Joel Harden on Facebook 
Joel Harden
Biography
Joel believes in working with neighbours and being welcoming to everyone. With Joel’s leadership, New Democrats have built strong relationships with Ottawa’s charities, non-profits, community groups, and our allies in the labour movement.
Joel has dedicated his life and work towards advocating for social and environmental justice. He lives in Old Ottawa South with his family and tries his best to bike everywhere he goes.
Prior to being your MPP, Joel was a researcher with the Canadian Federation of Students and Director of Education for the Canadian Labour Congress, for which he designed the campaign that expanded the Canada Pension Plan. Joel also taught at the Carleton University Department of Law and Legal Studies and is author of the book "Quiet No More: New Political Activism in Canada and Around the Globe".
Joel's Legislative Wins:
Voula's Law
On March 6, 2021, Joel put forward Voula’s Law (Motion 129), which re-affirmed the rights for seniors and people with disabilities to receive visitors of their own choosing in congregate care homes (eg: long-term care, retirement homes, group homes). Voula’s Law was passed unanimously, affirming important rights.
Transit Advocacy
On November 17, 2021, the Ford Government declared a public inquiry into Stage 1 of Ottawa’s LRT. For months they said this was the “City of Ottawa’s problem”, but persistent advocacy from Joel, local journalists, and residents changed that. It was a major win for transparency and accountability in public infrastructure.
COVID Support
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Joel and the Ottawa Centre staff team worked hard to support Ottawa residents and small businesses. When the Convoy Occupation happened in February 2022, this work intensified. We outlasted the Convoy, we defended our community, and we will do so again if needed.
Protecting Vulnerable Road Users
From September 21-24, 2023, Joel and the Ottawa Centre staff team organized a “Safety Ride” from Ottawa to Toronto to promote Bill 40, The Moving Ontarians Safely Act. Joel cycled to Toronto, stopping in Kingston, Brighton, Oshawa, Scarborough and ending at Queen’s Park. Public meetings were held along the way to listen to residents and their concerns about road safety. Sadly, the Conservatives voted against Bill 40, but pledged to bring their own vulnerable road user law forward soon. Joel is working with advocates to ensure this happens.
Reason for running
Ottawa Centre is at a crossroads. The cost of living crisis, housing crisis and drug toxicity crisis are top of mind for neighbours, on top of instability from the Trump administration. But we don't have to tune politics out and we don't have to settle for less.
I'm running to be your voice in parliament and fight for the solutions our community needs. As your MP, I will advocate to;
- Get the government back into the business of building affordable housing by advocating for a federal public builder
- Establish and foster Canadian ownership and control of our major sectors.
- Fight the privatization of health care services and work towards free access to medicine for every Canadian through a universal pharmacare program
- Declarethe drug toxicity crisis a public health emergency, fix the safe supply program and fund solutions for people dealing with addiction and their families.
We can win this election, support local changemakers, and chart a new course of hope.
Ottawa-Centre est à a croisée des chemins. La crise d coût de la vie, la crise du logement et la crise de la toxicité des drogues sont au premier plan des préoccupations des voisins, en plus de l'instabilité de l'administration Trump. Mais nous n'avons pas a ignorer la politique et nous n'avons pas à nous contenter de moins.
Je me présente pour être votre voix au Parlement et lutter pour les solutions dont notre communauté a besoin. En tant que député, je m'efforcerai de;
- Faire en sorte que le gouvernement se remette à construire des logements abordables en plaidant en faveur d'un constructeur public fédéral.
- Établir et favoriser la propriété et le contrôle canadiens de nos principaux secteurs.
- Lutter contre la privatisations des services de santé et oeuvrer en faveur d'un accès gratuit aux médicaments pour tous les Canadiens par les biais d'un programme universel d'assurance-médicaments
- Déclarer la crise de la toxicité des drogues comme une urgence de santé publique, réparer le programme d'approvisionnement sûr et financer des solution pour les personnes contrées à la toxicomanie et leurs familles.
Nous pouvons gagner cette élection, soutenir les acteur locaux du changement et tracer une voie d'espoir.
joelharden.ca www.joelharden.ca