Joel Harden

Joel Harden
Harden in 2019
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Ottawa Centre
In office
June 7, 2018 – January 28, 2025
Preceded byYasir Naqvi
Succeeded byCatherine McKenney
Critic roles
2022–2025Opposition Critic for Transit and Active Transportation
2018–2022Opposition Critic for Accessibility and Persons with Disabilities Pensions; Seniors' Affairs
Personal details
Born (1972-01-14) January 14, 1972
PartyNew Democratic
Ontario New Democratic
Children2
Alma materYork University
Queen's University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • researcher
WebsiteConstituency website
Campaign website

Joel Davison Harden (born January 14, 1972) is a former Canadian politician who represented Ottawa Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2018 to 2025. A member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP), Harden served as the party's critic for transit and active transportation. He was the federal NDP candidate in the riding of Ottawa Centre in the 2025 Canadian federal election.[1]

Background

Early life and education

Harden grew up in Vankleek Hill, Ontario.[2][3] He holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and political studies from Queen's University.[4] He later attended York University, where he earned a master's degree in 1997 and a doctorate in political science in 2006.[5][6]

Career

Harden worked as a researcher at the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). He was an instructor at the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University and an adjunct professor at Brock University. He has also taught at Nipissing University, York University, and McMaster University.[6][7]

From 1998 to 2000, Harden was the chairman of the Ontario section of the CFS.[8] 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.[8][9][10]

In 2013, Formac Lorimer published Joel Harden's book Quiet No More: New Political Activism in Canada and Around the Globe.[10][11]

Political career

Harden was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[12]

In August 2018, Harden was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities; Pensions; Seniors' Affairs.[13] Harden's parliamentary roles included sitting on the Standing Committee on Social Policy.[9]

He is a self-described democratic socialist.[14] Harden supports the BDS movement.[15]

Federal politics

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 2025 Canadian federal election.[16] He won the contested nomination race on January 11, 2025, against Canadian Labour Congress national director of human rights, Vicky Smallman.[1][17] He was defeated in the general election, finishing second to Liberal incumbent Yasir Naqvi.[18] Harden endorsed Avi Lewis in the 2026 New Democratic Party leadership election.[19]

Controversies

Support for Khalida Jarrar

In 2019, Harden called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to demand that Israel immediately release Khalida Jarrar, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Canada had designated as a terrorist organization.[20] Jarrar was also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and had been arrested by Israeli security forces and convicted of "promoting terror activities."[20] Harden tweeted that he was "Saddened, sickened and disgusted by the continued abuse of Khalida Jarrar, my parliamentary colleague, by Israeli occupation forces."[20] Michael Mostyn, the CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, released a statement criticizing Harden's support for Jarrar: “It is appalling that an elected official would call for the release of a leader of what Canada rightly acknowledges as an antisemitic terrorist group."[20] The NDP’s provincial secretary, Lucy Watson, clarified that the NDP denounces terrorism in any form and that the NDP supports a "peaceful and sustainable negotiated resolution to the conflict in the region".[20]

Comments on Israel and Palestine

In November 2022, Harden was criticized for his statements in a video blog interview related to Israel and Palestine. Harden said that the: "single greatest origin of violence in the Middle East is unquestionably the state of Israel."[21] He ultimately issued a written apology for perpetuating an antisemitic stereotype and condemned antisemitism.[22][23] 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."[21] The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs posted on social media that Harden's comments in the interview: "can only be called antisemitism and misinformation about Israel."[24] 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."[24]

Noise law infraction

In January 2024, Harden and eight others were fined for Ottawa By-law noise-violations as a result of using a megaphone at a pro-Palestine protest.[25] Ottawa By-Law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) 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 protesters 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.[26]

Electoral record

Federal elections

2025 Canadian federal election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYasir Naqvi51,02662.73+17.50$145,082.19
New DemocraticJoel Harden15,93519.59–13.12$140,977.79
ConservativePaul D'Orsonnens12,69215.60–0.68$80,223.66
GreenAmanda Rosenstock9161.13–1.67$13,758.70
Canadian FutureAndrea Chabot2680.33N/A$17,715.43
Christian HeritageMarie-Chantal Leriche2340.29N/A$0.00
CommunistCashton Perry1540.19–0.09$0.00
IndependentMike Salmon660.08N/A$0.00
IndependentZed Chebib470.06N/Anone listed
Total valid votes 81,33899.26–0.05$149,828.93
Total rejected ballots 6040.74+0.05
Turnout 81,94277.43+2.99
Eligible voters 105,823
Liberal notional hold Swing +15.31
Source: Elections Canada[27][28]

Provincial elections

2022 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJoel Harden30,31154.34+8.26$134,177
LiberalKatie Gibbs12,59622.58−10.20$103,394
Progressive ConservativeScott Healey8,77315.73−0.31$45,558
GreenShelby Bertrand2,7184.87+1.35$11,136
New BlueGlen Armstrong7981.43 $1,325
None of the AboveMarc Adornato2330.42−0.26$0
CommunistStuart Ryan1530.27+0.10$0
IndependentThomas Borcsok820.15 $378
People's FrontRaymond Samuels590.11 $285
IndependentJosh Rachlis580.10 $0
Total valid votes/expense limit 55,78199.52+0.44$154,648
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 2660.48-0.44
Turnout 56,04750.74-10.46
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 May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticJoel Harden29,67546.08+25.69
LiberalYasir Naqvi21,11132.78-18.89
Progressive ConservativeColleen McCleery10,32716.03-2.08
GreenCherie Wong2,2663.52-4.22
None of the AboveMarc Adornato4370.68
LibertarianBruce A. Faulkner3850.60-0.96
CommunistStuart Ryan1100.17-0.35
Canadians' ChoiceJames Sears920.14
Total valid votes 64,403100.0 
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +22.29
Source: Elections Ontario[29]

References

  1. 1 2 Morgan, James (January 28, 2025). "Federal NDP nominates Joel Harden in Ottawa Centre". The Review. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Tuition blocking education dreams". Ottawa Citizen. August 17, 1998. p. A5. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Joel Harden – Bringing a much-needed grassroots perspective to politics". April 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ "NDP MPP Joel Harden Speaking to CCU at 50th Anniversary Convention - Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)". ccu-csc.ca. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ten York University alumni win in 2022 Ontario election | Alumni and Friends - Division of Advancement". June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Five things you should know about Joel Harden". Kitchissippi Times. June 28, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Contributor Profile". Formac Lorimer. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Joel Harden: Educator, activist, and writer". Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Media Kit". Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "NDP Joel Harden scores second term as MPP for Ottawa Centre". CityNews. June 3, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Quiet No More: New Political Activism in Canada and Around the Globe". Formac Lorimer. December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  12. ↑ "NDP Joel Harden elected in Ottawa Centre". CBC News Ottawa, June 7, 2018.
  13. ↑ "NDP Caucus Critic Portfolios"
  14. ↑ "High-profile Liberal incumbent Naqvi gets rolled by NDP's Harden in Ottawa Centre". ottawacitizen.
  15. ↑ "Interview: Joel Harden on running for ONDP nomination in Ottawa-Centre". socialist.ca. September 2, 2017. Retrieved August 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.
  16. ↑ "MPP Joel Harden, Catherine McKenney eyeing possible showdown for Ottawa federal seat". CTV News. March 16, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ Eltherington, William (January 12, 2025). "MPP Joel Harden to be federal NDP candidate for Ottawa Centre". CTV News Ottawa. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ Glass, Marlo; Abebe, Abyssinia (April 28, 2025). "Yasir Naqvi beats Joel Harden in Ottawa Centre". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  19. ↑ WAND, ELEANOR (January 22, 2026). "McPherson's NDP leadership bid secures most ex-MP support, but Lewis nabs only caucus nod". The Hill Times. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 "Jewish group seeks apology after NDP MPP tweets support for Palestinian 'terrorist leader'". Global News. The Canadian Press. November 4, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Larson, Peter (August 10, 2021). "OFIP Interview with Joel Harden". Peter Larson. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Ottawa New Democrat MPP apologizes for 2021 comments that 'perpetrated an antisemitic stereotype'". Ottawa CTV News. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Canadian MPP apologizes for holding Jewish Ontarians 'accountable' for Israeli violence". The Jerusalem Post. November 22, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Dawson, Tyler (November 20, 2022). "Ontario NDP MPP Joel Harden apologizes for antisemitic remarks". National Post. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Noise bylaw tickets issued again during 12th weekend of pro-Palestinian rallies in Ottawa," Ottawa Citizen.
  26. ↑ "Ottawa bylaw hands out nine noise fines to pro-Palestine protesters, including Ottawa MPP," CTV News.
  27. ↑ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
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