5 PMs Who've Served Longer Than Harper

Stephen Harper is now the sixth longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history.

On November 13, 2014 -- his 3,203-rd day on the job -- Stephen Harper leapfrogged former PM (and fellow Conservative) Brian Mulroney to become the sixth longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history.

But he still has a ways to go to catch the five former leaders ahead of him.

In his acclaimed 2013 book, 'The Longer I'm Prime Minister: Stephen Harper and Canada, 2006 –,' Paul Wells equated Harper's endurance, in part, to his discipline. Wells wrote that Harper has avoided chasing after bold projects that can blow up in a leader's face and has not allowed a rival from within his ranks rise to the point of challenging him.

"Harper brings a temper and a vengeful streak to office, but he is also awesomely clear-eyed," Wells wrote. "Because he is temperamentally the most conservative Canadian prime minister of his lifetime, he will not ever run out of ideas for conservative things to do. So on any day he has a choice: he can do the big conservative thing that would be the end of his career, or he can do some of the small conservative things that won't. He is amazed that earlier leaders had a hard time choosing."

Political historian Jack Granatstein said that length of time in office is a "serious measure" of a PM's success.

"You have to keep winning elections. You have to keep your party quiet, happy and satisfied. And you have to manage the affairs of the country and its dealing abroad. Anyone who can do that for almost nine years is somebody who is very effective," Granatstein said.

"It doesn't mean you’re popular – God knows the dislike of Harper is extreme and widespread – but he is effective."


Tories are hoping Harper can win at least one more time when Canadians head to the ballot box next year. The party's main slogan, which has appeared in messages to supporters and in a campaign-style ad released in September, is "We're Better Off With Harper."

5. Jean Chretien - Liberal

Days in office: 3,689

4. Sir Wilfrid Laurier - Liberal

Days in office: 5,564

3. Pierre Trudeau - Liberal

Days in office: 5,642

2. Sir John A. Macdonald - Liberal-Conservative

Days in office: 6,934

1. William Lyon Mackenzie King - Liberal

Days in office: 7,837