Will the ‘real’ Stephen Harper show up in Parliament now that he has a majority?

Could we be seeing a more relaxed Stephen Harper now that he has his coveted majority government?

Harper's public persona has been one of sharp contrasts. In many respects, he looks and sounds very prime ministerial — he is strong, decisive and stoic. On the other hand, he comes across as being heavy-handed, secretive and without emotion.

Many insiders have suggested the PM's aloof demeanour is a consequence of a minority government that required him to always be on guard. Now, with a majority government, some observers say we can expect to see a more relaxed Harper.

Scott Matthews, a political psychology expert at Queen's University, told the Epoch Times Harper has less reason to play the same kind of hardball and message control that marked his previous sessions of Parliament.

"That confrontational attitude is appropriate to a party in a perennial state of pre-campaign mode, but with a majority, theoretically at least, that could end," he said.

"(With a majority government) more smiles and looser shoulders will also be accompanied by the muscle to pursue a more integrated and coherent political agenda."

Harper's kinder manifestation may have already begun. The day after winning his majority government, Harper took several questions from reporters in Calgary, and even joked about how he celebrated the victory with his staff.

"Some of you may know I'm not much of a drinker but I did. However, they tricked me and there was only like that much in it," he said, holding up two fingers to measure an inch or two.

"So much for my wild side."

Conservative insider Tim Powers believes Harper's new relaxed nature will extend to the House of Commons.

"I suspect that it will be a much more relaxed environment in as much as there will be much less manufactured outrage on all sides," Powers told Postmedia News. "I think the government now also probably doesn't need to always have its elbows up."

A kinder, gentler Parliament? One can only hope.

(CP Photo)