Joel Harden MPP / Député, Ottawa Centre

It's been quite the week on Parliament Hill. The inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act has revealed several things about how the “Freedom Convoy” was handled by officials at all levels.  Firs... More

What if you lost your home? That’s the question facing Graham and Louis, low-income seniors who’ve shared a two-bedroom apartment on Elgin Street for 42 years. Their building had a fire on June 19,... More

“Please don’t strike – don’t force my hand”.  This was Premier Ford’s message yesterday to the lowest-paid workers in Ontario’s public education system. These workers are represented by the Ontario... More

Tomorrow, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I will be marching with Albert Dumont, Algonquin Elder and Ottawa’s English Poet Laureate.  I am supporting Albert’s call (echoed by thou... More

Tomorrow (Friday, September 23) is the global climate strike led by #FridaysForFuture.  This is a youth-led environmental movement that started when 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and others students s... More

Last week, I wrote about an appeal to double social assistance rates. The appeal came from five MPPs (myself included) who pledged to live on a $47 food budget for two weeks. Why? We need a basic i... More

This week I joined four other MPPs in living on $47 per week for food. We started on September 6, and our action ends on September 20. This is what the Premier Mike Harris said was adequate for soc... More

Labour Day long weekend is here.  In practical terms, it’s a time when people take stock of the Summer, and think of the weeks and months to come.  For many, that means getting kids ready for back-... More

As I said in the Legislature this week, happy Capital Pride 2022!  This week Ottawa celebrates and values 2SGLBTQi+ neighbours. There are terrific events, art installations, and performances to att... More

I’m writing you these words from St. John’s, Newfoundland.  It's a foggy morning, but Frank, a local guide I met here, thinks that description is “fake news”. It’s an adjective for cynics who can’t... More