Rachael Harder addresses the crowd in Coaldale on Nov. 25 right after the unveiling of the Canada 150 maple leaf for next year’s celebrations.
It has been just over one year since the youngest Member of Parliament (MP) from the Lethbridge riding was elected. Rachael Harder, the 29-year-old of the Conservative Party won her first seat in last year’s federal election.
Harder is helping tackle issues happening in Lethbridge out in Ottawa and bringing up the conversation with important subjects.
“I am particularly passionate when it comes to violence against women. That is something we are studying right now on the standing committee for the status of women in parliament. It is a subject that I brought to the table and asked us to study and certainly want us as a country to take it very seriously,” said Harder who feels that people should be safe whether they are walking to work or sleeping in their own bed.
“There are far too many women and girls in this country who are being assaulted and victimized each and every day,” added Harder.
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Alberta’s economy has had some struggles over the past year with job loss spreading throughout the province. Harder knows there is work that needs to be done to get the economy back on the upswing.
“The provincial and federal government both have a responsibility to play in terms of helping people get back to work. And the best way to do that is by facilitating an environment where private enterprise is going to thrive. It’s providing an opportunity for businessmen and women to create jobs,” added Harder.
Being an MP means Harder spends a lot of her time in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. Plane rides back to Lethbridge gives her a chance to unwind without having to answer emails or take phone calls.
“You can just slow down a little bit and I’m learning to appreciate that more and more as the job goes forward. Sometimes I use that time to unplug and watch a movie or catch up on a TV show,” said Harder.
The biggest part of it is spending time away from home and Harder misses being close.
Harder says one of the biggest tests isn’t the job itself, but spending time away from southern Alberta.
“I would say for me probably one of the challenges of this job that I face is being away from home so much. Being away from community, being away from friends, from family, being away from the people who keep me grounded and the people who I love,” adds Harder who tries to connect with those whenever she is back in Lethbridge.
