Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants to build Canada91裸聊视频檚 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 Singh91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e want to be leaders internationally,91裸聊视频� said Singh about the national shipbuilding strategy. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝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.
91裸聊视频淭his is a local business that we want to see continue to grow,91裸聊视频� he said, gesturing at the boatyard behind him. 91裸聊视频淲e want to see these businesses get the support they need, and we think the federal government should be doing that.91裸聊视频�
While strengthening Canada91裸聊视频檚 shipbuilding industry is one idea to improve affordability, Singh said that he has been hearing from other people in the community about their concerns.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e hearing from women, from Indigenous communities, and from working people that there91裸聊视频檚 been some progress made, and we can91裸聊视频檛 see that lost,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚 remember someone in my constituency got the pilot project in B.C.,91裸聊视频� Singh said. 91裸聊视频淪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 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 how transformative it is.
91裸聊视频淲e thought it91裸聊视频檚 not enough to just have these agreements in place,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e will make the permanent 91裸聊视频� we want to expand it.91裸聊视频�
Singh and the NDP91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频�(Affordability) is the biggest question of our time. I91裸聊视频檇 say lots of people are feeling the squeeze, particularly around housing and groceries,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淪o if they made $5 billion the penalty should be $15 billion now,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 deterrence. That91裸聊视频檚 gonna stop them from doing it. They see a threat of having to pay that level of fine. That91裸聊视频檚 a severe sanction that would stop them from ripping us off.91裸聊视频�
That bill received second reading on Feb. 7.
To tackle housing prices, Singh said the NDP is focused on 91裸聊视频渞eal alternatives91裸聊视频� like non-profit housing, cooperative housing and building with federal investments to help lower the upfront costs of new builds.
91裸聊视频淲e talked to builders and they said 91裸聊视频榳ell, I have to stay market rates for the land, I91裸聊视频檓 gonna pay market rates for my workers, I91裸聊视频檓 gonna pay market rates for the materials, and so the house is gonna be market rate,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e need federal land, money, and power to build affordable homes.91裸聊视频�
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