Stephen Harper may have left Parliament for last time - Action News
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Politics

Stephen Harper may have left Parliament for last time

As MPs head home for the summer, all signs point toward Stephen Harper's imminent exit from Canada's capital.

Former prime minister could return for U.S. President Barack Obama's parliamentary address next week

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, serves up pancakes during a Stampede breakfast in Calgary on July 4 , 2015. This year will be his "final" Stampede event as an MP. (Larry MacDougal)

At the end of a long hallway in Parliament's centre block, one office is crowded with stacks of boxes, roll after roll of packing tape and a few of the souvenirs from a decades-long political career.

The MP for Calgary Heritagebetterknown as former prime minister Stephen Harpermay have cast his very last House of Commons vote (just over a week ago). Perhaps fittingly, according to the parliamentary website, it was to oppose the Liberalbudget.

As CBC News reported in May, Harper is expected to resignhis seat before Parliament resumes next fall.

The former prime minister has remained all but silent since his Conservative party lost power in the last election, so the eventual announcement of his departure was never expected tocomewith muchfanfare on Harper's part regardless.

'Final' Stampede event

Beyond the stacks of boxes, however,there isat least one more signof his imminent exit.

For $200, friends and party faithfulare invited to join Harper at his "final Calgary Conservative Stampede BBQ" in July.

The event is hosted by Harper's riding association. President Hal Anderson said the decision to identify it as finalwas a mutual agreement between Harper and the riding association.

"He might come [next time]as a ticket-paying participant," Anderson said with a laugh."But this will be his last as MP, we expect."

Harper is expected to resign his seat of Calgary Heritage before Parliament resumes next fall. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Conservative interim Leader Rona Ambrose is a "special guest" at the event and Harper is expected to speak briefly to introduce her, Anderson said.

Compared to when Harper was in power, ticket sales are lagging, he added."Usually there's a fight for tickets in the last 10 years or so."

Anderson noted that last year, Harper not only spoke but his band played a 45-minute set. He expects demand for tickets to pick up.

Back for Obama?

The former prime minister does have one opportunity to return to Parliament before the next session.

MPs will sit brieflynext Wednesday for a rareaddress by U.S. PresidentBarackObama, but it's not clear whether the event would be of much interesttoHarper.

If he decides to occupy his front row seat for Obama's address, he risks not only attention butcomparisons.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauand Obama have both played into the idea of a cross-border "bromance" of sorts.

The two share many political priorities, including concerns about climate change. Obama eveninvited the Trudeaus to a state dinner at the White House.Trudeau joked this year that while he'llmiss the American president when he leaves office, "Iwill not miss the wedgies."

Harper didn't seem to have as quite ajocularrelationship with the U.S. president and was plagued by an inability to achieve success with the Keystone XL pipeline expansion.

Even in his last days as prime minister, Harper showed signs he wasn'tparticularly enthused about meeting with Obama. Canada was supposed to host both the Mexican and U.S. presidents in 2015, but Canadapostponed the eventand never rescheduled.