Joel Harden
2022–present
- Politician
- researcher
Campaign website
Joel Davison Harden MPP (born January 14, 1972) is a Canadian politician who has represented Ottawa Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 2018. A member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP), Harden is the party's critic for transit and active transportation. He is also a candidate for the federal NDP nomination in the riding of Ottawa Centre in the 2025 Canadian federal election. [2]
Background
Early life and education
Harden grew up in Vankleek Hill, Ontario.[3][4][5] He holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and political studies from Queen's University.[6] He later attended York University, where he earned a master's degree in 1997 and a doctorate in political science in 2006.[7][8]
Career
Harden was a researcher at the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) students organization. He was an instructor at the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University and teaching assistant professor at Brock University and has also taught at Nipissing University and McMaster University.[citation needed]
From 1998 to 2000, he was the chairman of the Ontario section of the CFS.[9] From 2005 to 2010, he was senior researcher at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and was director of the labour education department at the CLC from 2010 to 2012.[9][10][unreliable source?]
Political career
Harden was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[11]
In August 2018, Harden was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities; Pensions; Seniors' Affairs.[12] Harden's parliamentary roles include sitting on the Standing Committee on Social Policy.[10]
He is a self-described democratic socialist.[13] Harden supports the BDS movement.[14]
2019; support for PFLP member
In 2019, Harden called on the Canadian federal government to demand that Israel immediately release Khalida Jarrar, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Canada and other countries had designated as a terrorist organization.[15] Jarrar was also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and had been arrested by Israeli security forces on suspicion of "involvement in terror activity."[15] Harden tweeted that he was “Saddened, sickened and disgusted by the continued abuse of Khalida Jarrar, my parliamentary colleague, by Israeli occupation forces.”[15]
2022; comments on Jews and Israel
In November 2022, Harden was criticized for his statements in an interview related to Israel and Palestine. Among other things, Harden said that the: "single greatest origin of violence in the Middle East is unquestionably the state of Israel."[16] He ultimately issued a brief written apology for perpetuating anti-Semitic tropes.[17] In the interview, Harden also took a pro-Palestinian position and said: "I think it's important to remain steadfast against all supremacist ideologies, all forms of prejudice and racism. When I'm at Palestinian solidarity demonstrations, if I hear people making antisemitic remarks, I take a point of pulling that person aside and saying "you're not helping."[18] The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs posted on social media that Harden's videos: "can only be called antisemitism and misinformation about Israel."[19] Peter Tabuns, the interim leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party and the leader of the Opposition, said "I welcome his commitment to further education about antisemitism. Antisemitism has no place in our party."[19]
2023; alleged punch
In June 2023, Harden alleged that he had been punched whilst counter-protesting during an anti-"gender ideology" protest.[20] However, his allegation was disputed.[21] First, a protest organizer posted: "Nobody witnessed this despite hundreds of people everywhere with cameras. Mystery solved. He scratched himself with his megaphone."[21] Second, video evidence indicated he accidentally hit himself in the face with a megaphone.[22] Canadian independent journalist Caryma Sa'd posted a video of Harden recorded on June 9, 2023, at 12:07 PM, showing him tilting a megaphone as he shouts into it, and sliding it against his cheek, cutting his cheek.[21]
2024; noise law infraction controversy
In January 2024, after Harden and eight others were fined for--in contravention of Ottawa noise laws--using a megaphone at a pro-Palestine protest, he took to social media to complain. The law says: "no person shall operate ... any sound reproduction device on any ... public place."[23] Canadian politician Lisa MacLeod responded to him, writing: "You’re a professional protestor who doesn’t support the rights of protestors who don’t share your views. You associate with antisemites. You pick and choose who has human rights. And clearly you decide who gets to protest loudly downtown and who doesn’t."[24] For its part, Ottawa By-law Services director Roger Chapman said:
It’s important to note that enforcement during demonstrations is a result of escalated actions by the participants, which may pose nuisance and public safety issues. As the activities of protestors escalated and became more frequent, including the defacement of property, the use of sound reproduction devices, smoke bombs, fireworks, and threats towards our officers, BLRS took action to address these concerns. Initially, warnings were issued to individuals regarding the operation of these sound production devices ... when the activity persisted, fines of $490 were issued.[25]
Harden filed papers in March 2024 to seek the federal NDP's nomination to run as the party's candidate in Ottawa Centre in the next federal election expected in 2025.[26]
Electoral record
| ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
New Democratic | Joel Harden | 30,311 | 54.34 | +8.26 | $134,177 | |||
Liberal | Katie Gibbs | 12,596 | 22.58 | −10.20 | $103,394 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Scott Healey | 8,773 | 15.73 | −0.31 | $45,558 | |||
Green | Shelby Bertrand | 2,718 | 4.87 | +1.35 | $11,136 | |||
New Blue | Glen Armstrong | 798 | 1.43 | $1,325 | ||||
None of the Above | Marc Adornato | 233 | 0.42 | −0.26 | $0 | |||
Communist | Stuart Ryan | 153 | 0.27 | +0.10 | $0 | |||
Independent | Thomas Borcsok | 82 | 0.15 | $378 | ||||
People's Front | Raymond Samuels | 59 | 0.11 | $285 | ||||
Independent | Josh Rachlis | 58 | 0.10 | $0 | ||||
Total valid votes/Expense limit | 55,781 | 99.52 | +0.44 | $154,648 | ||||
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | 266 | 0.48 | -0.44 | |||||
Turnout | 56,047 | 50.74 | -10.46 | |||||
Eligible voters | 109,977 | |||||||
New Democratic hold | Swing | +9.23 | ||||||
Source(s) "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18. |
| ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
New Democratic | Joel Harden | 29,675 | 46.08 | +25.69 | ||||
Liberal | Yasir Naqvi | 21,111 | 32.78 | -18.89 | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Colleen McCleery | 10,327 | 16.03 | -2.08 | ||||
Green | Cherie Wong | 2,266 | 3.52 | -4.22 | ||||
None of the Above | Marc Adornato | 437 | 0.68 | |||||
Libertarian | Bruce A. Faulkner | 385 | 0.60 | -0.96 | ||||
Communist | Stuart Ryan | 110 | 0.17 | -0.35 | ||||
Canadians' Choice | James Sears | 92 | 0.14 | |||||
Total valid votes | 64,403 | 100.0 | ||||||
New Democratic gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.29 | ||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[27] |
References
- ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- ^ "MPP Joel Harden, Catherine McKenney eyeing possible showdown for Ottawa federal seat". CTV News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Tuition blocking education dreams". Ottawa Citizen. August 17, 1998. p. A5. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ @nilikm (14 Jan 2022). "Join us at 7pm tonight (Jan 14). It's @JoelHardenONDP's 50th bday party!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Joel Harden – Bringing a much-needed grassroots perspective to politics". 5 April 2018.
- ^ "NDP MPP Joel Harden Speaking to CCU at 50th Anniversary Convention - Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)". ccu-csc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ "Ten York University alumni win in 2022 Ontario election | Alumni and Friends - Division of Advancement". Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ "Five things you should know about Joel Harden - Kitchissippi times". kitchissippi.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ a b "Joel Harden: Educator, activist, and writer".
- ^ a b "Media Kit". Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
- ^ "NDP Joel Harden elected in Ottawa Centre". CBC News Ottawa, June 7, 2018.
- ^ "NDP Caucus Critic Portfolios"
- ^ "High-profile Liberal incumbent Naqvi gets rolled by NDP's Harden in Ottawa Centre".
- ^ a b c "NDP MPP criticizes Israel for arrest of PFLP member," The Canadian Jewish News.
- ^ "OFIP interview with Joel Harden, MPP, Ottawa Centre," Peter larson (video).
- ^ "Ottawa New Democrat MPP apologizes for 2021 comments that 'perpetrated an antisemitic stereotype'". Ottawa CTV News. November 21, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ Larson, Peter. "OFIP Interview with Joel Harden". Peter Larson. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b Tyler Dawson (November 20, 2022). "Ontario NDP MPP Joel Harden apologizes for antisemitic remarks; The remarks, which Harden made in a discussion with Peter Larson, an Ontario blogger, hit social media Saturday and ignited immediate controversy," National Post.
- ^ Fox, Liam (June 9, 2023). "Ottawa protest over 'gender ideology' met with hundreds of counter-protesters". Canadian Press. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ a b c "WATCH: Ontario NDP MPP lies about being punched in face at Ottawa rally," Western Standard.
- ^ Warmington, Joe (June 12, 2023). "WARMINGTON: MPP punched in face at transgender protest? Or was cut from megaphone?". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Noise bylaw tickets issued again during 12th weekend of pro-Palestinian rallies in Ottawa," Ottawa Citizen.
- ^ "Politician who decried convoy complains about pro-Palestine protesters getting ticketed," True North.
- ^ "Ottawa bylaw hands out nine noise fines to pro-Palestine protesters, including Ottawa MPP," CTV News.
- ^ "MPP Joel Harden, Catherine McKenney eyeing possible showdown for Ottawa federal seat". CTV News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
External links
- Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
- Lorrie Goldstein (November 21, 2022). "NDP MPP Joel Harden epitomizes the left's obsession with Israel," Toronto Sun.
- Will Barclay (April 17, 2024). "Sadly, antisemitism has become endemic within the NDP," The Suburban.