Jagmeet Singh was running a few minutes late.

North Island-Powell River NDP MP Rachel Blaney wasnB次元官网网址檛 terribly surprised.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 probably stopping to talk to everyone out there,B次元官网网址� she told representatives from Campbell RiverB次元官网网址檚 social support network gathered to share their challenges with the federal NDP leader.

In town to discuss affordability, both in terms of housing and food security, Singh joined Black Press Media staff for a stroll around the block and a one-on-one interview.

The needs of the various non-profits he spoke are very real, he said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hearing more more stories from people that are having a hard time making ends meet. Even families that have jobs have a home, theyB次元官网网址檙e feeling the squeeze. Knowing that, I can only imagine how much harder it is for someone who doesnB次元官网网址檛 really have housing or doesnB次元官网网址檛 really have enough income to make their bills or just get by.B次元官网网址�

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B次元官网网址淲e have to focus on the problems, but then look to solutions and thatB次元官网网址檚 what folks in the room were really quick to do. They had great ideas about what we could do to fix this and that to me was a hopeful message coming out of the meeting.B次元官网网址�

However, translating local on-the-ground needs to federal policy can be tricky. Singh says that one way is to treat the cause of a problem instead of the symptoms.

B次元官网网址淚n housing itB次元官网网址檚 getting at the fact that housing is being used like like a casino or a stock market to make money,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou gamble on buying property here and you hope you can make a lot of money off of it.B次元官网网址�

Singh would like to see tax laws used to make it less attractive to use housing as a money-maker. Fixing the affordability crisis has been focused on either reducing the cost of living or lessening the load on regular people. However, Singh said that wages were not keeping up with inflation even before the current crisis, and there are ways people can advocate for higher income.

B次元官网网址淲e know one of the best ways to a good-paying job that has enough to pay the bills is to make it easier to join a union. So weB次元官网网址檙e looking at ways of strengthen the ability to join the union,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that anti-scab legislation was also on the NDP docket.

Singh has been signalling a focus on the NDP being the party of the working class. During an NDP caucus meeting earlier this month he said the Liberal Party is B次元官网网址渨aging a warB次元官网网址� on workers. Singh said that was referring to the Bank of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 approach to inflation.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e said that you canB次元官网网址檛 increase wages to keep up with inflation,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he Bank of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 approach right now to the inflation is raising interest rates B次元官网网址� It makes it harder for people that have got a mortgage and it makes it harder for people who have debt.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�(The Liberals) are choosing a path to make more pain for workers while theyB次元官网网址檙e ignoring that the wealthiest corporations have made huge profits in this inflationary period so theyB次元官网网址檝e really chosen a side,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e choosing a side to protect the wealth of the billionaires and chosen a path thatB次元官网网址檚 gonna hurt workers. And to me that looks like class warfare.B次元官网网址�

Workers are hurting, and towns with industrial economic bases are facing insecurity both in the short and long terms. One of those insecurities is related to climate change, and SinghB次元官网网址檚 NDP has a plan for a just transition for industry workers.

B次元官网网址淭he Inflation Reduction act in the States and the decisions that the Biden Administration have made around clean energy investments have meant that there is a risk that we fall behind; workers in Canada fall behind if we donB次元官网网址檛 also have a clear strategy around investing in some of these jobs in the future,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat can we do knowing that one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest economies B次元官网网址� has chosen to invest in clean energy or in jobs in a sector that reduces emissions?

B次元官网网址淐limate change means that different jobs or different sectors are being impacted. Those workers might might have volatility or unpredictability in their jobs B次元官网网址� It also means that thereB次元官网网址檚 certain areas that we need to make investments because thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be an opportunity for us to create really good jobs B次元官网网址� I could include things like on-land containment for fish farms or something like that B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e looking at how we can transition any any process that we have into a more sustainable way to do it that still creates those good jobs.B次元官网网址�

Other industries are not immune.

Many regions are facing health care worker shortages. These shortages are exacerbated by the housing crisis. Even B.C. Premier David Eby and his family had in Port McNeill when they tried to relocate there for his wifeB次元官网网址檚 medical career during the pandemic.

To Singh, the health care worker shortage is a national issue, and requires a national response B次元官网网址� beyond just improving housing.

B次元官网网址淭he federal government has to play a role in supporting with funds for opening up more seats in colleges and universities,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that they have to be B次元官网网址渕aking sure that we pay our healthcare workers adequately so they can be in communities. So this is very top of mind and we have we have real concrete things that we could do to fix it.B次元官网网址�

Health care is one of the main priorities for the NDP this year, with the health care, dental care and pharmacare coverage all major parts of keeping the confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals in place.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e proud of the work that weB次元官网网址檝e delivered so far or the work weB次元官网网址檝e done so far and IB次元官网网址檓 not satisfied though. I know thereB次元官网网址檚 more that needs to be done this year. WeB次元官网网址檙e gonna keep on fighting,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e proud that we were the only party in Parliament thatB次元官网网址檚 actually pushing for these changes.B次元官网网址�

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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