Speaking before the Liberal faithful back on March 25 when she launched her campaign, Emma Harrison promised “to work my ass off” if elected as Peterborough’s Member of Parliament.
Now, just more than two months after voters in overwhelming numbers marked an ‘X’ beside her ballot-listed name, the first-time MP is doing just that as she adjusts to political life, both in her riding and in Ottawa — all while raising three children with her husband and helping with the operation of their beef farm in Selwyn Township.
On Monday (July 7) at her Bethune Street constituency office, taking a rare moment to sit for a chat, MP Harrison reflected on her journey to date, from her decision to seek election to her convincing election victory and the steep learning curve that has followed.
But while MP Harrison has learned much, her election pledge “to restore the honour of being called a Member of Parliament” remains front of mind.
“Sometimes the whole thing doesn’t feel like it really happened,” she says of her campaign and the election. “Even last night I said to my husband ‘I can’t believe I’m the Member of Parliament.’ Being with my kids for a bit, on the farm, and thinking about what it means to represent a community — like what a big deal and what a big responsibility it is.”
“March 25th feels like a lifetime ago. It was such a whirlwind of so much incredible positivity from the community, and within the walls of the (campaign) office. You could just feel it building and building. It took on a life of its own. I didn’t expect that, although I really didn’t know what to expect.”
Reflecting on her decision to put her name forward for election, MP Harrison admits to “certain moments when I thought ‘Have I made the right decision?’,” but adding “That wasn’t a question that lingered for very long.”
“I’m a very committed person. I don’t ever do anything haphazardly or by accident. For me, that means full on. As soon as I was elected, I went right to Ottawa and jumped right in … four weeks of sitting and learning and go, go, go.”
Balancing family, farm, and political life, she says, continues to be a challenge but, she adds, that’s a byproduct of “doing the right thing.”
“It’s difficult to balance at times, but I know I’ve done the right thing, and I know that one day when I talk to them (her kids) about this, I think they’ll be really proud of me,” says MP Harrison, tearing up at the thought.
Her campaign, says MP Harrison, benefited immensely from the involvement of Andy Mitchell, a former Liberal cabinet minister who served as her campaign manager.
“From our first moment of meeting until the end of the campaign, the relationship we built was special,” she says, adding “We still talk, and I hope our friendship remains.”
“His commitment to public service, and to people, is tremendous. My dad passed in 2010. Andy and I have, 100 per cent, very quickly developed this father/daughter-like relationship, of him like being really protective of me.”
“The orchestration of something that big and so well run — I don’t think there’s enough of a light shone on that. But it was the team. We felt that wherever we went as the campaign went along.”
Hearing “people’s personal stories,” says MP Harrison, was a campaign highlight.
“I love to listen and I love to chat with people,” she says. “That was a challenge with how regimented door-knocking is supposed to be.”
“But people’s willingness to share their stories, that is one of the greatest gifts — people’s willingness to let you into their home and tell you how certain things are impacting them, or even share their ideas on how we can improve the struggles we’re facing.”
Having won the election by more than 10,000 votes over incumbent Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri (who, like Harrison, was also a first-time politician and MP when she was elected in 2021), it would be understandable — even expected — that MP Harrison would have a bit of a swelled head. Those looking for any semblance of that will be disappointed.
“I’m very proud to be a regular person, but I want more regular people at the tables and in the rooms where big decisions are being made,” she says.
“This morning, I sat with a bunch of farmers. You need to sit and listen to people, and hear them. They bring perspective and ideas that maybe you haven’t thought of. You listen and then, in turn, you can be a better advocate for people.”
To her credit, MP Harrison won’t pass comment on her predecessor as the riding’s federal representative, but she does feel “people are looking for empathy.” Asked if she can deliver on that, she quickly answers “100 per cent.”
“I want what’s best for all of the people in our riding, and across Canada. I think when you go about things in that way, you know you’re in the right spot. I have to sleep at night. I have to know that I worked hard and did the best I could for the people.”
As confident as Harrison was during the campaign, all indications were that she was up against it. Still, her decision made, she was in it to win it.
“I’ve played sports. I’ve lost a lot. You lose and you learn, and you grow. Losing is an opportunity to reflect on things you could improve on. I entered (the campaign) 20-something points behind (Ferreri). I said to Andy (Mitchell), ‘Do people make up these kinds of margins?’ He was like ‘I don’t know … not really.’ I went in thinking maybe there’s a slight chance we could win, but thinking ‘You’re going to do this anyways’.”
Even after the political winds shifted with Mark Carney replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister and the Liberals gained ground on the Conservatives, the majority of the projected vote for the Peterborough riding was split evenly between Harrison and the incumbent up until voting day.
During her time so far in Ottawa, MP Harrison has been elected a vice-chair of the Liberal Women’s Caucus and named a member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food — a prudent choice based on her farming background, given that the multi-party committee studies bills, government activities and expenditures, and issues related to Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry.
She has also chatted with Prime Minister Mark Carney. “I talked to him a bit about farming,” she says, adding, with wonderment, “He knew who I was … I didn’t know if he’d actually know who I am.”
And, on June 2, MP Harrison delivered her “maiden speech” in the House of Commons, an introductory address during which she talked at length of her father’s influence on her and her pride at being a third-generation farmer.
“I speak about this today because I have witnessed the pride that comes with working in the skilled trades,” she told her elected colleagues.
“I know that skilled trades have been overlooked and underappreciated for too long. However, I stand here today knowing that our new government knows that when Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last. We will build hundreds of thousands of careers in the skilled trades.”
She closed by referencing those who sent her to Ottawa.
“Residents in my home of Peterborough were ready to have a Member of Parliament who would listen to them and be their voice in Ottawa. They understood that we must seize the opportunity for renewal that we have as a country. They know, as we do, that we have an opportunity to think big and to act bigger.”
While she’s excited to learn the protocols and procedures that come with the job, MP Harrison makes it clear that being kind and empathetic doesn’t preclude her being tough when circumstances dictate.
“Knowing when to stand your ground is a great trait for a politician. There are moments when you have to say ‘No, I don’t agree. Not this MP. Not this government.’ In time, people will see I do care a lot about everything, but I have no problem just flat out saying ‘No’.”
While getting her constituency office in order is her current priority, MP Harrison says she is looking forward to “getting down to business” when the House of Commons, now in summer recess, resumes sitting on September 15.
“It’s going to be a really hectic time, but the prime minister has a really strong agenda of making things happen,” MP Harrison says. “He’s working hard to follow the mandate that he ran on and that he has been given. We (Liberal MPs) are behind that. This is what Canadians asked for.”
