In 1985, he, and two other Saint John-area MLAs, undertook a caucus revolt calling for the resignation of Premier Richard Hatfield.

[3] From 1987 to 1997, in private life, Harrison returned to teaching, becoming principal of Saint John High School (1992).

He resigned from his post as speaker on February 14, 2006 when he was named to the cabinet as Government House Leader in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick and Minister of Supply and Services.

[1] He was re-elected in the 2006 general election, however his party lost and as a result Harrison sat on the opposition benches for the first time in his 15 years in the legislature.

Harrison announced that he would be seeking the New Democratic Party nomination in the district of Hampton for the 2014 election.