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In these first, freshest moments of his defeat, it is tempting to display a measure of grace toward Stephen Harper. To highlight the achievements he registered during his time in office, to carefully and tactfully mention the highs and not dwell too terribly much on the lows. It only seems the fair and decent thing to do.

That temptation should be resisted.

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It is at this exact moment that we need to be particularly unsentimental and recognize the deep harm that Stephen Harper has done to politics in this country. In this way, we can identify the standard that we demand the new government surpass immediately. We can codify the practices that we insist our new prime minister reject and the bad habits that we demand be purged.

None of this is about policy choices. Of those, Harper made many – some good, some bad. And your opinion of each will vary according to your particular world view. Rather, it is the conduct of politics that he so enthusiastically diminished, all in pursuit of partisan gain routinely at the expense of the public interest.