OTTAWA – On his final day as prime minister, Stephen Harper reached out to a public service which his government had a tense relationship with for the last nine years.
In a message sent to the entire government bureaucracy, he thanks them for the support they’ve shown his team over three successive Parliaments and for their dedication to the well-being of Canadians.
In the letter, Harper says he’s proud of the work he and his team have done with the public service to improve the prosperity, security and well-being of Canadians and improve Canada’s position in the world.
Among the unfinished business Harper leaves behind as he exits his job is the renewal of contracts for the hundreds of thousands of civil servants in Canada; the two sides have been locked in a long-standing battle on a number of factors, including sick leave and pensions.
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It is the latest irritant in a series of clashes during the Conservatives’ term in government, including the loss of 20,000 public sector jobs and complaints that civil servants were forced into more partisan approaches to policy development than was appropriate or muzzled altogether.
In his letter, Harper makes no mention of the tension.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for the support you have shown my team and me over three successive Parliaments and for the dedication you have demonstrated in delivering for Canadians,” he wrote in the letter.
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“It has been an honour to serve as prime minister of the greatest country in the world and I will always be grateful for the support of Canada’s world-class public service.”
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Harper officially resigns as prime minister on Wednesday, just ahead of the swearing-in of new Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On Thursday, Harper is expected to address the Conservative caucus, now in opposition, before they elect an interim leader; Harper stepped away from the leadership on election night.
He is still the member of Parliament for his riding of Calgary Heritage, but it’s unclear whether he’ll cast a ballot for his temporary political replacement.
Here’s the full letter:
Over the last nine years my team and I have worked very closely with the Public Service of Canada to improve the prosperity, security and well-being of Canadians and improve Canada’s position in the world.
I am very proud of the remarkable work we have accomplished together towards meeting these objectives.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for the support you have shown my team and me over three successive parliaments and for the dedication you have demonstrated in delivering for Canadians.
It has been an honour to serve as Prime Minister of the greatest country in the world and I will always be grateful for the support of Canada’s world-class public service.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
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