Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wants to build Canada香蕉视频直播檚 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 Singh香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to be leaders internationally,香蕉视频直播� said Singh about the national shipbuilding strategy. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝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.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a local business that we want to see continue to grow,香蕉视频直播� he said, gesturing at the boatyard behind him. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to see these businesses get the support they need, and we think the federal government should be doing that.香蕉视频直播�
While strengthening Canada香蕉视频直播檚 shipbuilding industry is one idea to improve affordability, Singh said that he has been hearing from other people in the community about their concerns.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e hearing from women, from Indigenous communities, and from working people that there香蕉视频直播檚 been some progress made, and we can香蕉视频直播檛 see that lost,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 remember someone in my constituency got the pilot project in B.C.,香蕉视频直播� Singh said. 香蕉视频直播淪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 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 how transformative it is.
香蕉视频直播淲e thought it香蕉视频直播檚 not enough to just have these agreements in place,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e will make the permanent 香蕉视频直播� we want to expand it.香蕉视频直播�
Singh and the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播�(Affordability) is the biggest question of our time. I香蕉视频直播檇 say lots of people are feeling the squeeze, particularly around housing and groceries,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淪o if they made $5 billion the penalty should be $15 billion now,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 deterrence. That香蕉视频直播檚 gonna stop them from doing it. They see a threat of having to pay that level of fine. That香蕉视频直播檚 a severe sanction that would stop them from ripping us off.香蕉视频直播�
That bill received second reading on Feb. 7.
To tackle housing prices, Singh said the NDP is focused on 香蕉视频直播渞eal alternatives香蕉视频直播� like non-profit housing, cooperative housing and building with federal investments to help lower the upfront costs of new builds.
香蕉视频直播淲e talked to builders and they said 香蕉视频直播榳ell, I have to stay market rates for the land, I香蕉视频直播檓 gonna pay market rates for my workers, I香蕉视频直播檓 gonna pay market rates for the materials, and so the house is gonna be market rate,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need federal land, money, and power to build affordable homes.香蕉视频直播�
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