Canadian Club - Hon. Stephen Harper

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper

22nd Prime Minister of Canada

” Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption ”

October 11th, 2018

In this timely and insightful new book, Stephen J. Harper, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, draws on a decade of experience as a G-7 leader to help leaders in business and government understand, adapt, and thrive in an age of unprecedented disruption.

The world is in flux. Disruptive technologies, ideas, and politicians are challenging business models, norms, and political conventions everywhere. How we, as leaders in business and politics, choose to respond matters greatly. Some voices refuse to concede the need for any change, while others advocate for radical realignment. But neither of these positions can sustainably address the legitimate concerns of disaffected citizens.

Right Here, Right Now sets out a pragmatic, forward-looking vision for leaders in business and politics by analyzing how economic, social, and public policy trends–including globalized movements of capital, goods and services, and labour–have affected our economies, communities, and governments.

Harper contends that Donald Trump’s surprise election and governing agenda clearly signal that political, economic, and social institutions must be more responsive to legitimate concerns about public policy, market regulation, immigration, and technology.

Urging readers to look past questions of style and gravitas, Harper thoughtfully examines the substantive underpinnings of how and why Donald Trump was able to succeed Barack Obama as President of the United States, and how these forces are manifesting themselves in other western democracies.

Analyzing international trade, market regulation, immigration, technology, and the role of government in the digital economy, Harper lays out the case for pragmatic leadership as a proven solution to the uncertainty and risk that businesses and governments face today.

Biography

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper

Stephen Joseph Harper is an economist, entrepreneur, and former G-7 leader who served as Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister for nearly a decade, from February 6, 2006 to November 4, 2015. Today, he is the Chairman and CEO of Harper & Associates Consulting, a firm that helps its clients navigate global business risk. He speaks regularly to global audiences about investment trends, international trade and geopolitics. In 2018, Harper was elected Chairman of the International Democrat Union, the world’s preeminent alliance of centre-right political parties.

John Walsh, Managing Director, General Counsel

John Walsh was appointed to the Executive Team as Managing Director, General Counsel in January 2015. Mr. Walsh joined OPTrust in 2006 as an investment professional in OPTrust’s Private Markets Group, responsible for transaction negotiation, structuring and execution, corporate governance and operations.

As Managing Director, General Counsel, Mr. Walsh provides legal counsel to all of OPTrust and oversees all corporate governance, compliance, enterprise risk management and transactional structuring matters. Before joining OPTrust, Mr. Walsh practiced corporate and securities law for a decade at two leading Canadian law firms.

Mr. Walsh has also worked at the senior levels of politics and government in Canada and the United States.