Background
Harris grew up in east end Toronto.
Harris grew up in east end Toronto.
Harris attended French language schools in Toronto until college, graduating from elementary school at École George Étienne Cartier in Toronto and École Secondaire Catholique Manager-de-Charbonnel in North Toronto for secondary school. He also attended Seneca College, studying computer programming and analysis.
He served as the NDP"s Critic for Post-Secondary Before being elected, he worked as an Information Technology technician and "Site Lead for VoIP Services and Implementation" at the Kearl Oil Sands Project for Unified Systems Group. He has previously worked at the University of Toronto Students" Union as Doctorate.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 2007-2008.
As the Support Team Leader at Web Networks 2001–2006 (part-time from 2005-2006 while attending classes). As a C.S.R. Telerep at Answer Plus (an inbound call centre) in 1999–2000.
Harris also worked as a Junior. Assistant and Assistant at North.Y.A.D. Not Your Average Daycare from 1995–1999.
Harris first ran for office during the 2000 election in Scarborough Southwest, placing fourth behind Liberal incumbent Tom Wappel.
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. Harris was named Deputy Critic for Science and Technology on June 2, 2011.
On August 9, 2013 he become Critic for Post-Secondary In February 2015 Harris was among a group of NDP MPs accused by the Board of Internal Economy of misspending taxpayers dollars by funding NDP satellite offices after the 2011 election.
As of July 2015 Harris has been ordered to payback $141 467 to Canadian taxpayers. The NDP is challenging the ruling in federal court.
In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Harris lost his riding by a substantial margin to former Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair.