Former prime minister Stephen Harper used remarks at the hanging of his official parliamentary portrait to reiterate themes of national unity and sovereignty, comments that speakers linked to contemporary independence movements and external pressures facing Canada.
The ceremony, held on Parliament Hill, was formally intended to mark Harper’s legacy as Canada’s 22nd prime minister.
However, several speakers — including Prime Minister Mark Carney — framed Harper’s record as relevant to current debates over unity, autonomy, and national resilience.
Carney cited Harper’s past positions on sovereignty and citizenship, noting that the former prime minister had recently “denounced those who are threatening our sovereignty” and urged Canadians to build a stronger, more self-reliant country.
While no independence movements were named directly, the remarks came amid renewed public discussion about regional autonomy and Canada’s economic and political dependence on foreign partners.
“National unity is not an abstract,” Carney said in his address, describing it as the foundation for defending sovereignty, strengthening the economy, and acting with confidence internationally.
He credited Harper with consistently placing unity above partisan considerations, saying that Harper believed national reconciliation was “more important than any one party or any one individual.”