It was meant to be a tribute to the former prime minister and soon-to-retire MP, but the Conservative Party's #ThankYouStephenHarper hashtag took on a sarcastic and sometimes nasty turn overnight.

The hashtag was featured as part of a video tribute to Harper presented at the party's annual policy convention in Vancouver.

Conservatives are watching a video tribute to Harper. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://t.co/6WxkOcBIeL">pic.twitter.com/6WxkOcBIeL</a> —@cath_cullen

Right away, some people predicted that the campaign would go sideways.

An official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> hashtag? This won't end well... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> —@stephenlautens

so who thought <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> was a good idea? —@vmochama

I predict <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> may not provide the tributes CPC were hoping for <a href="https://t.co/UWY2FTWTaN">https://t.co/UWY2FTWTaN</a> —@AndrewTumilty

Initially, the hashtag was used as intended — earnestly by those who wanted to acknowledge his leadership and wish him well as he leaves politics.

.<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenharper">@stephenharper</a> just walked onstage to <a href="https://twitter.com/acdc">@acdc</a>'s "Thunderstruck" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bestPMever?src=hash">#bestPMever</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://t.co/TnuNaowSIB">pic.twitter.com/TnuNaowSIB</a> —@MMcSw13

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPC16?src=hash">#CPC16</a> Created a Strong Canada. Made us proud to be Canadian. —@WVSCSTSConserv

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a> A great party leader and great PM, now its time for the party to reform and move forward. —@jpime

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> for your leadership and inspiration over the last 10 years. I am a conservative today because of you. <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenharper">@stephenharper</a> —@louisv713

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> it was nice having a grownup run the country for a decade. Cleanest federal government in Canadian history. —@NeilJEdmondson

We miss you! Thanks for all the hard work! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> —@ilikerox

I'm proud to be a Stephen Harper conservative <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> —@fparker7

And there you have it. Canada was lucky to have him at the helm during some tough times. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> —@JacquiDelaney

However, as the night went on, most of the tweets were sarcastic in nature, pointing to what his opponents see as his failings in office.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for that 2% GST cut. Sure, it robbed Canada of vital infrastructure funds, but I saved 87 cents at Swiss Chalet. —@asifintoronto

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for inspiring a new line of bumper stickers. Job creation! <a href="https://t.co/teeP3jidcM">pic.twitter.com/teeP3jidcM</a> —@HaikuVikingGal

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for inadvertently motivating our First Peoples to vote<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CdnPoli?src=hash">#CdnPoli</a> —@calmecam

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> For all the partisan ads that we paid for. Swearing at the TV whenever one aired provided family bonding moments. —@RebeccaO1340

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> for holding Canada back 10 years on climate change. —@DaveSimms

Rallying Canadians against you with your racist snitch line. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> —@daibyday

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for your great judgement call with appointments. Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau, Porter, DelMastro, Carson, Penashue, Wright —@FuzzyWuzzyTO

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for doing to the federal Tories what Mike Harris did to the Ontario PCs. —@august_mk

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a> for inspiring me to become involved in politics. Your secretive, anti-democratic, ideology based style woke me up. —@LauraE303B

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for making us all so excited about the Census! It's true - you really don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. —@PunnedIt55

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for that debt of yours <a href="https://t.co/pur1Yo3GAu">pic.twitter.com/pur1Yo3GAu</a> —@MuskokaMoneybag

90% of these <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> tweets are negative and sarcastic. <a href="https://t.co/qsXfRfJSXP">pic.twitter.com/qsXfRfJSXP</a> —@BradyStrachan