Article content

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has privately fumed to his inner circle that under the leadership of Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, the Supreme Court of Canada has become a “sociology seminar” that emasculates the power of Parliament, according to a new book.

The biography, titled Stephen Harper, provides a thorough account of Harper’s personal life and political career.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Harper fumed privately about Supreme Court activism: book Back to video

It explores his legendary temper and mood swings while also chronicling how Harper turned the once-divided conservative movement into a political success story that allowed him to win three elections, govern for a decade, and change the country.

The book, written by Globe and Mail journalist John Ibbitson, was originally set for publication in September. But with the early call of the Oct. 19 election, it is now available Tuesday as an e-book and hard copies will be in stores Aug. 18.

Among the issues covered in the book is Harper’s distrust of the courts and legal community — and his unprecedented public criticism last year of McLachlin, which critics said was an effort to intimidate the court.