Harmony Johnson-Harder addresses those in attendance at the NDP nomination meeting. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW staff)

By Ian Gustafson

NDP Candidate

NDP announce candidate for federal election

Sep 14, 2019 | 6:41 PM

The New Democrats have selected their candidate for the upcoming federal election.

Harmony Johnson-Harder will stand for the party in the riding of Prince Albert.

During the nomination ceremony, Johnson-Harder, who previously ran unsuccessfully for the NDP provincial nomination for Prince Albert Carlton, said she spent a lot of her early childhood moving around Northern Saskatchewan. She settled in St. Louis, where she spent about five years.

“That community I always think is my hometown,” she said. “It was a beautiful little community.”

They eventually moved to Saskatoon where she graduated high school and went to university.

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“That’s where my story really begins with a lot of struggle,” she said.

Johnson-Harder said when the family moved to Saskatoon, her parents decided to both go back to school to create a better life for them all. They took out student loans, and when it was time for her to go to university, Johnson-Harder said she knew she couldn’t ask her parents for any money as they were both repaying their loans.

“I had worked with student loans and tried a couple years at university, but the finances didn’t work out for me so unfortunately I had to quit,” she said.

She met her husband shortly after, started a family and now they have three children. She said she moved to La Ronge 15 years ago and spent thirteen years in the northern community.

“Not having the credentials for employment, I worked really hard at entry level positions and worked my way up,” she said.

She started at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre as a pre-natal assistant handing out coupons to single moms and then worked her way into a home visitor position where she worked with families. She said she was then promoted to a mediation position where she worked with at risk youth.

“From there, I never closed any doors. Sometimes things were tough and I didn’t feel confident at times but, I always put myself in a good space and just barreled on through no matter how tough it was and I want you to know that’s who I am,” She added.

Johnson-Harder said she decided to run for public office as she wants to use her voice to help families in need.

“As I worked with people, I could see the struggles a lot of young families are going through,” she said.”I want to use my voice to help those people. I want to use my voice to advocate for people who can’t advocate for themselves I want to encourage people to be able to stand up and I’ll be there.”

She said the services and programs the NDP are offering in the election are something she can align herself with. These include better employment insurance benefits, support for families and childcare, small business support, reconciliation, climate change, and health care.

“I want you to know that I have the courage to do what’s right and I am excited to align my values with the NDP,” she said. “I want to encourage people to stand up for what’s right,” and in what seemed to be a very local slogan, said “I want to take back from Hoback,” in concluding her speech.

Johnson-Harder said she liked her chances leading up to the Oct.21 vote.

“Historically, the NDP has had a stronghold, but we’ve always been second, and I think we have a good chance,” she said.

Even though Johnson-Harder is the last candidate to enter the election in the local riding she doesn’t see that as a disadvantage.

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