Joel Harden

Canadian politician

2022–presentOpposition Critic for Transit and Active Transportation2018–2022Opposition Critic for Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities Pensions; Seniors' Affairs Personal detailsBorn (1972-01-14) January 14, 1972 (age 52)Political partyOntario New DemocraticChildren2ResidenceOld Ottawa South[1]Occupation
  • Politician
  • researcher
WebsiteConstituency website
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

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2022 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
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.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.
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    2018 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
    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

    1. ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
    2. ^ "MPP Joel Harden, Catherine McKenney eyeing possible showdown for Ottawa federal seat". CTV News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
    3. ^ "Tuition blocking education dreams". Ottawa Citizen. August 17, 1998. p. A5. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
    4. ^ @nilikm (14 Jan 2022). "Join us at 7pm tonight (Jan 14). It's @JoelHardenONDP's 50th bday party!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    5. ^ "Joel Harden – Bringing a much-needed grassroots perspective to politics". 5 April 2018.
    6. ^ "NDP MPP Joel Harden Speaking to CCU at 50th Anniversary Convention - Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)". ccu-csc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
    7. ^ "Ten York University alumni win in 2022 Ontario election | Alumni and Friends - Division of Advancement". Retrieved 2023-06-28.
    8. ^ "Five things you should know about Joel Harden - Kitchissippi times". kitchissippi.com. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
    9. ^ a b "Joel Harden: Educator, activist, and writer".
    10. ^ a b "Media Kit". Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
    11. ^ "NDP Joel Harden elected in Ottawa Centre". CBC News Ottawa, June 7, 2018.
    12. ^ "NDP Caucus Critic Portfolios"
    13. ^ "High-profile Liberal incumbent Naqvi gets rolled by NDP's Harden in Ottawa Centre".
    14. ^ "Interview: Joel Harden on running for ONDP nomination in Ottawa-Centre". socialist.ca. Sep 2, 2017. Retrieved Aug 14, 2020. I said, "if I'm asked a question about what I think about BDS for example, I'm not going to pretend that that's somebody I'm not. I'm going to say, on a personal level I support BDS." It's because I believe in justice for the Palestinian people, and I believe in justice for Arabs and Jews in the region.
    15. ^ a b c "NDP MPP criticizes Israel for arrest of PFLP member," The Canadian Jewish News.
    16. ^ "OFIP interview with Joel Harden, MPP, Ottawa Centre," Peter larson (video).
    17. ^ "Ottawa New Democrat MPP apologizes for 2021 comments that 'perpetrated an antisemitic stereotype'". Ottawa CTV News. November 21, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
    18. ^ Larson, Peter. "OFIP Interview with Joel Harden". Peter Larson. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
    19. ^ 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.
    20. ^ Fox, Liam (June 9, 2023). "Ottawa protest over 'gender ideology' met with hundreds of counter-protesters". Canadian Press. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
    21. ^ a b c "WATCH: Ontario NDP MPP lies about being punched in face at Ottawa rally," Western Standard.
    22. ^ Warmington, Joe (June 12, 2023). "WARMINGTON: MPP punched in face at transgender protest? Or was cut from megaphone?". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
    23. ^ "Noise bylaw tickets issued again during 12th weekend of pro-Palestinian rallies in Ottawa," Ottawa Citizen.
    24. ^ "Politician who decried convoy complains about pro-Palestine protesters getting ticketed," True North.
    25. ^ "Ottawa bylaw hands out nine noise fines to pro-Palestine protesters, including Ottawa MPP," CTV News.
    26. ^ "MPP Joel Harden, Catherine McKenney eyeing possible showdown for Ottawa federal seat". CTV News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
    27. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
    • 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.
    • v
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    Current members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
    Progressive Conservative
    New Democratic
    Liberal†
    Green†
    Independent
    Party leaders listed first (in bold italics). Government members in bold denotes cabinet.
    † Party does not have official party status in the Legislature