A second person has officially announced their intention to contest the NDP nomination for Prince Albert Carlton.
On Tuesday, Harmony Johnson-Harder announced she would seek the nomination to be the NDP candidate in Prince Albert Carlton for the next provincial election. Teacher Troy Parenteau had already announced his intentions to run for the nomination. The winner of the nomination race will go on to face Sask. Party incumbent Joe Hargrave in the 2020 provincial election. The NDP nomination meeting to choose a candidate is set for April 25 at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Church. Only NDP members who live in the Prince Albert Carlton riding can vote.
Johnson-Harder is a Cree-Métis woman who spent time in St. Louis, Prince Albert and Saskatoon growing up. She is a mother of three.
Johnson-Harder studied political science at the University of Saskatchewan for two years, and is a certified mediator and community development facilitator, She has worked in family, youth, community and leadership services, and currently works as the program manager for culture and community development for the Northern Sport Culture and Recreation district. He has also worked in La Rogne at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre and as a Kids First Nort-Home Visitor, as well as the extrajudicial sanctions program coordinator.
In Prince Albert, she sits on the Prince Albert Council for the Arts and hosts home concerts for “Home Routes.”
“I feel I want to make a difference in the community and for Saskatchewan,” Johnson-Harder said.
“I feel I have the ability to do that.”
Johnson-Harder believes that her history working in mediation and community development, including with youth at risk and families, has given her a really good understanding of individuals’ needs in the community.
“With my own own personal experience with government red tape and the barriers people face with the economy, speaking to people, I really am listening to what everybody has to say,” she said.
“I’d like to represent them and I know I could do a good job at that, with my experience in mediation and community development.”
Johnson-Harder cited job loss, the need for a new hospital, the decision to shutter STC and cuts to education as some of the biggest priorities for Prince Albert.
“A lot of people are struggling to get to and from other communities for medical appointments,” she said about STC.
“I know the elderly used the STC quite regularly.”
As for education, Johnson-Harder emphasized the need to provide more support for classrooms.
“Our children are the most important, getting them a good education with smaller classroom sizes and more resources for teachers.”
In a press release, Johnson-Harder said she wants to preserve the beauty of Prince Albert and its connection to its fresh water and forests. She also said she understands the impact of the rising cost of living, sees the great work people are doing in the community and wants to be a voice for Prince Albert.
“I’ve always been interested in politics and political studies, but I’ve raised my family for the last 13 years,” she said.
“Now that my family has grown a little bit, I feel now is the time that I can be that voice. I believe in the NDP values, in social programs. It’s our responsibility. I’m a voice for everyone.”
