Dan Harris (politician)

Dan Harris (born August 3, 1979) is a Canadian New Democratic Party politician, who represented the riding of Scarborough Southwest from 2011 to 2015. He served as the NDP's Critic for Post-Secondary Education.

Dan Harris
Harris in July 2013
Member of Parliament
for Scarborough Southwest
In office
May 2, 2011 – August 4, 2015
Preceded byMichelle Simson
Succeeded byBill Blair
Personal details
Born (1979-08-03) August 3, 1979
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario
ProfessionIT technician

Background

Harris grew up in east end Toronto. Before being elected, he worked as an IT technician and "Site Lead for VoIP Services and Implementation" at the Kearl Oil Sands Project for Unified Systems Group.[1] He has previously worked at the University of Toronto Students' Union as D.R.O. for their March 2010 Student Elections. As Web Coordinator at the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the summer of 2008. As a Manager of the Ontario NDP Fundraising PhoneBank in 2007–08. As the Support Team Leader at Web Networks 2001–2006 (part-time from 2005 to 2006 while attending classes). As a C.S.R. Telerep at Answer Plus (an inbound call centre) in 1999–2000. Harris also worked as a Jr. Assistant and Assistant at N.Y.A.D. Not Your Average Daycare from 1995 to 1999.

His father David Harris was a teacher in Scarborough for 28 years until he retired in 2015. His family has a military tradition, since his great-grandfather served in both world wars. His grandmother was in the Canadian Women's Army Corps. His great-uncle, Bill Riley, was in the service in the Second World War and served in Europe.[2]

Education

Harris attended French language schools in Toronto until college, graduating from elementary school at École George Étienne Cartier in Toronto and École Secondaire Catholique Mgr-de-Charbonnel in North Toronto for secondary school. He also attended Seneca College, studying computer programming and analysis. In the fall of 2016 he took a graphic design program at Concordia University.

Politics

Harris first ran for office during the 2000 election in Scarborough Southwest, placing fourth behind Liberal incumbent Tom Wappel.[3] He tried again in the 2004 and 2006 elections, and also ran for Ward 35 in the 2006 Toronto municipal elections. Harris did not contest the 2008 federal election, but tried again in 2011—this time defeating Liberal incumbent Michelle Simson.[3]

Harris was named Deputy Critic for Science and Technology on June 2, 2011.[4] In the summer of 2012 Harris was named Deputy Industry Critic then on August 9, 2013, he became the Critic for Post-Secondary Education.

In February 2015 Harris was among a group of NDP MPs accused by the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) of misspending taxpayers dollars by funding NDP satellite offices after the 2011 election. Harris was initially ordered to pay back $141,467 to Canadian taxpayers. The NDP indicated its intention to challenge the ruling in federal court.[5][6] In December 2015 Harris was exonerated by the House of Commons after providing proof that the Liberal and Conservative dominated BOIE had improperly charged him for staff working in his constituency office doing parliamentary work.[7][8]

In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Harris lost his riding to former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair.

Electoral record
2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalBill Blair25,58652.47+23.13$153,155.47
New DemocraticDan Harris11,57423.73-11.14$48,940.84
ConservativeRoshan Nallaratnam10,34721.22-10.46$64,631.85
GreenTommy Taylor1,2592.58-1.48$5,572.61
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,766100.0   $205,220.58
Total rejected ballots 2770.56–
Turnout 49,04367.96–
Eligible voters 72,164
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +17.13
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDan Harris14,11335.04%+16.29%
ConservativeGavan Paranchothy12,82831.85%+2.34%
LiberalMichelle Simson11,70129.05%-12.77%
GreenStefan Dixon1,6364.06-5.43%
Total valid votes 40,278100%
Turnout –59.1%
2006 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalTom Wappel19,93047.83−1.63$31,803
ConservativeVincent Veerasuntharam10,01724.04+0.26$68,687
New DemocraticDan Harris9,62623.10+0.79$18,101
GreenValerie Philip1,8274.38+0.38
IndependentTrevor Sutton1470.35
CommunistElizabeth Rowley1200.29−0.15$280
Total valid votes 41,667 100.00
Total rejected ballots 189 0.45 −0.11
Turnout 41,856 62.37 +5.21
Electors on the lists 67,109
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.
2004 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalTom Wappel18,77649.46−10.36$47,511
ConservativeHeather Jewell9,02823.78−4.59$63,040
New DemocraticDan Harris8,47122.31+12.05$21,397
GreenPeter Van Dalen1,5204.00not listed
CommunistElizabeth Rowley1680.44$300
Total valid votes 37,963 100.00
Total rejected ballots 215 0.56 −0.10
Turnout 38,178 57.16 +3.73
Electors on the lists 66,797
Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.
2000 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalTom Wappel21,46660.01+6.61$47,146
Progressive ConservativeEllery Hollingsworth5,25114.68+1.01$14,019
AllianceNabil El-Khazen4,91213.73−6.72$30,429
New DemocraticDan Harris3,63810.17−1.05$10,666
Canadian ActionWalter Aolari3360.94$4,886
CommunistDora Stewart1650.46$202
Total valid votes 35,768 100.00
Total rejected ballots 237 0.66 −0.04
Turnout 36,005 53.43 −9.52
Electors on the lists 67,382
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

References
  1. SCARBOROUGH SOUTHWEST: One-term incumbent seeks return to Parliament, Inside Toronto, April 28, 2011.
  2. "Information archivée dans le Web" (PDF).
  3. "Scarborough Southwest: Harris wins seat for NDP". Inside Toronto. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012.
  4. "Press release: Layton unveils shadow economic development team, deputy critics". NDP.ca. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  5. "Ex-NDP MPS Still on Hook for Tens of Thousands of Dollars". 6 February 2015.
  6. "Scarborough MP Harris calls House ruling on owed money an 'egregious error'". 30 July 2015.
  7. "Ex-NDP MP off the hook for $140K satellite office repayment to Commons | CBC News".
  8. "Former Toronto NDP MP cleared of $140K in satellite offices dispute | CTV News".
  9. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Scarborough Southwest, 30 September 2015
  10. Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits
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