He represented Kings South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1999 as a Liberal member.
[2] Harrison entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Harry How by 128 votes in the Kings South riding.
[3][4] On June 11, 1993, Harrison was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Environment.
[6] On June 27, 1996, Harrison became Minister of Education and Culture,[7] a job he kept when Russell MacLellan took over as premier in July 1997.
[9][10] On April 8, 1998, he was retained as Minister of Education and Culture, but was also given the additional responsibility for sport and recreation, and science and technology.