Joel Harden MPP / Député, Ottawa Centre

How do we ensure safe streets? That’s on my mind after last week’s column, where I asked you to write Premier Ford about his pointless crusade against bike lanes. Many of you did, and I thank you f... More

Politics has been abuzz in recent days after Premier Doug Ford waded into the fake culture war of “bikes versus cars”. This pitted road users against each other, making no one safe. That was both w... More

Tomorrow Ottawa residents will host a global climate strike, a yearly event inspired by Greta Thunberg’s “Friday’s for Future” movement. It’s a time of much reflection.  For years since August 2018... More

Thanks so much for your replies last week to my question about whether cooperation in politics is possible. Your replies were thoughtful, and I took them to heart. Today I have another question for... More

This week I’ve been at an Official Opposition retreat in Windsor. It’s nice to be back where I once taught courses for McMaster University in union halls. We are getting ready for the upcoming legi... More

Where does technological success come from? Tech company owners and entrepreneurs? Sure, they play an important role, and always get much of the credit. But who ultimately builds, repairs and opera... More

As I write these words, I’m traveling home from British Columbia after visiting family, and my heart is full. Why? Because the last ten days have been about connection to loved ones and nature, som... More

At the moment, for every one unit of deeply affordable housing that is built in Ottawa, we are losing 31 units that exist. Why? Because real estate investment trusts (REITs) and developers are acqu... More

“We are in a transit crisis.” These were Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s recent words on the state of affairs for OC Transpo and Para Transpo in our city. He claims there is a $140 million hole in operatin... More

On July 31st, Ontario’s Wastewater Surveillance Initiative (WSI) labs were ordered to close by the Ford Government. It was a major setback in our public health infrastructure. And yet, thanks to lo... More