Some quotes from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s behind-closed-doors speech last week to supporters, which was recorded on videotape and later distributed:
On winning a majority:
“Let me be clear about this: We need to win a majority in the next election campaign.
“I am not just saying that because we need a few more seats. We saw what happened last year. Do not be fooled for a moment. If we do not get a majority the Liberals, the NDP, and the Bloc Quebecois will combine and they will form a government. They will deny this until they’re blue in the face in an election campaign but I guarantee it: If we do not win a majority this country will have a Liberal government propped up by the socialists and the separatists…. This country cannot afford a government like that. If they force us to the polls, if they get together and force us to the polls, we have to teach them a lesson and get back there with a majority to make sure their little coalition never happens….
“And, friends, I believe that government is within reach.”
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On leftists in public institutions, put there by his opponents:
“Imagine how many left-wing ideologues they would be putting in the courts, federal institutions, agencies, the Senate. I should say, how many more, they would be putting in.”
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On the federal Court Challenges Program, which funded legal fights by women’s groups, gays, minority language groups, and the disabled before his government ended it:
“Instead of … subsidizing lawyers to bring forth court challenges by left-wing fringe groups, we have been bringing in laws to crack down on criminals and support victims in this country.”
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On the federal long-gun registry, which the government has tried unsuccessfully to end:
“We are still trying to get rid of that registry. We have the NDP, the Liberals and the Bloc stopping us from even having a vote on that issue in the House of Commons. We need to get a mandate so we can get that thing passed and let law-abiding gun owners be respected in this country.”
