A look at the outgoing Ottawa MPPs and their complicated legacies

There are three MPPs leaving Queen’s Park. Here is a look back at who they are, the legacies they leave behind, and what’s next for the departing politicians. 

Goldie Ghamari - Carleton 

When outgoing Carleton PC MPP Goldie Ghamari first decided to enter the race in Carleton, there was a lot of controversy. Actually, that’s an understatement. 

In an email leaked to the Ottawa Citizen in 2017, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod said Ghamari would lose and would be a bad MPP if she won the election. MacLeod had represented Nepean and Carleton up until this point, but it was being split into two separate districts. 

“For 22 years John Baird and I have kept Carleton deep Tory Blue and now that is at risk,” wrote MacLeod in the email.  “I chose a tougher, urban seat and I do not regret the choice, but I am gutted by what comes next in Carleton as I not only believe the current candidate will not win but worse, if she does win, she will not be a suitable representative for my constituents who I remain loyal to.”

Ghamari, who worked as a lawyer, went on to win the candidacy and then the election. But the drama was far from over. 

In January 2019, one of Ghamari's former clients pursued an investigation with the Law Society of Ontario for failing to take action on his complaint, which caused him to lose an investment in his restaurant business.

Ghamari informed the Law Society that she cut off communication with the client based on unsubstantiated rumours that he had ties in the past to a group designated by the federal government as a terrorist organization — an allegation not confirmed anywhere in the tribunal's ruling. 

The tribunal ruled that Ghamari had failed to co-operate with an investigation. The elected Carleton MPP said she was dealing with mental health issues after an unexpected divorce.  

Ghamari’s law licence was eventually suspended and was accused of "utterly stonewalling" the investigation over two years as the tribunal repeatedly attempted to collect relevant information, including Ghamari's calls and text logs with the client covering the six-month period in question. 

In November 2023, Ghamari came under controversy after the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) alerted the Ontario cabinet about her racist social media postings. On X she wrote the Muslim prayer "Allahu Akbar" was a safety concern and said the hijab was a "symbol of the subjugation of women". The NCCM called for Ford to remove Ghamari from caucus, however he refused. 

But it eventually happened. In June 2024 Ghamari was removed from the PC caucus after meeting with Tommy Robinson, the founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League, ostensibly to discuss the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Carleton MPP apologized for the quick virtual chat and said she had no clue who Robinson was beforehand. 

Premier Ford cited repressed lapses in Ghamari’s character for her removal, and said in a statement, “it speaks volumes about her judgement and honesty.” 

On a local level, though, she did have some positive results. Ghamari was responsible for securing over half a billion dollars to build and expand 15 schools, including the first public high school in Riverside South. 

In a statement after announcing she would not seek re-election as an independent, Ghamari also took credit for bringing natural gas to York‘s Corners; securing over $3 million in funds to renovate and expand the Larry Robinson Arena in Metcalfe; and was part of ensuring that Conservation Authorities were not able to designate private property as "significant wetlands" based on what she called “false and hypothetical data.”

What’s next: In case you’re wondering who Ghamari voted for in this election, she hinted on X that she cancelled her ballot and told others it was okay to do. Ghamari, who is Iranian, has also been a big supporter of Israel after the war in the Middle East started and has been getting very involved in national politics. 

Joel Harden - Ottawa Centre 

When Joel Harden first won Ottawa Centre for the NDP in 2018, he took it from the Liberals. The orange supporter was soon appointed the party’s Official Opposition Critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities, Pensions and Seniors' Affairs.

In 2019, Harden called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to demand that Israel immediately release Khalida Jarrar, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which Canada had designated as a terrorist organization.^[19] Jarrar was also a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and had been arrested by Israeli security forces and convicted of "promoting terror activities."

When the war in the Middle East occurred, Harden quickly threw his support behind Palestine. In a video blog he said the “single greatest origin of violence in the Middle East is unquestionably the state of Israel." That was quickly followed up by an apology for perpetuating an antisemitic stereotype. 

Then in January 2024, Harden was among eight people to receive noise violations from ByLaw for using a megaphone at a pro-Palestine demonstration, reported the Kitchissippi Times. 

“Using a small megaphone to advocate for Palestinian human rights gets a $490 fine? This has to stop,” Harden wrote on X at the time with hashtag #CeasefireNow.

In a final speech at Queen’s Park, Harden used it as an opportunity to not talk about his accomplishments, but instead as a thank you to the community. 

“Community organizers at home — too numerous to name in a five-minute speech — you inspire me every day to work harder, and demand more from politics. I feel the same way about the amazing people who work in our public institutions,” said Harden, according to the Kitchissippi Times. “Colleagues in the Official Opposition, thanks for your friendship and support. Thank you to others here (in government and opposition) who’ve done likewise.” To all the staff in this House, thank you for your service. Thanks for helping us.

What’s next: Harden is leaving Queen’s Park to run as the federal NDP candidate in Ottawa Centre instead. And it will be an interesting race to watch - he will be going up against Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, who he reclaimed the legislative seat from back in 2018. 

Climate change, bridging divides, and transit are all part of Harden’s federal platform. 

Lisa MacLeod - Nepean 

It is hard to summarize PC MPP Lisa MacLeod’s legacy in a few words. That’s because it’s a long and complicated one. She first won the riding of Nepean-Carleton back in 2006 and was a fierce voice for Ottawa in official opposition. 

There were tragedies during her tenure like the 2013 VIA rail/OC Transpo bus collision in Barrhaven which killed six and injured 35. Many severe weather events including two tornadoes and a derecho. 

As passion projects, MacLeod launched two private members bills including Rowan’s Law and Nick’s Law. 

Rowan’s Law was created in memory of Rowan Stringer, a Barrhaven teen who died in the spring of 2013 after suffering three concussions in six days — all while playing rugby. The 17-year-old captain of John McCrae High School’s rugby team died from Second Impact Syndrome, which is swelling of the brain caused by a subsequent injury that occurred before a previous injury healed. 

Soon after her passing, Rowan’s parents Gord and Kathleen Stringer decided to open up about their daughter's death to raise awareness on concussions and sports safety. An inquest was held after her passing which brought forward 49 recommendations centred on keeping athletes away from playing after having a concussion. It has since become a national day. 

Nick’s Law was aimed at seeing 10 per cent of the provincial government’s marketing budget go towards opioid education and awareness. It was named in honour of 18-year-old Nick Cody, who died from an MDMA overdose in 2013, reported Ottawa Start. But it never fully took off. 

In power, MacLeod held a number of cabinet positions. First as the Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues. She later became the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But these rolls came with a lot of baggage. It began with MacLeod’s handling of the autism file. On February 13, 2019, the National Post reported that the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysts (ONTABA) had received a threatening message from MacLeod's office. In the email, ONTABA was directed to make a public statement in support of the changes to the Ontario Autism Program or face "four long years". MacLeod further threatened that if the message of support was not forthcoming, her office would release a press statement labelling ONTABA as "self-interested".

In June 2019, at a Rolling Stones concert, MacLeod allegedly publicly said to then Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk: "I am your minister and you’re a f-ing piece of sh-t and you're a f-ing loser." Melnyk complained to the Premier and she apologized for using "blunt" language. The hockey team owner never accepted. 

Then during the 2022 Ontario election, the NDP revealed the Nepean Conservative riding association paid MacLeod $44,000 as a housing subsidy. It raised alarm bells because MPPs receive $26,000 in a housing allowance in addition to their salary.

MacLeod went on to win the election but barred the media from attending her victory party. Soon later she released a statement stating she was taking time off to address her mental health. MacLeod also never returned to cabinet. 

The Nepean MPP was very vocal about her mental health struggles during her time in office which included depression and bipolar disorder. In a mental health podcast episode released Sept. 16, MacLeod admitted the toll became so much that she tried to take her own life in May 2022.

“I didn’t want to live anymore,” she said. “I felt like I was living in a fishbowl and I couldn’t breathe.”

What’s next: MacLeod is planning to put her mental health challenges to good use and has joined the sleep and bipolar disorder clinic at The Royal Mental Health Centre as a community investigator. She’s also writing a book and doing a lot of cooking.