephen Harper says Canada must adapt to new geopolitical realities, arguing that many of the country’s difficulties can’t be blamed on U.S. President Donald Trump.

Harper made remarks in front of a crowd of conservatives in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday for a gala dinner marking the 20th anniversary of his government.

In his speech, Harper said Canada is facing a unique challenge — a hostile U.S. government that has openly questioned Canadian sovereignty, broken trade commitments and that regularly makes threats against the country.

However, he said that while Canadians have been “shocked, bewildered and angry,” the country must focus on policy, not emotion.

“The question for Canada is not how we feel about what the U.S. is doing, it is how will we adapt,” said Harper.

He said that while many people in the business community believe things will go back to the way they were with the United States, he does not believe that is “a safe assumption.”

“Canada must adapt to new geopolitical realities,” Harper said.

The former prime minister argued that Canada must reduce its dependence on the U.S. to protect its sovereignty and economy. However, he said Canada must understand that the U.S. will remain its principal partner.

Harper argued that many of the country’s difficulties can’t be blamed on Trump but that “in too many cases” they stem from bad decisions from the government — a statement that earned him a round of applause from the crowd.

“The moment in history we now face can do one of two things. It can lead us to blame Donald Trump for all our ills and to make excuses for the failures of the last decade,” said Harper.

“Or it can lead us to finally, truly do what is necessary to attain our full potential as a country, to become more competitive at home and better connected in the world and to leave Canada the most secure, wealthiest and freest country on the planet.”

Harper was sworn in as prime minister in February 2006 and served in the role until November 2015, when he stepped down after his party was defeated by Justin Trudeau’s Liberals.

The Harper years brought some sweeping changes to Canada, including a cut to bring the GST to five per cent and some controversial tough-on-crime policies.

Harper also successfully introduced a motion in the House of Commons in 2006 that recognized the Québécois as “a nation within a united Canada,” and, in 2008, formally apologized on behalf of Canadians for the residential schools system.

At Wednesday’s event, Harper said that while the Trump administration poses a serious challenge, ahead of the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Canada has to defend both its industrial capacity and its potential to sell critical resources to world markets.

“We cannot permanently become a captive supplier to the U.S. market,” he said.

Harper said Canada needs more than a list of major projects, but that it needs to reinstate reforms his government enacted to streamline regulatory process and deliver decisions in a reasonable timeframe in order to attract global capital.

He added that Canada needs to build critical infrastructure, like another pipeline to the West Coast, “right now.”

“We live in an age of nationalism,” said Harper, adding that Canada must be united. “We Canadians have no less reason to be less nationalist than any other country.”

Harper argued that after 2015, many gains made by his government were either “reversed or squandered,” leaving Canada “so much weaker and more divided.”

Guests at the gala event included Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, former foreign affairs minister John Baird and Peter MacKay, co-founder of the modern Conservative Party of Canada.

Other dignitaries included ambassadors and high commissioners from 20 different countries, senators, former ministers, current and former premiers, and former prime ministers of Australia and Ireland.

The event kicked off with a clip from Harper’s election-night speech in 2006, and the crowd cheered as tributes, photos and videos of Harper throughout his years as prime minister played on a large projector.

Poilievre delivered remarks at the event, describing Harper as a mentor.

He said Harper was an “iron-strong leader” and said the former prime minister united a movement into a political party dedicated to serving people.

The gala is one of several events being held in the nation’s capital this week for what has been described by some as “Harperpalooza.”

Harper’s official portrait, painted by Canadian artist Phil Richards, was unveiled Tuesday.

On Monday, Harper received a gold medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in recognition of his career in public service and later spoke about Arctic sovereignty during a “fireside chat” with fellow former prime minister Jean Chrétien.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 4, 2026.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press