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Get To Know Stephen Harper In 32 Questions

He prefers hot chocolate, and likes it from Tim Horton’s.

You've seen them on TV and in debates but what are the federal leaders like behind the scenes? HuffPost Canada put 51 questions to the heads of the five main political parties to get to know them better.

The request to Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and his party was sent in August. Despite replies from the Tory camp that answers were coming, we still haven't received any. So we filled in the blanks using available information, including replies previously provided to HuffPost Ottawa bureau chief Althia Raj while at The National Post.

Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party Of Canada

Name: Stephen J. Harper

Age: 56

Born: April 30, 1959 in Toronto

Education: BA and MA in economics from the University of Calgary

Previous occupation: Political aide, Reform MP, president of the National Citizens Coalition, leader of the Canadian Alliance

Left-handed/right-handed: Right-handed

Height: 6’ 1’’

Eye colour: Blue

Astrological sign: Taurus

Haircut style and where you get it cut: Declined to disclose.

(At one point he had it cut by Stefania Capovilla, who cut other notable Conservatives’ hair.)

Cats vs. dogs: Cats.

Pets: A chinchilla named Charlie and two cats named Stanley and Gypsy. Laureen Harper also set up a bat house.

Marital status: Married Laureen Teskey in 1993. Met her at a Reform Party assembly in Saskatoon in 1990.

Children: Benjamin (19) and Rachel (16).

How do you take your coffee? He said in 2011 that he prefers hot chocolate, and likes it from Tim Horton’s.

Sports you play: Tennis and road hockey (sometimes)

Favourite food: Junk food and candy, according to staffers. His wife told The Canadian Press that Harper likes spicy foods and hot sauce. His former press secretary said the Tory leader likes Chinese food.

Beer or wine: Harper told The National Post in that he doesn’t drink alcohol. But he is often seen sipping beer during campaign stops.

During a case-of-beer bet with U.S. President Barack Obama, Harper suggested that if he had lost, he would have sent beer from Beau’s All Natural, an Ontario brewery, and Alberta’s Big Rock Brewery.

Favourite NHL hockey team: Team Canada

Favourite music: Classic rock, The Beatles, Blue Rodeo

Favourite movie: "The Wizard of Oz"

Favourite TV shows: "Coronation Street" occasionally and "Murdoch Mysteries," he said in 2011 .

Favourite article of clothing: Jeans

Curse word of choice: Harper has been known to use the f-word, as a former aide recounted in the Globe and Mail.

First job: One of his first jobs was as a summer clerk at the LCBO and as an “office boy” in a provincial government office, according to Globe and Mail journalist John Ibbitson.

Books written: “A Great Game.” A non-fiction book about about the rise of professional hockey that was published in 2013.

Do you watch the nightly news? Rarely

What newspapers/websites do you read? “Not much spare time to sit back and read the paper,” his office responded in 2011.

Inspiration: His wife, Laureen

Property owned: Home in Calgary, he said in 2011.

Pastimes: Plays piano in a rock band (Mr. Harper obtained Grade 9 with the Royal Conservatory of Music); enjoys watching hockey, curling, singing karaoke. He tried to learn Spanish but it's unclear if he can speak it.

Political idol: Sir John A. Macdonald, his office told Postmedia in 2011

Read the other leaders' questionnaires:

Also on HuffPost:

Breakfast With Stanley

Day In The Life Of Stephen Harper

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