--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Stephen] Harper had said he would use…" description: "\"“[Stephen] Harper had said he would use all legal means, and what [John] Baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. If the gover..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/lawrence-martin-40750_canada_stephen-harper-had-said-he-would-use-all_1053260.jpg" --- # \[Stephen\] Harper had said he would use all legal means… ![“[Stephen] Harper had said he would use all legal means, and what [John] Baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. If the governor general had refused his request, he could have replaced her with a more compliant one, making the case to the Queen that the people of Canada…” quote by Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/lawrence-martin-40750_canada_stephen-harper-had-said-he-would-use-all_1053260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/lawrence-martin-40750_canada_stephen-harper-had-said-he-would-use-all_1053260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/lawrence-martin-40750_canada_stephen-harper-had-said-he-would-use-all_1053260.jpg) > ““\[Stephen\] Harper had said he would use all legal means, and what \[John\] Baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. If the governor general had refused his request, he could have replaced her with a more compliant one, making the case to the Queen that the people of Canada were opposed in great numbers to a coalition replacing his government.”” [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A political analysis describing how a leader might manipulate constitutional mechanisms to retain power, highlighting potential overreach. **In simple terms:** Potential abuse of legal tools for political gain. Key Takeaway Guard democratic institutions. Themes political power constitutional law democracy ethics leadership Mood concerned critical Type analytical informative When to use this quote - government negotiations - parliamentary votes - judicial reviews - public protests Key Concepts authoritarianism legal loopholes political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect against executive overreach? - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? A Different Perspective Legal constraints may limit such tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [Canadian history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canadian-history/) [Canadian-politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canadian-politics/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Stephen-harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-harper/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Harper\] once told a friend, "I think about strategy twenty-four hours a day," and it was only a small exaggeration.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/harper-once-told-a-friend-i-think-about-strategy-twenty-four-hours-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “Earlier in \[2007\] the \[Prime Minister's Office\] had also drawn criticism for trying to muzzle the judiciary. The reproach came from Antonio Lamer, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/earlier-in-2007-the-prime-minister-s-office-had-also-drawn-criticism/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “As opposition leader, \[Stephen Harper\] wrote in the Montreal Gazette in the year before he came to power: 'Information is the lifeblood of a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/as-opposition-leader-stephen-harper-wrote-in-the-montreal-gazette-in/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“Attempts to thwart or muzzle the media continued as well. At a conservative caucus meeting in Charlottetown in August 2007, journalists assembled in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/attempts-to-thwart-or-muzzle-the-media-continued-as-well-at-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“Bill C-9 was supposed to be a budget bill, but it came with innumerable measures that had little or nothing to do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/bill-c-9-was-supposed-to-be-a-budget-bill-but-it-came-with/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“The real power in Ottawa, as in Washington, is in the executive branch. At the White House, there are daily briefings for reporters. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/the-real-power-in-ottawa-as-in-washington-is-in-the-executive-branch/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “The conservatives had started bringing demagoguery to the table on the \[Afghan\] war issue the previous fall \[fall 2006\]. Whenever opposition members criticized the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/the-conservatives-had-started-bringing-demagoguery-to-the-table-on/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“In the run-up to the election, Stephen Harper had rolled out the rhetoric on the need for clean and transparent government, expressing frustration with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/in-the-run-up-to-the-election-stephen-harper-had-rolled-out-the/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “For \[Stephen\] Harper, a national daycare plan bordered on being a socialist scheme, a phrase he had once used to describe the Kyoto Protocol… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/for-stephen-harper-a-national-daycare-plan-bordered-on-being-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [Part of the role that I am fulfilling as Governor General is to highlight what communities can do together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/part-of-the-role-that-i-am-fulfilling-as-governor-general-is-to/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [Like the Governor-General, when asked what you enjoy most about the job my tendency is to say "today", because of the insights you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/like-the-governor-general-when-asked-what-you-enjoy-most-about-the/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Well may we say 'God save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/well-may-we-say-god-save-the-queen-because-nothing-will-save-the/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [So, my friends, in a week or so the Governor-General will swear in a new government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/so-my-friends-in-a-week-or-so-the-governor-general-will-swear-in-a/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, well may we say 'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General. The proclamation you have just heard was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gough-whitlam/ladies-and-gentlemen-well-may-we-say-god-save-the-queen-because/) [Gough Whitlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gough-whitlam/) > [If I am to be known for anything as governor-general, I would like it to be for encouraging Canadians, for knowing a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-leblanc/if-i-am-to-be-known-for-anything-as-governor-general-i-would-like-it/) [Romeo LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-leblanc/) ## More by Lawrence Martin > [ “The conservatives had started bringing demagoguery to the table on the \[Afghan\] war issue the previous fall \[fall 2006\]. Whenever opposition members criticized the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/the-conservatives-had-started-bringing-demagoguery-to-the-table-on/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“Bill C-9 was supposed to be a budget bill, but it came with innumerable measures that had little or nothing to do with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/bill-c-9-was-supposed-to-be-a-budget-bill-but-it-came-with/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “As opposition leader, \[Stephen Harper\] wrote in the Montreal Gazette in the year before he came to power: 'Information is the lifeblood of a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/as-opposition-leader-stephen-harper-wrote-in-the-montreal-gazette-in/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “\[Harper\] once told a friend, "I think about strategy twenty-four hours a day," and it was only a small exaggeration.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/harper-once-told-a-friend-i-think-about-strategy-twenty-four-hours-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “Earlier in \[2007\] the \[Prime Minister's Office\] had also drawn criticism for trying to muzzle the judiciary. The reproach came from Antonio Lamer, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/earlier-in-2007-the-prime-minister-s-office-had-also-drawn-criticism/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [ “For \[Stephen\] Harper, a national daycare plan bordered on being a socialist scheme, a phrase he had once used to describe the Kyoto Protocol… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/for-stephen-harper-a-national-daycare-plan-bordered-on-being-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“Attempts to thwart or muzzle the media continued as well. At a conservative caucus meeting in Charlottetown in August 2007, journalists assembled in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/attempts-to-thwart-or-muzzle-the-media-continued-as-well-at-a/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“The real power in Ottawa, as in Washington, is in the executive branch. At the White House, there are daily briefings for reporters. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/the-real-power-in-ottawa-as-in-washington-is-in-the-executive-branch/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) > [“In the run-up to the election, Stephen Harper had rolled out the rhetoric on the need for clean and transparent government, expressing frustration with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-martin/in-the-run-up-to-the-election-stephen-harper-had-rolled-out-the/) [Lawrence Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) [Explore all 10 Lawrence Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-martin/) ## More Canada quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [“To be honest, it's a real relief to go to Canada where I can be among my relatives. Just the kind of break I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-puddicombe/to-be-honest-it-s-a-real-relief-to-go-to-canada-where-i-can-be-among/) [Ken Puddicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-puddicombe/) > [When I left Canada for Bayern, people said, 'You'll never make it. You'll be back in a year.' I stopped going to school because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/when-i-left-canada-for-bayern-people-said-you-ll-never-make-it-you-ll/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) > [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) [Browse all 1,873 Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[Stephen] Harper had said he would use all legal means, and what [John] Baird suggested was an option the prome minister was considering. 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