Born at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa,[4] to parents Philip and Blanche Weatherall (née Culhane)[5] she spent her youth in a number of different Ontario cities.

She ran on a platform of "fast-tracking urban development" in south Nepean, increasing the number of sports fields and ice rinks and improved commuter roads, transit and the building of a VIA rail station.

In 2003, Harder described youth gangs in her ward as "non-whites", which led to calls to her resignations and a hate crime complaint that did not lead to charges.

Harder was accused of conflict of interest in 2008 for allegedly endorsing a waste management company, Plasco, and accepting money in the form of a paid trip.

In a 101-page report, Ottawa's integrity commissioner Robert Marleau recommended Harder lose her seat on the committee.