Parliamentarians of the Year 2012 — Stephen Harper, most knowledgeable

His speech to the Reform party’s founding convention began with what biographer William Johnson described as “a parade of statistics” and when Stephen Harper was done speaking, Preston Manning apparently knew who should be in charge of the nascent party’s policy platform.

Harper’s reputation as a wonk has not diminished any in the 25 years since then. It has even become a key part of his public profile. Amid the much-noted attack ads, the Conservatives introduced a minute-long ad a few months before last year’s election that presented the Prime Minister poring over paperwork long into the night.

Apparently, at a time of economic chaos, it’s reassuring to know a policy wonk is in charge.