Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants to build CanadaB次元官网网址檚 domestic shipbuilding industry, which he says will help build the coastal economies and improve affordability for Vancouver Islanders.
Singh was in Campbell River on March 5 as part of a west-coast tour. The tour was part of a North Island-Powell River riding visit, during which he also stopped in Powell River and Comox before moving down island to Courtenay and beyond. Affordability was on the top of SinghB次元官网网址檚 mind as he toured the Ocean Pacific Marine Store and Boatyard in Campbell River, but so were ideas about how to build stronger local economies.
B次元官网网址淲e want to be leaders internationally,B次元官网网址� said Singh about the national shipbuilding strategy. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got so much coastline in Canada, we should be (leaders). The strategy only works if we make the right investments in communities so they can get bigger, expand and grow their skill sets.
B次元官网网址淭his is a local business that we want to see continue to grow,B次元官网网址� he said, gesturing at the boatyard behind him. B次元官网网址淲e want to see these businesses get the support they need, and we think the federal government should be doing that.B次元官网网址�
While strengthening CanadaB次元官网网址檚 shipbuilding industry is one idea to improve affordability, Singh said that he has been hearing from other people in the community about their concerns.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hearing from women, from Indigenous communities, and from working people that thereB次元官网网址檚 been some progress made, and we canB次元官网网址檛 see that lost,B次元官网网址� he said. One of those areas of progress was a bill that will enshrine the $10-a-day daycare agreements the federal government has with provinces into law. That bill received concurrence in the house on Feb. 29, and it is awaiting royal assent.
B次元官网网址淚 remember someone in my constituency got the pilot project in B.C.,B次元官网网址� Singh said. B次元官网网址淪he said it changes her life, knowing it will be more affordable, and as soon as they heard about the pilot project, they decided they were going to try to have a kid B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 how transformative it is.
B次元官网网址淲e thought itB次元官网网址檚 not enough to just have these agreements in place,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e will make the permanent B次元官网网址� we want to expand it.B次元官网网址�
Singh and the NDPB次元官网网址檚 plans include higher wages for child care workers, as well as more spots available across the country. The next federal election is just over one and a half years away. Singh and the NDP maintain their confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals, though pharmacare and dental care have both moved forward. Their priorities now centre around affordability.
B次元官网网址�(Affordability) is the biggest question of our time. IB次元官网网址檇 say lots of people are feeling the squeeze, particularly around housing and groceries,B次元官网网址� he said. Singh talked about his bill that would lower grocery prices, saying that part of the bill would set the penalty for corporations that profit from price gouging to three times whatever profit they made.
B次元官网网址淪o if they made $5 billion the penalty should be $15 billion now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 deterrence. ThatB次元官网网址檚 gonna stop them from doing it. They see a threat of having to pay that level of fine. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a severe sanction that would stop them from ripping us off.B次元官网网址�
That bill received second reading on Feb. 7.
To tackle housing prices, Singh said the NDP is focused on B次元官网网址渞eal alternativesB次元官网网址� like non-profit housing, cooperative housing and building with federal investments to help lower the upfront costs of new builds.
B次元官网网址淲e talked to builders and they said B次元官网网址榳ell, I have to stay market rates for the land, IB次元官网网址檓 gonna pay market rates for my workers, IB次元官网网址檓 gonna pay market rates for the materials, and so the house is gonna be market rate,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need federal land, money, and power to build affordable homes.B次元官网网址�
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