A Harper dynasty and the end of the Liberals? How the 2011 election didn't change everything At the time, the 2011 federal election seemed like it was ushering in a new era in Canadian politics. Ten years later, it looks more like the exception than a new rule. Social Sharing The federal election a decade ago turned out to be an outlier rather than a turning point in Canadian politics Posted: May 02, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 2 On May 2, 2011, Stephen Harper led the Conservative Party to its first (and, so far, only) majority government since the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservatives in 2003.(Jeff McIntosh / Canadian Press)