Here is an assessment of the Harper Tories. The marks assess performance during the past year. Marks in brackets were given at the end of three years.

1. Cabinet Development and Performance. Generally good but Peter MacKay mishandled the Afghani torture question well and Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt greatly embarrassed herself by leaving secret documents in a broadcast studio and by describing the life-threatening isotope crisis as “sexy”. Also, most ministers are still kept mostly silent. B- (B-)

2. Performance in the House of Commons. The promised improvement in Question Period decorum has not materialized. Performance during debates is commendable. Uncensored documents should be released to party leaders. C+ (B-)

3. Social Policies. Commendation is deserved for making EI available for the self-employed; for strengthening internet child porn laws, for increased funding for health inspection of food, and for extending parental benefits for self-employed parents. Negatively we have mismanagement of the H1N1 vaccine supply although it was the Liberals who awarded the monopoly supply contract, and continuing delays in immigration reforms. A- (A-)

4. Economic Policies. Massive deficit spending was probably warranted but is daunting and foreboding. Hopes for an early reversal of trends are tempered by the fact that since taking office the Harper Government each year increased program spending by more than the rate of inflation combined with growth of the economy. Canada now adds about $153 million a day to its debt. The Harper Government deserves credit for its general management of the economy, for establishing the tax-free savings account, and for sensible implementation of its stimulus package. (A) (A)

5. Foreign Affairs. Although the government’s record in Afghanistan is generally commendable, the torture accusations were handled badly. Instead of insisting there was no problem and discrediting witnesses, Defence Minister Peter MacKay should have acknowledged the probability of misdeeds in that chaotic country and pledged to ensure investigation and correction. Whatever the merits of fighting political and court pressures to bring Omar Khadr home from Guantanamo, that, too, was mishandled and angered many voters. The fact that Canada has slipped from 10th to 13th as a foreign aid donor country is also regrettable. Harper deserves credit for improving relations with China, for quick aid for Haiti, and for an increasing role in international affairs. B - (B-)

6. National Unity Policies. Despite Quebec’s predictable and perennial complaints, the Harper record is commendable. Many Canadians, however, resent Heritage Minister James Moore awarding almost 40 per cent of Canada Day funding to Quebec. A- (A-)

7. Environmental Policies. Shrinking glaciers, collapsing salmon stalks and the warming Arctic indicate major changes. Even if climate change is partly beyond human influence, governments can ameliorate the trend. Unfortunately, the World Wildlife Foundation now ranks Canada last among G8 nations in addressing climate concerns. C (C+)

8. Crime and Justice Issues. Although insufficient resources are targeted for prevention, the record on crime and justice issues is strong. Unfortunately, the two-month prorogation killed more than 20 commendable bills. Also positive is the decision to end the $1 billion long-gun registry boondoggle. Lamentable are the perplexing delays in appointing judges, causing major civil cases to be dropped, and the failure to address the irresponsible decisions of human rights commissions which Harper, in a 1999 interview, correctly described as “an attack on our fundamental freedoms and the basic existence of a democratic society.” B+ (A-)

9. Defence and Military Policies. Aside from the questionable policy of trying to bring democracy to a backward Muslim country such as Afghanistan, the policies otherwise are mostly commendable. B+ (C+)

10. Parliamentary Reform. Given constitutional obstacles, little can be done to achieve Senate reform. The eight-year limitation on new appointees is a positive step. Childish behaviour in question period persists. B (B)

11. Specific Initiatives. Kudos for generous support of the Olympics, for the $50 million grant to remove traffic bottlenecks at Vancouver ports, and for assertions of sovereignty in the Arctic. Criticisms for permitting the sale of much of Nortel to Ericson of Sweden, for giving $400,000 to Toronto’s Gay Pride parade, for hassling the Dutch about recruiting Canadians for their Olympic House, for permitting Korea to sell cars in Canada while Korea bans Canadian car imports, and for insisting on costly federal duplication of BC’s environmental assessment of mines. A- (A+)

12. Keeping Electoral Promises. Basic commitments have generally been kept but capital gains tax reform, promised in the 2006 election campaign, has not materialized.

13. Overall Performance of the prime minister. Harper has generally been an effective and successful leader in domestic and foreign arenas. He is a good communicator but, unfortunately, sells himself short by not scheduling more news conferences and by rarely addressing Canadians directly. His two-month prorogation of Parliament has cost him much political support. It is not credible to argue that a leader, surrounded by a small army of assistants and advisors, requires two months to determine priorities. B- (C+)

The overall mark for the last year: B- (B)

The Harper record is strong enough to warrant a majority win. If that is denied by the voters in an early election, then the Tories will have no one to blame but themselves. They should then look into a mirror where they will find three statements in bold font: Prorogation of Parliament, Mishandling of the torture accusations and, Mishandling of the Omar Khadr affair.

John H. Redekop is an adjunct professor at Trinity Western University and

professor emeritus, Wilfrid Laurier University.