Conrad Black, a former Canadian writing from his involuntary lodgings in Central Florida, has taken the measure of Stephen Harper, asserting his belief that the prime minister may one day share the mantle of greatness with Black’s heroes, Mackenzie King and Maurice Duplessis (“the two greatest Canadian political leaders since Laurier”).

“The past six years have been a virtuoso performance by Harper, as he has cobbled together a new party and led it through three general elections, two to victory, and breasted his way through severe economic weather,” Black wrote in the National Post on Saturday en route to his conclusion: “If he continues to win the domestic political chess game, he could be a great prime minister.”