angeliquebelcourt.ndp.ca angeliquebelcourt.ndp.ca
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Why am I running for MP?
✔️ Equal access to head-to-toe healthcare, including pharmacare (free medications!), mental health care (unlimited support!), dental care (fundamental to success!), vision care and hearing care (yes, these too!) for all Canadians! Along with advocating to easier access to primary health care providers, culturally specific providers and timely hospital visits.
✔️ Fighting for youth equal access to education and training, including lowering tuition fees, stopping student loan interest and building employment opportunities for youth at home because we shouldn't have to leave home or loose job prospects when we we educated!
✔️ Affordable housing, including supporting geared to income rentals and mortgages, building more affordable housing, more grants to first time home buyers and to existing home buyers and climate conscious grants to encourage retrofitting to save money and the planet simultaneously!
✔️ Working with small businesses and farmers to ensure that they are supported in every aspect of the work they do to help grow and maintain success and sustenance in our communities.
✔️ A climate action plan that works hand in hand with communities on their encounters with climate crises such as flooding and forest fires, because we no our territories and homelands best. Giving less power to big corporations and more to every day people who know how they want to fight climate change and empowering them to have the skills to do so! Cutting fossil fuel subsidies, committing to active reforestation and single use plastics bans and climate conscious infrastructure subsidies.
✔️ Making sure the aging populations in our communities are taken care of and never have to worry about being taken care of. Access to long term and at home care, pharmacare, affordable housing, timely healthcare professionals, decreasing barriers to isolation, improving transit accessibility and income security.
✔️ Holding government accountable to their relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit with a National Council for Reconciliation ensuring that the TRC's 94 Calls to Action and UNDRIP are enshrined in laws that affect Indigenous peoples.
Agriculture & Food
Diversity of growers
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To make it simpler for young people and
women to get into agriculture and build a
life on the farm, we’ll work with the provinces
to improve training opportunities across the
country, and provide low-cost start-up loans
for new farmers. And we’ll provide support
for succession planning and end the unfair tax
treatment of family farm transfers – making
it easier for family farms to stay in the family.
NDP's promise
Food waste
Angelique Belcourt's promise
The way we grow crops, raise livestock, and
use food also has an impact on our climate
future – and nutrition for all Canadians. We’ll
work to connect communities to farmers
through local food hubs, and develop a
national food waste strategy to reduce
the huge amounts of food that currently go
to waste in Canada.
NDP's promise
Indigenous food sovereignty
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our government will support Indigenous
food sovereignty, working in partnership with
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities
to expand access to healthy food, including
traditional and country foods. Working together
with northern communities, we’re committed
to reforming the Nutrition North program to
improve food security for northern families.
NDP's promise
Locally-grown food
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To build on the pride and quality of
Canadian agricultural products, we’ll work
with producers along the supply chain to
increase the amount of Canadian food that
is sold, processed, and consumed in local
and regional markets. It’s a challenge to grow a business without
modern communications infrastructure.
That’s why New Democrats will make sure
that high-speed broadband and cell phone
infrastructure is available to connect our
farmers and rural communities to the services
and tools they need, no matter where in the
country they are. Rural Canadians should
be as connected to markets, opportunities,
and each other as anyone who lives in
urban Canada.
NDP's promise
Mental health of growers
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Mental health matters, and too many Canadian
farmers are living with high levels of stress,
anxiety and depression. We can do more to
provide targeted help – and a New Democrat
government will bring together farmers and
the provinces to develop a national strategy
to address mental health challenges facing
farmers, and to ensure that farmers can get
the help they need, when they need it.
Canola is an example of a home-grown
success story with roots in public research.
To keep Canadian agriculture on the cutting
edge of knowledge and innovation, and provide
direct economic benefit to our farmers, New
Democrats will invest in public agricultural
research and data collection. We’ll also ensure
that rail transportation treats farmers fairly
and helps them get their products to market
efficiently and affordably.
NDP's promise
Nutrition North
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our government will support Indigenous
food sovereignty, working in partnership with
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities
to expand access to healthy food, including
traditional and country foods. Working together
with northern communities, we’re committed
to reforming the Nutrition North program to
improve food security for northern families.
NDP's promise
Payment protection for growers
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our fresh fruit and vegetable producers
grow healthy, nutritious food for Canadian
families and they support local economies
across the country. Many of them also
depend on the ability to export their products
to buyers in the U.S., but without a reciprocal
payment protection program in place, the
financial risks of exporting can be too high.
That’s why New Democrats will introduce a
payment protection program for produce
growers and take immediate steps to restore
protection for growers selling to the U.S. under
the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act.
NDP's promise
Supply management
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats have a plan for a Canadian
Food Strategy that will take a whole-ofgovernment approach to address regional
needs and priorities by investing in our
agricultural communities, supporting young
and new farmers and taking steps to ensure
that rural livelihoods are good and sustainable.
Supply management protects our family farms,
rural communities, and hundreds of thousands
of jobs. New Democrats are committed to
fully protecting supply management and
ensuring reciprocity in all trade negotiations,
and supporting our supply managed sectors
as they innovate and grow. We’ll make sure that
farmers are fully compensated for the losses
they have incurred in Liberal and Conservative
trade negotiations, and we’ll defend Canadian
agricultural products like canola from unfair
retaliation in overseas markets.
NDP's promise
An NDP government will make sure that farmers are fully compensated for the losses they have incurred, and will defend Canadian agricultural products like canola from unfair retaliation in overseas markets.
Youth nutrition
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will partner with provinces,
territories, municipalities, and Indigenous
communities to work towards a national
school nutrition program that will give every
child in Canada access to healthy food, and
the food literacy skills to make healthy choices
for life. We’ll aim to make culturally-appropriate
food available to children in every community in
Canada, so that all children can grow and learn.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will partner with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities to work towards a national school nutrition program that will give every child in Canada access to healthy food and the food literacy skills to make healthy choices for life. We'll aim to make culturally-appropriate food available to children in every community in Canada, so that all children can grow and learn.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Education & Training
Job training
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats know that we can do better
for all workers. We’re committed to working
with the provinces to ensure that Canadians
have access to education throughout their
professional lives, including proactive training
and retraining, as well as support when they
are unemployed. Our vision is one where
training opportunities are flexible enough to
work with people’s busy lives, and significant
enough to really improve job prospects.
To get there, we’ll change EI rules to allow
workers who quit their job to go to school
to qualify for EI benefits, so that families
can count on some income support during
that period of transition back to school.
We’ll also expand options for workers in
designated sectors and regions to take EI
funded training in advance of losing a job
while at the same time promoting investment
to ensure that regional economies are
creating good jobs that support families
and communities. Finally, to make sure that
businesses are investing in the training that
Canadians need, a New Democrat government
will require employers to spend at least
1 percent of payroll on training for their
employees annually.
In order to deliver these changes, we’ll work
closely with the provinces to establish national
training priorities, and create a new Workers
Development and Opportunities Fund to expand
training options beyond people who qualify for
EI. This fund will be provincially directed, with
dedicated support for marginalized workers,
those in transitioning sectors and for efforts to
improve literacy and essential skills.
NDP's promise
We're committed to working with the provinces to ensure that Canadians have access to education throughout their professional lives, including proactive training and retraining, as well as support when they are unemployed. Our vision is one where training opportunities are flexible enough to work with people's busy lives, and significant enough to really improve job prospects.
To get there, we'll change EI rules to allow workers who quit their job to go to school to qualify for for EI benefits, so that families can count on some income support during that period of transition back to school. We'll also expand options for workers in designated sectors and regions to take EI funded training in advance of losing a job while at the same time promoting investment to ensure that regional economies are creating good jobs that support families and communities. Finally, to make sure that businesses are investing in the training that Canadians need, a New Democrat government will require employers to spend at least 1 percent of payroll on training for their employees annually.
In order to deliver these changes we'll work closely with the provinces to establish national training priorities, and create a new Workers Development and Opportunities Fund to expand training options beyond people who qualify for EI. This fund will be provincially directed, with dedicated support for marginalized workers, those in transitioning sectors and for efforts to improve literacy and essential skills.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Post-secondary education
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our vision is for every Canadian to have
access to quality post-secondary education,
regardless of their income. Over the long term,
this means working with the provinces and
territories to cap and reduce tuition fees, and
building towards making post-secondary
education part of our public education
system so kids can go from kindergarten to
a career without the barrier of cost. This is
an important goal and we believe that with
the right leadership and political will, we can
get there.
NDP's promise
Student loans
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Today, the average student with debt owes
$27,000 at the end of an undergraduate degree
– and a student who has to borrow to pay for
their education will end up paying over $10,000
more than a student who is lucky enough to be
able to graduate without taking on debt.
That’s not fair, and it’s an inequality that sets young
people up to fail.There are steps we can take to make education
more affordable right now. Five provinces have
already shown leadership in eliminating interest
rates on student loans. It’s time for the federal
government to do the same, and stop profiting
from student debt.
We’ll also move away from loans and
significantly increase access to non-repayable
Canada Student Grants. Accessing financial
support for your post-secondary education
shouldn’t be a debt sentence – we’ll make sure
that young people can start out in life without
a crushing debt burden.
NDP's promise
Environment, Climate Change, & Energy
Carbon pricing
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Recognizing that putting a price on carbon
is an important tool to drive greenhouse
gas reductions at the source, we will continue
carbon pricing, including rebates tohouseholds
that fall under the federal backstop plan, while
making it fairer and rolling back the breaks this
Liberal government has given to big polluters.
NDP's promise
Conservation
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Conservation is a vital way to protect
ecosystems and preserve biodiversity.
New Democrats will protect 30% of our
land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 and
back those protections with funding and
enforcement. We’ll also work with other
levels of government to develop a system
of urban national parks – and a national
approach to tree-planting, using responsible
reforestation to help lower our carbon footprint. A New Democrat
government will also partner with farmers
and communities to support biodiversity
and to monitor and protect pollinator health.
NDP's promise
Conservation is a vital way to protect ecosystems and preserve biodiversity. New Democrats will protect 30% of our land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 and back those protections with funding and enforcement. We’ll also work with other levels of government to develop a system of urban national parks – and a national approach to tree-planting using responsible reforestation to help lower our carbon footprint.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Emissions targets
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will declare a
climate emergency and put in place ambitious,
science-based greenhouse gas reductions
targets that will help stabilize the global
temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We’ll
put these targets in legislation and ensure
accountability by creating an independent
Climate Accountability Office to do regular
audits of progress towards our climate goals.
NDP's promise
Energy production
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will set a target to power
Canada with net carbon-free electricity
by 2030, and move to 100% non-emitting
electricity by 2050. To drive this progress,
we will establish a new Canadian Climate
Bank. This bank will help boost investment
in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and
low carbon technology across the country.
It will also provide support for interested
provinces to inter-connect power grids and
introduce smart grid technology, to bolster
Canada’s energy security and distribute
clean power across the country. The
Climate Bank will also support made-in
-Canada manufacturing of renewable energy
components and technologies, and help
scale up Canada’s clean energy industry.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will set a target to power Canada with net carbon-free electricity by 2030 and move to 100% non-emitting electricity by 2050. To drive this progress, we will establish a new Canadian Climate Bank. This bank will help boost investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low carbon technology across the country. It will also provide support for interested provinces to inter-connect power grids and introduce smart grid technology to bolster Canada’s energy security and distribute clean power across the country. The Climate Bank will also support made-in-Canada manufacturing of renewable energy components and technologies, and help scale up Canada’s clean energy industry.
Meeting this carbon-free electricity goal in a way that respects local communities and creates good jobs is essential. We’ll support investments in innovative community-owned and operated clean energy projects to keep jobs and expertise local, work in partnership with Indigenous and northern communities to move off diesel, improve energy security, and cut emissions and air pollution.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Fossil fuel subsidies
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Canada currently spends $3.3 billion
per year on oil and gas subsidies, more per
capita than any other G7 country. And on
top of that, Justin Trudeau purchased the
Kinder-Morgan oil pipeline for a staggering
$4.5 billion and gave another $1.6 billion in
handouts to the oil patch. New Democrats
know that public funds are best spent
supporting the transition to renewable
energy, rather than on profitable oil and
gas companies. We will fulfill Canada’s G-20
commitment to eliminate these fossil fuel
subsidies and redirect these funds to low
carbon initiatives.
NDP's promise
Freshwater
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Canada’s freshwater resources are critical for
the health and well-being of our ecosystems,
our communities and our local economies. A
New Democrat government will implement a
national freshwater strategy and work with
the provinces and territories to protect our
waterways under international agreements.
We will also reverse the harmful changes
brought in by the Conservatives, fully restore
navigable waters protections for all of
Canada’s lakes and rivers, and invest in
research to support freshwater protections. New Democrats will protect 30% of our
land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 and
back those protections with funding and
enforcement.
NDP's promise
Canada’s freshwater resources are critical for the health and well-being of our ecosystems, our communities, and our local economies. A New Democrat government will implement a national freshwater strategy and work with the provinces and territories to protect our waterways under international agreements. We will also reverse the harmful changes brought in by the Conservatives, fully restore navigable waters protections for all of Canada’s lakes and rivers, and invest in research to support freshwater protections.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Green buildings and housing
Angelique Belcourt's promise
That’s why a key component of our plan is
to require large-scale building retrofits in
all sectors to reduce energy demand, create
jobs, and save people money. A New Democrat
government would begin by working in
partnership with the provinces and territories
to fund energy efficient retrofits on social
housing units and government buildings,
expanding outwards from there.
We will set a target of retrofitting all housing
stock in Canada by 2050, providing low-interest
loans repayable through energy savings to pay
for home upgrades like insulation, windows,
heat pumps, and other renewable technologies.
We’ll improve the National Building Code to
ensure that by 2030 every new building built
in Canada is net-zero energy ready. Energy
efficiency and sustainable building practices
will be at the core of our national housing
strategy, leveraging the power of federal
investments to create good jobs all across
the country delivering the affordable housing
Canadians need.
NDP's promise
[...] a key component of our plan is to require large-scale building retrofits in all sectors to reduce energy demand, create jobs, and save people money. A New Democrat government would begin by working in partnership with the provinces and territories to fund energy efficient retrofits on social housing units and government buildings, expanding outwards from there.
We will set a target of retrofitting all housing stock in Canada by 2050, providing low-interest loans repayable through energy savings to pay for home upgrades like insulation, windows, heat pumps, and other renewable technologies.
We’ll improve the National Building Code to ensure that by 2030, every new building built in Canada is net-zero energy ready. Energy efficiency and sustainable building practices will be at the core of our national housing strategy, leveraging the power of federal investments to create good jobs all across the country delivering the affordable housing Canadians need.
To set our communities up for climate change resilience, a New Democrat government will work with provinces, municipalities, and Indigenous government to make sure that Canadian communities have the resources they need to cope safely with extreme weather events.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Green governance
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Local communities and large cities are directly affected by climate change, especially around forest fires and flooding. An NDP government is committed to working with individuals, communities and municipalities, those who know their territories best, on acting on contingency plans to plans for when these events occur. Furthermore, the NDP will fund housing retrofits through subsidies and small loans to ensure that housing is equipped to encounter changes in climate and that these housing retrofits directly support greener, lower emissions in households directly targeting climate change. We are dedicated to working with Canadians supporting them with climate change advocacy than with big corporations.
Green government operations
NDP's promise
Green jobs
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We can do better. New Democrats believe
that any climate change plan that leaves
Canadian workers or regions behind is no
plan at all. Our plan will create over 300,000
good jobs in all communities within a first
mandate, and rebuild local economies with
meaningful, family-sustaining work in every
part of the country, all while helping to make
the changes we need to succeed in a low
carbon future.
New Democrats are making a commitment
to workers most impacted by the changes
in our economy that they will not pay the
price of action on climate change. We will
work together with labour, employers, and the
provinces and territories to find solutions for
workers and communities, including dedicated
employment support combining access to
expanded EI benefits, re-training, and job
placement services, paired with significant
investments to create quality, local jobs and
support thriving communities. We’ll work with the provinces to provide
training and re-training for the new job
market, as well as labour market research
to keep Canada on the cutting edge of the
evolving work environment.
NDP's promise
Our plan will create over 300,000 good jobs in all communities within a first mandate, and rebuild local economies with meaningful, family-sustaining work in every part of the country, all while helping to make the changes we need to succeed in a low-carbon future.
New Democrats are making a commitment to workers most impacted by the changes in our economy that they will not pay the price of action on climate change. We will work together with labour, employers, and the provinces and territories to find solutions for workers and communities, including dedicated employment support that combines access to expanded EI benefits, re-training, and job placement services, paired with significant investments to create quality local jobs and support thriving communities.
We’ll work with the provinces to provide training and re-training for the new job market, as well as labour market research to keep Canada on the cutting edge of the evolving work environment.
New Democrats will also vigorously defend pensions, so that workers can always count on the retirement security that they’ve earned, and make sure that people who are close to the end of their careers have a bridge to a dignified retirement.
An important part of our plan will include making sure that physical, digital, and social infrastructure investments contribute to emissions reductions and support all regions and communities,especially those already experiencing the impacts of climate change with the good, family-sustaining jobs they bring.
We will also expand support and technological assistance to bring more innovative Canadian clean technologies to market and support manufacturing right here at home.
Major energy projects
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will set a target to power
Canada with net carbon-free electricity
by 2030, and move to 100% non-emitting
electricity by 2050. To drive this progress,
we will establish a new Canadian Climate
Bank. This bank will help boost investment
in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and
low carbon technology across the country.
It will also provide support for interested
provinces to inter-connect power grids and
introduce smart grid technology, to bolster
Canada’s energy security and distribute
clean power across the country. The
Climate Bank will also support made-in
-Canada manufacturing of renewable energy
components and technologies, and help
scale up Canada’s clean energy industry.
NDP's promise
We will ensure that proposed projects align with our emissions reductions targets, respect Indigenous rights, and create good jobs here in Canada.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Waste & pollution
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To reduce waste in our landfills and
communities, a New Democrat government
will ban single-use plastics across Canada,
and hold companies responsible for the
entire lifecycle of their plastics products
and packaging. We’ll help municipalities
improve their waste management and
recycling programs and work towards a
zero-waste future.
NDP's promise
To reduce waste in our landfills and communities, a New Democrat government will ban single-use plastics across Canada and hold companies responsible for the entire lifecycle of their plastics products and packaging. We’ll help municipalities improve their waste management and recycling programs and work towards a zero-waste future.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Government & Democracy
Conflict-of-interest
NDP's promise
Diversity in politics
NDP's promise
Electoral reform
Angelique Belcourt's promise
It’s time to make our voting system fairer,
and actually deliver democratic reform to
make sure that everyone’s vote counts.
New Democrats are committed to cutting
through the cynicism about politics and
getting the job done.
A New Democrat government will bring in
mixed-member proportional representation
that works for Canada – and we will do it in our
first mandate in government. We’ll establish an
independent citizen’s assembly to recommend the best way to put it in place for the next
election to ensure both local representation
and a federal government that reflects the
voters’ choice of parties.
Once Canadians have the opportunity to
experience the new voting system and
compare it to the old one, we will hold a
referendum to confirm the choice.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will bring in mixed member proportional representation that works for Canada – and we will do it in our first mandate in government. We’ll establish an independent citizen’s assembly to recommend the best way to put it in place for the next election to ensure both local representation and a federal government that reflects the voters’ choice of parties.
Once Canadians have the opportunity to experience the new voting system and compare it to the old one, we will hold a referendum to confirm the choice.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Government advertising
NDP's promise
Lobbying
NDP's promise
The Senate
NDP's promise
Voting age
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Young people are increasingly engaged in the
world, and many are worried about facing a
future with rising inequality and catastrophic
climate change. It’s no surprise: often they can
see themselves paying the biggest price for
the decisions governments are making today.
Young people can and should have a say in
their future. Simply put, if you are old enough to
work and pay taxes, you are old enough to have
a say in who forms the government. It’s time to
lower the voting age to 16.
NDP's promise
Government Services & Crown Corporations
Canada Post
NDP's promise
Child care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our vision is to give families relief. Every
parent across Canada should be able to
find the child care you need, when you need
it, with a licensed provider who is making a
fair wage. We’ll work with other levels of
government, Indigenous communities,
families and child care workers to ensure
that care is inclusive and responsive to the
needs of all Canadian children. And we’ll
introduce legislation that enshrines Canada’s
commitment to high-quality, public child care
in law. Public early childhood education and
child care that is affordable and available to
all families helps our economy and gives
parents real choices.
In the absence of federal leadership, provinces
have stepped up to take strides towards
affordable, accessible, quality child care.
Quebec continues to be a leader, and New
Democrat governments in British Columbia
and Alberta have shown that investments in
child care make a real difference in the lives of
children, women, and families.
We will build on their work to make child
care better for families by investing $1 billion
in 2020 and growing that investment annually,
along with the provinces and territories. We’re
on the side of parents to ensure affordable,
quality child care for all – because no one
should be forced to choose between having
a family and having a career.
NDP's promise
Public broadcasting
NDP's promise
Health
Autism
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will work with Canadians living with
Autism Spectrum Disorder to develop and
implement a national Autism strategy that will
coordinate support for research, ensure access
to needs-based services, promote employment,
and help expand housing options.
NDP's promise
Dementia
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To deliver these results all across the country,
a we will lead a National Seniors Strategy
that will work with the provinces, territories
and Indigenous governments to make seniors
health care a priority, reduce isolation, and
tackle seniors’ poverty. This will include a
funded national dementia strategy, and an
elder abuse prevention plan developed with
seniors to put an end to abuse and neglect in
our communities.
NDP's promise
Dental care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
One in three Canadians has no dental
insurance, over six million people don’t visit
the dentist every year because they can’t afford
to.8
Too many people are forced to go without
the care they need, until the pain is so severe
that they are forced to seek relief in hospital
emergency rooms.
We know now that good oral health is a
critical component of overall good health –
and that means our health care system should
cover it, too. A New Democrat government will
work together with provincial partners, health
professionals and dentists to develop a
roadmap to including dental care in the
Canada Health Act.
NDP's promise
Disabilities
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will uphold the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, and strengthen the
Accessibility Act to cover all federal agencies
equally, with the power to make and enforce
accessibility standards in a timely manner. To help tackle the unacceptable rate of poverty
among Canadians living with a disability, we
will launch a full review of income security
programs. When it comes to employment,
everyone deserves a fair shot at a good job
that fits their unique abilities. A New Democrat
government will continue and expand
employment programs to make sure that
quality employment opportunities are
available to all.
For Canadians facing a serious illness, we’ll
make Employment Insurance work better by
extending sickness benefits to 50 weeks of
coverage, and creating a pilot project to allow
workers with episodic disabilities to access
benefits as they need them. Canadians living with disabilities shouldn’t
need to worry about the cost of prescription
medication, how to find housing, or how to
get their mail. In addition to putting in place
a universal, publicly funded national
pharmacare program that will offer full benefits
to all Canadians, a New Democrat government
will restore door-to-door mail delivery for those
who lost it under the Conservatives, and create
affordable, accessible housing in communities
across the country.
NDP's promise
As a start, New Democrats will uphold the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and strengthen the Accessibility Act to cover all federal agencies equally with the power to make and enforce accessibility standards in a timely manner.
To help tackle the unacceptable rate of poverty among Canadians living with a disability, we will launch a full review of income security programs. When it comes to employment, everyone deserves a fair shot at a good job that fits their unique abilities. A New Democrat government will continue and expand employment programs to make sure that quality employment opportunities are available to all.
For Canadians facing a serious illness, we’ll make Employment Insurance work better by extending sickness benefits to 50 weeks of coverage and by creating a pilot project to allow workers with episodic disabilities to access benefits as they need them.
Canadians living with disabilities shouldn’t need to worry about the cost of prescription medication, how to find housing, or how to get their mail. In addition to putting in place a universal, publicly funded national pharmacare program that will offer full benefits to all Canadians, a New Democrat government will restore door-to-door mail delivery for those who lost it under the Conservatives and create affordable, accessible housing in communities across the country.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Eye care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Eye check-ups are important for preventing vision loss and
identifying other health issues – yet many,
particularly children and seniors, don’t get
regular eye care, or struggle to pay for the
glasses that they need to function. New Democrats believe that we need to work towards health care that covers us
from head to toe and everyone should be able to get eye care and hearing care.
NDP's promise
Health research
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Canada is a leader in innovative health
research, and we will work with universities
and health professionals to make sure that
public research on critical health issues
continues to flourish.
Hearing care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that we need to
work towards health care that covers us
from head to toe and and everyone should be able to get eye care and hearing care.
NDP's promise
Home & long-term care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
People are stuck waiting for home care.
Seniors are spending years without the
long-term care they need now. And family
caregivers feel overwhelmed as they carry
an enormous amount of work on their
shoulders. This is what happens when
Liberal and Conservative governments fail
to invest in the services that Canadians need.
It’s people, not politicians, who pay the price.
While all provinces and territories fund
home care services as part of publicly
insured healthcare, there are inconsistent
standards - and when it comes to long-term
care, understaffing at residential homes is
an ongoing problem across the country.
Ongoing staffing shortages make for poor
quality care and leave health care workers
at risk of experiencing workplace violence. New Democrats believe that families need
access to quality home care and long-term
care no matter where they live. To that end,
we will work collaboratively with patients,
caregivers, and provincial and territorial
governments to develop national care
standards for home care and long-term
care that will be amended into the Canada
Health Act.
By doing so, a New Democrat government
would legally protect access to home care
and long-term care services, and ensure a
consistent quality of care across the country.
This process will include determining a core
basket of home care services that will be
available and covered by provincial insurance
plans, and setting minimum national care
standards for long-term care residents. We
will also work with the provinces to develop
and support violence prevention strategies
to protect front-line staff and ensure a safe
working environment.
Elevating the quality of care provided in
long-term care homes will protect residents
and health care professionals, and give
families and caregivers peace of mind.
NDP's promise
By doing so, a New Democrat government would legally protect access to home care and long-term care services, and ensure a consistent quality of care across the country. This process will include determining a core basket of home care services that will be available and covered by provincial insurance plans and setting minimum national care standards for long-term care residents. We will also work with the provinces to develop and support violence prevention strategies to protect front-line staff and ensure a safe working environment.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Mental health
Angelique Belcourt's promise
There’s a lot more to do to modernize our
health system for today’s needs. Mental
health support is an enormous unmet need
across the country; a third of Canadians
struggling with mental health challenges
who have expressed a need for counselling
weren’t able to get it. New Democrats believe that we need to
work towards health care that covers us
from head to toe. Mental health care should
be available at no cost for people who need it.
NDP's promise
Natural health products
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democratic
government will step up and regulate natural
health products under stand-alone legislation.
NDP's promise
Prescription drug coverage
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that we must do
better. Just as our party led the fight to
establish universal public health care for
all Canadians, we are leading the fight to
expand Medicare – to include quality
prescription drug coverage for everyone,
regardless of your job, where you live, your
age, your health status or how much money
you make. We will begin working with the
provinces right away to target a late 2020
start date, with an annual federal
investment of $10 billion.
NDP's promise
That means access to necessary medicines in the same way that we have access to medical and hospital care – free at the point of care, financed by a public insurance system that covers everyone. It means that you'll need your health card – not your credit card – at the pharmacy till. And it puts an end to costly co-payments, deductibles, and premiums that cost families hundreds and even thousands a year.
Our plan will guarantee that every Canadian can get the medication they need. And it will mean big savings for employers who currently pay for employee benefits, helping to reward good employers and boost economic growth. It will also cost our system less overall, as a result of pooling the purchasing power of the entire country.
From Our Commitments, retrieved 19/09/22.
Topping up your prescription, not toppling your budget. Canadian families will save more than $500 a year on average – even if they have insurance at work or school. And businesses currently providing health insurance will save around $600 per employee, and be confident that their whole team is covered.
Use your health card, not your credit card. No more worrying about paying your deductible, co-pay, or premium. No more stress over how you’ll fill your kid’s prescription and still buy groceries. No more anxiety about your friends and family who need expensive medications to stay healthy – all you’ll need is your health card, and you’ll get the drugs you need.
From Saving You (sic) Money With Pharmacare for All, retrieved 19/09/24.
Safe access to abortion
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe in respecting
peoples’ rights to make decisions about
their own bodies and their own lives. Yet
many individuals seeking abortion services in
Canada can’t access them. Only one hospital in
six offers abortion, and some provinces refuse
to cover the cost of surgical abortion outside
hospitals. Lack of access is even worse for
people in rural areas and the North.
Everyone deserves safe, accessible abortion
and reproductive healthcare services – no
matter where they live or how much money
they make. It’s not enough for elected officials
to say that they won’t reopen the abortion
debate – we need leaders to take action to
improve access to services. New Democrats
will enforce the Canada Health Act to make sure
that the provinces make medical and surgical
abortion available in all parts of the country,
without barriers.
NDP's promise
Wait times and access
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will work with the
provinces and territories to tackle wait times
and improve access to primary care across the
country. We will identify coming gaps in health
human resources and make a plan to recruit
and retain the doctors, nurses, and other health
professionals Canadians need.
NDP's promise
Women's & reproductive health
Angelique Belcourt's promise
An NDP government will also ensure that a
full range of prescription contraceptive and
reproductive health care options are easily
accessible at no cost through Medicare and
our national pharmacare program.
NDP's promise
Housing
Home ownership
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will re-introduce 30-year terms
to CMHC insured mortgages on entry-level
homes for first time home buyers. This will
allow for smaller monthly payments, freeing
up funds to help make ends meet for young
families. We’ll also give people a hand with
closing costs by doubling the Home Buyer’s
Tax Credit to $1,500.
NDP's promise
Housing supply
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We want to make sure housing is affordable for you, based on your income, and life situation, not based a series of criteria you need to meet. A New Democrat government
will create 500,000 units of quality,
affordable housing in the next ten years,
with half of that done within five years. This
will be achieved with the right mix of effective
measures that work in partnership with
provinces and municipalities, build capacity
for social, community, and affordable housing
providers and co-ops, and meet environmental
energy efficiency goals. This ambitious plan
will create thousands of jobs in communities
all across the country, and help Canadians
get the affordable housing they need. Our
federal investment will begin with $5 billion
in additional funding in the first year and a
half of a New Democrat government. These measures will help address the housing crisis at the source, but we also need to make sure that families that are hurting get help
now. Families do not have years to wait, when
every day is a struggle and a constant worry.
That’s why we’ll provide immediate relief up to 5000$ a year for families that are struggling to afford rent in
otherwise suitable housing, while we bring
forward long-term solutions to the housing
affordability crisis.
NDP's promise
This will be achieved with the right mix of effective measures that work in partnership with provinces and municipalities, build capacity for social, community, and affordable housing providers and co-ops, and meet environmental energy efficiency goals. This ambitious plan will create thousands of jobs in communities all across the country, and help Canadians get the affordable housing they need. Our federal investment will begin with $5 billion in additional funding in the first year and a half of a New Democrat government.
In order to kick-start the construction of co-ops, social and non-profit housing, we will set up dedicated fast-start funds to streamline the application process and help communities get the expertise and assistance they need to get projects off the ground today, not years from now.
A New Democrat government will also spur the construction of affordable homes by waiving the federal portion of the GST/HST on the construction of new affordable rental units – a simple change that will help get new units built faster and keep them affordable for the long term.
[...] We've provide immediate relief for families that are struggling to afford rent in otherwise suitable housing, while we bring forward long-term solutions to the housing affordability crisis.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 19/09/22.
Speculation
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To help put an end to speculation that’s
fuelling high housing prices, we’ll put in
place a Foreign Buyer’s tax on the sale
of homes to individuals who aren’t Canadian
citizens or permanent residents. New
Democrats will also fight money laundering,
which fuels organized crime and drives up
housing prices. We will workwith the provinces
to create a public beneficial ownership registry
to increase transparency about who owns
properties, and require reporting of suspicious
transactions in order to help find and stop
money laundering
NDP's promise
To help put an end to speculation that's fuelling high housing prices, we'll put in place a Foreign Buyer's tax on the sale of homes to individuals who aren't Canadian citizens or permanent residents. New Democrats will also fight money laundering, which fuels organized crime and drives up housing prices. We will workwith (sic) the provinces to create a public beneficial ownership registry to increase transparency about who owns properties, and require reporting of suspicious transactions in order to help find and stop money laundering.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Human Rights
Accessibility
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We can do much more to make Canada an inclusive and barrier-free place.
As a start, New Democrats will uphold the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, and strengthen the
Accessibility Act to cover all federal agencies
equally, with the power to make and enforce
accessibility standards in a timely manner.
Ban on blood donation
Angelique Belcourt's promise
One of the most significant setbacks of recent
years is the Liberals’ decision to maintain the
discriminatory ban on blood donation by men
who have sex with anyone assigned male at
birth.We need behaviour-based screening
rather than policies that discriminate against
an entire sexual orientation. A New Democrat
government will end the discriminatory blood
ban and put in place policies based in public
health evidence to secure the blood supply
NDP's promise
Conversion therapy & intersex surgery
Angelique Belcourt's promise
When it comes to sexual orientation and
gender expression, damaging practices
such as so-called “conversion therapy”
have no place in Canada. We will develop
a national action plan to ban conversion
therapy for minors in Canada, and work
with provinces and territories to support
eliminating this practice in all parts of
the country.
Access to gender confirming procedures
and medication can be life-saving for some
transgender people. New Democrats will
work with the provinces make sure that
there is equal access to gender confirming
surgery across the country, and that these
procedures and medications are covered
by public health plans.
NDP's promise
Gender-affirmation
NDP's promise
Gender-based violence
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our vision of Canada is one where women’s
organizations have stable funding so that
women can access the support and advocacy
they need, when they need it. We’ll develop
a National Action Plan to end gender-based
violence, backed by funding to ensure that
shelter services and other programs are
available in all regions of the country, especially
areas that have traditionally been under-served.
New Democrats will promote domestic
violence leave policies in workplaces, improve
police training on sexual assault, and require
universities to develop plans to end sexual
violence on campus. And we’ll address
violence against Indigenous women, girls,
and LGBTQI2S+ people by working with
Indigenous peoples to implement the Calls
for Justice of the National Inquiry.
NDP's promise
We’ll develop a National Action Plan to end gender-based violence, backed by funding to ensure that shelter services and other programs are available in all regions of the country, especially areas that have traditionally been underserved. New Democrats will promote domestic violence leave policies in workplaces, improve police training on sexual assault, and require universities to develop plans to end sexual violence on campus. And we’ll address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQI2S+ people by working with Indigenous peoples to implement the Calls for Justice of the National Inquiry.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Gender-based work discrimination & pay inequity
NDP's promise
Hate crimes
Angelique Belcourt's promise
As New Democrats, we recognize the inherent
dignity of all people. We know that racism
hurts deeply and diminishes the humanity
of marginalized people. The impacts hateful
speech are real: hate crimes spiked to an
all-time high in Canada in 2017, with an
increasing number of incidents targeting
Muslim, Jewish, and Black Canadians.
Indigenous peoples face discrimination and
racism in their daily lives, too often with tragic
consequences. More subtle discrimination
exacts a toll, too. In Canada today, racialized
people are more likely to face systemic
barriers to employment,13 while immigrants
and racialized communities are the targets
of divisive rhetoric that pits neighbours
against each other.
New Democrats believe that we cannot
stand by and allow racism to flourish in our
communities. It’s time to choose: we must
turn the talk of diversity into action to confront
racism, and put an end to it for good. We will
work together to tackle the hate, racism, white
supremacy and systemic discrimination
that are hurting people across the country
NDP's promise
LGBTQI2S+ work discrimination
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We can also do more to end employment
discrimination faced by members of the
LGBTQI2S+ community. A New Democrat
government will add sexual orientation,
gender identity and expression to the
Employment Equity Act, in order to address
the disadvantages experienced by the
LGBTGQ2+ communities – and particularly
transgender people – in finding work.
NDP's promise
Online hate
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia
and other forms of hate are too often allowed
to flourish on the internet. A New Democrat
government will convene a national working
group to counter online hate and protect
public safety, and make sure that social media
platforms are responsible for remove hateful
and extremist content before it can do harm.
NDP's promise
Race-based work discrimination
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Employment discrimination on the basis of
race continues to be an unacceptable problem
in Canada, one that the federal government
has failed to take on. Today, a universityeducated Canadian-born member of a
racialized community earns, on average,
only 87.4 cents for every dollar earned by
their white peers14, a gap that is even more
pronounced for racialized women.
14 Conference Board of Canada, “Racial Wage Gap.” April 2017. Available online at: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/provincial/society/racial-gap.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
A New Democrat government will conduct
a comprehensive review of the existing
employment equity regime to help close
the racialized wage gap. New Democrats
will strengthen labour laws and ensure diverse
and equitable hiring within the federal public
service, and in federally-regulated industries.
Jobs and training for under-represented
groups will be a core part of federal
infrastructure plans.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will conduct a comprehensive review of the existing employment equity regime to help close the racialized wage gap. New Democrats will strengthen labour laws and ensure diverse and equitable hiring within the federal public service, and in federally regulated industries. Jobs and training for underrepresented groups will be a core part of federal infrastructure plans.
Lastly, we will work with the provinces and territories to develop and enforce effective employment equity legislation, and to collect and analyze data on the racialization of poverty – because everyone should be able to build a good life with equal opportunity.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Racism and bias in justice
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To address the chronic over-representation
of Indigenous peoples and Black Canadians
in the federal prison population, we will put
in place a national task force to develop a
roadmap to end this systemic injustice.
Working alongside Indigenous communities,
this approach will include addressing the need
for greater judicial discretion in sentencing,
developing culturally-appropriate bail programs,
increasing restorative and community justice
programs, and better integrating Gladue
principles in court proceedings. We will a
lso develop and implement an African
Canadian Justice Strategy, working with
Black Canadians with experience and
expertise on criminal justice issues.
NDP's promise
To address the chronic overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and Black Canadians in the federal prison population, we will put in place a national task force to develop a roadmap to end this systemic injustice. Working alongside Indigenous communities, this approach will include addressing the need for greater judicial discretion in sentencing, developing culturally appropriate bail programs, increasing restorative and community justice programs, and better integrating Gladue principles in court proceedings. We will also develop and implement an African Canadian Justice Strategy, working with Black Canadians with experience and expertise on criminal justice issues.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Racism in law enforcement
Angelique Belcourt's promise
It’s important that police practices respect
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and foster
trust between law enforcement and Canadians.
Carding, or “street checks”, do not respect
Charter rights and erode trust between the
police and communities. A New Democrat
government will move immediately to ban
carding by federal law enforcement, and work
with local partners across Canada to end this
practice in all jurisdictions across the country.
This will include a review of the information
obtained through carding that has been
retained by police, and an examination of how
that information has been shared between
the RCMP and other police forces and
government agencies.
NDP's promise
Illicit Drugs & Overdoses
Decriminalization of drugs
Angelique Belcourt's promise
In government,
we will declare a public health emergency
and commit to working with all levels of
government, experts and Canadians to end
the criminalization and stigma of drug
addiction, so that people struggling with
addiction can get the help they need without
fear of arrest, while getting tough on the real
criminals - those who traffic in and profit from
illegal drugs.
NDP's promise
Opioid crisis
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Despite the obvious harm that these drugs
are causing and the shocking death toll that
they’ve caused, over the last four years the
Liberal government failed to mobilize an
effective response. They have not declared a
public health emergency, nor taken any steps
to investigate the role that drug companies
may have played in fuelling the crisis. The
federal government is lagging behind the
urgent action being taken by provinces like
British Columbia.
New Democrats believe that there is much
more we can do to save lives and support
those struggling with opioids. In government,
we will declare a public health emergency
and commit to working with all levels of
government, experts and Canadians to end
the criminalization and stigma of drug
addiction, so that people struggling with
addiction can get the help they need without
fear of arrest, while getting tough on the real
criminals - those who traffic in and profit from
illegal drugs. We’ll work with the provinces to
support overdose prevention sites and expand
access to treatment on demand for people
struggling with addiction. We will also launch
an investigation into the role drug companies
may have played in fueling the opioid crisis, and
seek meaningful financial compensation from
them for the public costs of this crisis.
NDP's promise
Immigration, Refugees, & Borders
Economic immigration
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government
will make sure that our immigration policies
and levels meet Canada’s labour force needs
and recognize people’s experiences,
contributions, and ties to Canada. We will
work with the provinces to address gaps in
settlement services and improve foreign
credentials recognition.
NDP's promise
Family reunification
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We believe that family reunification should
be a priority in Canada. But this year, thousands
of families who hoped to apply to bring a
parent or grandparent were let down when
the available spots were filled in just eleven
minutes. New Democrats will end the unfair
cap on applications to sponsor parents and
grandparents, and take on the backlogs that
delay reunification for years.
NDP's promise
Foreign credentials
NDP's promise
Immigrant caregivers
NDP's promise
Immigration consultancy & affordability
NDP's promise
Refugees
Angelique Belcourt's promise
As the world experiences an unprecedented
refugee crisis, Canada also has a vital role
to play in resettling people forced out of their
homes by conflict, persecution, and disasters.
But under the Liberal government, the backlog
of asylum seekers is set to more than double
in the next few years. A New Democrat
government will fix the system to get rid of
the backlog, and work with Canadians to
resettle refugees in our communities,
ensuring they are given the support they
need to build successful lives and new
homes here in Canada.
NDP's promise
Safe Third Country agreement
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will make the right
choice to promote safety, security, and
efficiency in Canada’s border communities by
suspending the Safe Third Country agreement
with the United States, allowing people to make
asylum claims at official border crossings.
NDP's promise
Indigenous Issues
Drinking water
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that it is past time for the federal government to step
up and fund the services and infrastructure that Indigenous communities need
to thrive – it is an important part of the responsibility that Canada owes to
Indigenous peoples given the deep and intergenerational impacts of colonialism.
This means making the investments required to ensure clean water and lift all
drinking water advisories for good by 2021, and supporting Indigenous-led
water management training programs and water system operations as an
immediate priority
NDP's promise
This means making the investments required to ensure clean water and lift all drinking water advisories for good by 2021, and supporting Indigenous-led water management training programs and water system operations as an immediate priority.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Grassy Narrows
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will build a treatment centre for residents affected by long-term mercury
exposure and compensate families affected by the inter-generational problem of
mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows.
NDP's promise
Indigenous children
Angelique Belcourt's promise
For generations, the Canadian government’s treatment of First Nations, Inuit,
and Métis children has been a national disgrace and an unspeakable tragedy. While
residential schools no longer operate, the intergenerational trauma caused by them
is felt every day. And despite the apologies from political leaders, the reality is that
systemic discrimination against Indigenous children continues today.
Indigenous children and young people have the right to culture, language and to
be raised in their own communities – all of which are vital to overall well-being. By
implementing the United Nations Declaration and the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and supporting self-determination, New
Democrats will make sure that all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, young
people and families are treated with the respect and care that they deserve.
New Democrats will take immediate action to respect, support and resource
Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare systems, and will back this commitment
with long-term, predictable funding guaranteed in legislation so that Indigenous
peoples can exercise their jurisdiction and authority over matters involving their
own children and families.
We also commit to ending discrimination against Indigenous children, young people
and families by fully implementing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders
which ordered the Canadian government to stop chronically underfunding child
welfare services on reserve, and working with the First Nations Child and Family
Caring Society to implement the Spirit Bear Plan.
A New Democrat government will also fully implement Jordan’s Principle,
working with the provinces and territories to end the delays and ensure
equitable access to health services and educational supports for Indigenous
children from coast to coast to coast.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will take immediate action to respect, support, and resource Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare systems, and will back this commitment with long-term, predictable funding guaranteed in legislation so that Indigenous peoples can exercise their jurisdiction and authority over matters involving their own children and families.
We also commit to ending discrimination against Indigenous children, young people, and families by fully implementing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders, which ordered the Canadian government to stop chronically underfunding child welfare services on reserve, and working with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society to implement the Spirit Bear Plan.
A New Democrat government will also fully implement Jordan’s Principle, working with the provinces and territories to end the delays and ensure equitable access to health services and educational supports for Indigenous children from coast to coast to coast.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous culture
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will work in partnership with Indigenous
communities across the country to help protect and revitalize the incredible
diversity of Indigenous languages in Canada with new legislation and stable
funding. A New Democrat government will also work with communities and care providers
to ensure that Indigenous-led, culturally-appropriate home care and long-term care
is available for Elders, in their home communities and languages.
We will support Indigenous food sovereignty, and reform the Nutrition North
program to improve families’ access to food, including country and traditional food.
Indigenous education
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Young people in Indigenous communities haven’t had access to a quality education.
Successive governments have failed to provide core funding for on-reserve
education, failed to adequately support Indigenous post-secondary students and
failed to deliver a plan for how the government will bring all schools on reserve up
to provincial standards – despite Parliament committing to this when they passed
the Shannen’s Dream motion in 2012.
In government, New Democrats will ensure that every child is provided a safe
place to learn and an opportunity to succeed, whether on or off reserve. We will
implement Shannen’s Dream of equitable access to education, backed by federal
investments and infrastructure, so no student will be forced to learn in dangerous
environments, as we have witnessed in Kashechewan First Nation.
Recognizing that barriers to post-secondary education and training continue, we
will support Indigenous youth and help them bridge the gap to post-secondary
education through expanded financial assistance and increased educational
opportunities for children who grew up in care, and distance education for rural
and remote students.
And we believe that all Canadians should be aware of the contributions and history
of Indigenous peoples and understand the legacy of residential schools. We will
work with the provinces to establish Indigenous history education programs for
all Canadians, based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
62 and 63 – and ensure that the development and implementation of these
programs are led by Indigenous peoples.
NDP's promise
In government, New Democrats will ensure that every child is provided a safe place to learn and an opportunity to succeed, whether on or off reserve. We will implement Shannen’s Dream of equitable access to education, backed by federal investments and infrastructure, so no student will be forced to learn in dangerous environments as we have witnessed in Kashechewan First Nation.
Recognizing that barriers to post-secondary education and training continue, we will support Indigenous youth and help them bridge the gap to post-secondary education through expanded financial assistance and increased educational opportunities for children who grew up in care, and distance education for rural and remote students.
And we believe that all Canadians should be aware of the contributions and history of Indigenous peoples and understand the legacy of residential schools. We will work with the provinces to establish Indigenous history education programs for all Canadians, based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 62 and 63 – and ensure that the development and implementation of these programs are led by Indigenous peoples.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous employment
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Making sure that Indigenous communities thrive also means working in partnership
with Indigenous peoples to expand economic opportunities and create good jobs
in Indigenous communities all across the country.
A New Democrat government will work with Indigenous communities to encourage
economic development and create good jobs through infrastructure investments
and expanded access to broadband internet and cell service for rural and remote
communities. We commit to working with Indigenous entrepreneurs to find
solutions for accessing capital and scale up, investing in Indigenous social
enterprise projects and entrepreneurship.
Smaller Indigenous communities left behind by the current funding model need
dedicated regional economic development support to help expand economic
opportunities in a way that reflects the community’s social and cultural values.
A New Democrat government will also create a Northern Infrastructure Fund to
fast-track investment and focus on improving much-needed infrastructure like
roads and broadband internet for communities in the north.
NDP's promise
A new fiscal relationship means secure funding to support programs and services, and access to revenue streams to help close the socio-economic gap and support self-government.
Making sure that Indigenous communities thrive also means working in partnership with Indigenous peoples to expand economic opportunities and create good jobs in Indigenous communities all across the country.
A New Democrat government will work with Indigenous communities to encourage economic development and create good jobs through infrastructure investments and expanded access to broadband internet and cell service for rural and remote communities. We commit to working with Indigenous entrepreneurs to find solutions for accessing capital and scale up investing in Indigenous social enterprise projects and entrepreneurship.
Smaller Indigenous communities left behind by the current funding model need dedicated regional economic development support to help expand economic opportunities in a way that reflects the community’s social and cultural values.
A New Democrat government will also create a Northern Infrastructure Fund to fast-track investment and focus on improving much needed infrastructure like roads and broadband internet for communities in the North.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous health care
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats will make sure that the federal government steps up to close
the health gap in Indigenous communities, and supports Indigenous health
self-determination. We recognize that healing the ongoing trauma caused by
colonialism and residential schools will require long-term partnership and
reliable, ongoing funding.
We will make sure that people can get the treatment they need in their community
through investments in Indigenous health care infrastructure and diagnostic
equipment. We will work in partnership with Indigenous communities to improve
access to mental health and addiction treatment services – including an
evidence-based action plan to prevent suicide, backed by dedicated federal
resources, fully implementing the New Democrat motion on suicide prevention
passed by the House of Commons.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will make sure that the federal government steps up to close the health gap in Indigenous communities, and supports Indigenous health self-determination. We recognize that healing the ongoing trauma caused by colonialism and residential schools will require long-term partnership and reliable, ongoing funding.
We will make sure that people can get the treatment they need in their community through investments in Indigenous health care infrastructure and diagnostic equipment. We will work in partnership with Indigenous communities to improve access to mental health and addiction treatment services – including an evidence-based action plan to prevent suicide, backed by dedicated federal resources, fully implementing the New Democrat motion on suicide prevention passed by the House of Commons.
A New Democrat government will also work with communities and care providers to ensure that Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate home care and long-term care is available for Elders, in their home communities and languages.
We will support Indigenous food sovereignty, and reform the Nutrition North program to improve families’ access to food, including country and traditional food.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous housing
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Decades of failure by the federal government has resulted in a
devastating housing crisis for many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families.
The Liberal government has failed to help people, leaving communities with
long waiting lists for housing, and overcrowded, dilapidated homes. The mould
crisis continues to harm people’s health. And chronic overcrowding is hurting
people in Indigenous communities across the country. The Conservatives have
an even worse record from their time in government: they announced a fund for
25,000 homes, yet six years later, fewer than 100 homes had been built.
It’s time to end the housing crisis for good with safe and affordable housing
in every Indigenous community, on and off reserve.
New Democrats will address the Indigenous housing crisis and put an end to
chronic overcrowding and long-wait lists by working with Indigenous communities
to implement co-developed First Nations, Métis, and Inuit housing strategies.
These innovative, ground-up strategies will mean sustainable and dedicated
funding to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples, whether in urban, rural, or
remote communities.
We believe that the federal government must immediately step up to tackle the
mould crisis affecting tens of thousands of homes, and provide support for First
Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to ensure that their homes are safe and healthy.
We will also ensure that Indigenous communities have the resources to make
homes greener and more energy efficient, working to keep the benefits of good
jobs, training, and investment close to home
NDP's promise
New Democrats will address the Indigenous housing crisis and put an end to chronic overcrowding and long wait lists by working with Indigenous communities to implement co-developed First Nations, Métis, and Inuit housing strategies. These innovative, ground-up strategies will mean sustainable and dedicated funding to meet the needs of Indigenous peoples, whether in urban, rural, or remote communities.
We believe that the federal government must immediately step up to tackle the mould crisis affecting tens of thousands of homes, and provide support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to ensure that their homes are safe and healthy. We will also ensure that Indigenous communities have the resources to make homes greener and more energy efficient, working to keep the benefits of good jobs, training, and investment close to home.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous rights
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats are committed to undertaking
the important work of reconciliation in good faith,
and in true and equal partnership with Indigenous
communities across the country. We believe that
the Crown’s relationship to Indigenous peoples
must be based on an acknowledgement of our
country’s colonial history of cultural genocide
and stolen lands – and include legally binding
commitments to fair and equitable policies
going forward.
In partnership with Indigenous peoples, a New Democrat government will fully
implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
New Democrats will work with Indigenous peoples to co-develop a National
Action Plan for Reconciliation, drawing directly from the Calls to Action and the
Declaration to ensure that Canada’s laws, policies, and practices are consistent
with Canada’s human rights commitments – including cultural rights, land rights,
and rights to self-determination and self-government.
Through legislation, we will establish a National Council for Reconciliation to
provide oversight and accountability for this process, reporting regularly to
Parliament and Canadians.
A New Democrat government will replace mere consultation with a standard of
free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by
government policies – including for all decisions affecting constitutionally
protected land rights, like energy project reviews. We are committed to good-faith,
consent-based engagement and negotiations consistent with the Tsilhqot’in
decision, an approach that honours Canada’s legal and constitutional obligations.
We will recognize and respect treaties, supporting Indigenous Nations who
are building and re-building their governance structures.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will work with Indigenous peoples to co-develop a National Action Plan for Reconciliation, drawing directly from the Calls to Action and the Declaration to ensure that Canada’s laws, policies, and practices are consistent with Canada’s human rights commitments – including cultural rights, land rights, and rights to self-determination and self-government.
Through legislation, we will establish a National Council for Reconciliation to provide oversight and accountability for this process, reporting regularly to Parliament and Canadians.
A New Democrat government will replace mere consultation with a standard of free, prior, and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by government policies – including for all decisions affecting constitutionally protected land rights, like energy project reviews. We are committed to good-faith, consent-based engagement and negotiations consistent with the Tsilhqot’in decision, an approach that honours Canada’s legal and constitutional obligations.
We will recognize and respect treaties, supporting Indigenous Nations who are building and re-building their governance structures.
We will also respect Inuit self-determination by co-developing the federal government’s Arctic Policy Framework through shared governance within the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, including through the adoption of an Inuit Nunangat policy in full partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. We will support the economic and social self-reliance of Inuit by addressing the massive infrastructure deficit in Northern communities.
New Democrats recognize Métis self-determination and in government, we will respect the path forward established by the Métis National Council and its governing members. We will pursue government-to-government negotiations on issues including self-government, education, housing, and health.
A New Democrat government will work in partnership with Indigenous communities across the country to help protect and revitalize the incredible diversity of Indigenous languages in Canada with new legislation and stable funding. In response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80, we will establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization, honour the Survivors of residential schools, and help communities across Canada commit to meaningful reconciliation.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Indigenous self-determination
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will recognize and respect treaties, supporting Indigenous Nations who
are building and re-building their governance structures.
We will also respect Inuit self-determination by co-developing the federal
government’s Arctic Policy Framework through shared governance within the
Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, including through the adoption of an Inuit
Nunangat policy in full partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. We will support the
economic and social self-reliance of Inuit by addressing the massive infrastructure
deficit in Northern communities.
New Democrats recognize Métis self-determination and in government, we
will respect the path forward established by the Métis National Council and its
governing members. We will pursue government-to-government negotiations
on issues including self-government, education, housing, and health.
Indigenous theatre
NDP's promise
Indigenous women, LGBTQI2S+
Angelique Belcourt's promise
The report from the National Inquiry must not sit on a shelf. New Democrats
will work in partnership with Indigenous women, the families of the missing and
murdered, and communities to implement the Inquiry’s Calls for Justice and the
calls to action brought forward by communities. This includes establishing a
comprehensive, plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls and
LGBTQI2S+ people — ensuring that all those fleeing violence have access to
culturally appropriate programming, emergency shelters and transitional housing.
We believe it’s wrong that Indigenous women and their children still do not have
equal status rights — including the right to pass on the ability to qualify for Indian
status registration. Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have failed
to fix this gross inequality. New Democrats will act to ensure full gender equality
for First Nations status as a matter of priority, consistent with Canadian and
international court rulings.
New Democrats acknowledge that respect for Indigenous women, girls, and
Two-Spirit people must be made real by ensuring equitable access and
self-determination over land, culture, language, housing, child care, income
security, employment, education, and physical, mental, sexual, and spiritual health.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will work in partnership with Indigenous women, the families of the missing and murdered, and communities to implement the Inquiry’s Calls for Justice and the calls to action brought forward by communities. This includes establishing a comprehensive, plan to address violence against Indigenous women,girls, and LGBTQI2S+ people — ensuring that all those fleeing violence have access to culturally appropriate programming, emergency shelters, and transitional housing.
We believe it’s wrong that Indigenous women and their children still do not have equal status rights — including the right to pass on the ability to qualify for Indian status registration. Successive Conservative and Liberal governments have failed to fix this gross inequality. New Democrats will act to ensure full gender equality for First Nations status as a matter of priority, consistent with Canadian and international court rulings.
New Democrats acknowledge that respect for Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people must be made real by ensuring equitable access and self-determination over land, culture, language, housing, child care, income security, employment, education, and physical, mental, sexual, and spiritual health.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
On-reserve services & infrastructure
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that it is past time for the federal government to step
up and fund the services and infrastructure that Indigenous communities need
to thrive – it is an important part of the responsibility that Canada owes to
Indigenous peoples given the deep and intergenerational impacts of colonialism and this means funding on-reserve emergency management
and prevention, including firefighting training and equipment. It also means
ensuring safe public transportation by resuming and expanding rural and remote
bus routes and passenger rail service.
Strong communities are sustainable communities, and many Indigenous
communities have been at the forefront of the move towards renewable energy.
We will work with them to protect infrastructure from climate change and increase
the use of renewable energy. New Democrats will help expand community-owned
renewable energy projects – and support efforts to transition remote communities
away from polluting diesel and harmful fumes, towards reliable and clean
energy alternatives.
NDP's promise
Reconciliation & environment
Angelique Belcourt's promise
The climate crisis is not just an environmental emergency. It also threatens
traditional food sources and the very survival of many Indigenous communities.
We have to move past the delays and inaction of past Liberal and Conservative
governments and take a fundamentally different approach to our future – one
that recognize a holistic definition of sustainability.
New Democrats will put reconciliation at the core of this effort, upholding
Indigenous knowledge and respecting inherent sovereignty. We recognize that as
original peoples of this country, Indigenous peoples have intimate connections to
their homelands, territories and resources and have provided stewardship since
time out of memory. Indigenous peoples are best placed to protect cultural and
biological diversity through control over their territory – and so the recognition
of inherent rights, title and treaty rights will be at the heart of our approach to
addressing climate change.
To make full and equal partnership the basis of Canada’s efforts, New Democrats
will ensure that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership have a seat at high-level
decision-making tables to help direct climate change efforts in Canada.
We will also expand the Indigenous Guardians Program, invest in Indigenous-led
science and support the creation of Indigenous-managed protected areas – and
make sure that species recovery efforts respect Indigenous rights and embrace
traditional knowledge to increase biodiversity.
Indigenous communities are not only stewards of their territories – they are
also on the front lines dealing with the impacts of climate change every day.
New Democrat government will work jointly with Indigenous leadership and
communities to develop coordinated action plans to respond to climate change
emergencies like wildfires and floods. This work will be informed by Indigenous
traditional and ecological knowledge and legal systems, and include improving
existing infrastructure, developing new infrastructure, and supporting response
efforts to keep people safe.
First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples need to be partners in the development of job
creation, employment training, and infrastructure investments that flow from federal
efforts to address climate change, ensuring that they are implemented in ways that
fit the needs and priorities of local communities.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will put reconciliation at the core of this effort, upholding Indigenous knowledge and respecting inherent sovereignty. We recognize that as original peoples of this country, Indigenous peoples have intimate connections to their homelands, territories, and resources and have provided stewardship since time out of memory. Indigenous peoples are best placed to protect cultural and biological diversity through control over their territory – and so the recognition of inherent rights, title, and treaty rights will be at the heart of our approach to addressing climate change.
To make full and equal partnership the basis of Canada’s efforts, New Democrats will ensure that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership have a seat at high-level decision making tables to help direct climate change efforts in Canada.
We will also expand the Indigenous Guardians Program, invest in Indigenous-led science, and support the creation of Indigenous-managed protected areas – and make sure that species recovery efforts respect Indigenous rights and embrace traditional knowledge to increase biodiversity.
Indigenous communities are not only stewards of their territories – they are also on the front lines dealing with the impacts of climate change every day. A New Democrat government will work jointly with Indigenous leadership and communities to develop coordinated action plans to respond to climate change emergencies like wildfires and floods. This work will be informed by Indigenous traditional and ecological knowledge and legal systems, and include improving existing infrastructure, developing new infrastructure, and supporting response efforts to keep people safe.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Reconciliation & justice
Angelique Belcourt's promise
In partnership with Indigenous peoples, a New Democrat government will fully
implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
New Democrats will work with Indigenous peoples to co-develop a National
Action Plan for Reconciliation, drawing directly from the Calls to Action and the
Declaration to ensure that Canada’s laws, policies, and practices are consistent
with Canada’s human rights commitments – including cultural rights, land rights,
and rights to self-determination and self-government.
Through legislation, we will establish a National Council for Reconciliation to
provide oversight and accountability for this process, reporting regularly to
Parliament and Canadians.
In response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80,
we will establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to acknowledge
the painful legacy of colonization, honour the Survivors of residential schools,
and help communities across Canada commit to meaningful reconciliation.
New Democrats believe government must work to end systemic discrimination
against Indigenous peoples in the justice system. In accordance with Truth and
Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action 30, 31, and 32, we will increase the
discretion of judges during sentencing, ensure bail programs are culturally
appropriate, bolster funding for community justice programs that focus on
healing and restorative justice rather than incarceration, and uphold the use
of Gladue principles in court proceedings.
We will work with Indigenous communities to enhance community safety and
provide the necessary resources for Indigenous policing, while taking steps to
end discriminatory policing practices like carding.
A New Democrat government will support the Directive on Civil Litigation Involving
Indigenous Peoples that puts an end to costly and adversarial legal battles with
Indigenous communities. We will also keep residential school Survivors at the heart
of decisions around justice for their experiences, ensuring fair compensation for
St. Anne’s residential school Survivors, Métis Survivors, and those who survived
abuse in day schools.
NDP's promise
New Democrats believe government must work to end systemic discrimination against Indigenous peoples in the justice system. In accordance with Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action 30, 31, and 32, we will increase the discretion of judges during sentencing, ensure bail programs are culturally appropriate, bolster funding for community justice programs that focus on healing and restorative justice rather than incarceration, and uphold the use of Gladue principles in court proceedings.
We will work with Indigenous communities to enhance community safety and provide the necessary resources for Indigenous policing, while taking steps to end discriminatory policing practices like carding.
A New Democrat government will support the Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous Peoples that puts an end to costly and adversarial legal battles with Indigenous communities. We will also keep residential school Survivors at the heart of decisions around justice for their experiences, ensuring fair compensation for St. Anne’s residential school Survivors, Métis Survivors, and those who survived abuse in day schools.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Treaties & land claims
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will replace mere consultation with a standard of
free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by
government policies – including for all decisions affecting constitutionally
protected land rights, like energy project reviews. We are committed to good-faith,
consent-based engagement and negotiations consistent with the Tsilhqot’in
decision, an approach that honours Canada’s legal and constitutional obligations.
We will recognize and respect treaties, supporting Indigenous Nations who
are building and re-building their governance structures.
International Relations
Canadian-manufactured weapons
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Under a New Democrat government,
Canada will be a force for peace. We will
support nuclear disarmament, recommit
to peacekeeping, and make sure that
Canadian-made weapons are not fuelling
conflict and human rights abuses abroad.
NDP's promise
Climate crisis leadership
Angelique Belcourt's promise
As we work hard here at home to
confront the climate crisis, Canada must
also take a global leadership role in helping
low-income countries deal with the impacts
of climate change. Never again do we want
Canadian leaders to stand in the way of
international action on climate change.
NDP's promise
Human rights abroad
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Upholding the rights of women and girls
will always be central to New Democrat
foreign policy, and we will step up efforts to
promote gender equality abroad with a strong
international agenda to promote rights and
security and access to education for women
and girls, including ensuring that women have
a seat at the peace table. We’ll also hold
Canadian companies to a high standard of
corporate social responsibility at home and
abroad – and ensure they meet it.
NDP's promise
International assistance
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will make different choices. A New
Democrat government is committed to
boosting Canada’s international development
assistance, with the goal of contributing
0.7 percent of our Gross National Income to
international aid. Canada must do our fair
share to help achieve the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals for 2030,
including alleviating poverty, ensuring decent
work, protecting the rights of Indigenous
communities and supporting global peace
and justice. To improve global health, Canada
should contribute more to The Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to end
these epidemics and support heath care
systems in developing countries.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government is committed to boosting Canada’s international development assistance, with the goal of contributing 0.7 percent of our Gross National Income to international aid. Canada must do our fair share to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, including alleviating poverty, ensuring decent work, protecting the rights of Indigenous communities, and supporting global peace and justice. To improve global health, Canada should contribute more to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to end these epidemics and support heath care systems in developing countries.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Israel & Palestine
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Under a New Democrat government,
Canada will be a force for peace.
We’ll also work towards a just and lasting
two-state solution between Israel and
Palestine that respects human rights and
international law.
NDP's promise
Nuclear weapons
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Under a New Democrat government,
Canada will be a force for peace. We will
support nuclear disarmament, recommit
to peacekeeping, and make sure that
Canadian-made weapons are not fuelling
conflict and human rights abuses abroad.
Jobs & the Economy
Auto industry
Angelique Belcourt's promise
their government. But that’s exactly what many
autoworkers and their families feel today. And
it’s the result of the choices made by Liberal
and Conservative governments.
For years, New Democrats, labour unions
and automakers have pressured successive
Liberal and Conservative governments for a
National Auto Strategy to support Canada’s
direct assembly and supply chain automotive
economy. This is urgent now more than ever,
as we see the devastation caused by the
closure of the General Motors Oshawa Car
Assembly plant and layoffs at the Chrysler-Fiat
plant in Windsor.
But instead of acting, this Liberal government
has given up on the auto sector. They
cancelled the Automotive Investment Fund
and sat on recommendations to protect jobs
from Canada’s “auto czar”, dragging their feet
for the last four years while thousands of
Canadians lost their jobs.
The auto sector, and the workers and
communities that depend on it, matter –
and New Democrats will always fight for
them. A New Democrat government will
urgently convene an auto summit with
provincial, municipal, industry and labour
leaders to develop a consensus on a National
Automotive Strategy to attract and retain jobs
and investment. This strategy will make sure
that Canadian product lines and manufacturing
processes are adapted to meet changing
consumer needs and evolving realities in the
manufacturing industry – while protecting
workers for the long term.
We will also restore the Automotive Innovation
Fund and make contributions to automakers
tax-free to help secure next generation
production capacity. And we will commission
an independent study into the causes and
consequences of the trade deficit in
automotive products with Mexico, along
with potential strategies for reducing it.
NDP's promise
The auto sector, and the workers and communities that depend on it, matter – and New Democrats will always fight for them. A New Democrat government will urgently convene an auto summit with provincial, municipal, industry and labour leaders to develop a consensus on a National Automotive Strategy to attract and retain jobs and investment. This strategy will make sure that Canadian product lines and manufacturing processes are adapted to meet changing consumer needs and evolving realities in the manufacturing industry – while protecting workers for the long term.
We will also restore the Automotive Innovation Fund and make contributions to automakers tax-free to help secure next generation production capacity. And we will commission an independent study into the causes and consequences of the trade deficit in automotive products with Mexico, along with potential strategies for reducing it.
New Democrats will help Canadian industry lead in the development and manufacturing of the vehicles of tomorrow. We’ll work with labour and industry to make sure that Canadian workers have the skills they need to benefit from the adoption of these new technologies – and drive demand by ensuring that federal incentives for zero-emissions automobiles prioritize made-in-Canada vehicles. Buying Canadian-made zeroemissions cars for government fleets will help us lead by example on sustainability, while creating good jobs here at home.
Finally, in a manner consistent with its arms-length commercial status, a New Democrat government will give Export Development Canada a stronger mandate to recruit and retain investment in automotive plants and export-focused manufacturing here in Canada.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Clean energy jobs
NDP's promise
Employment Insurance
Angelique Belcourt's promise
It’s time to make EI work for Canadians. A
New Democrat government would immediately
put in place a universal qualifying threshold
of 360 hours to make sure that many more
Canadians can access benefits, no matter
what kind of work they do – and restore the
appeals system to make decisions fast
and fair.
New Democrats understand that seasonal
workers face particular challenges accessing
EI. To help Canadians in seasonal industries
bridge the gap between the end of EI and the
start of seasonal work, we’ll bring back the
former Extra Five Weeks pilot project and
make it permanent, and we will restore the
economic regions in the territories and PEI
to their 2014 boundaries.
Parental leave should be available for all
Canadian families, in the way that works
best for them. Eighteen months of leave is
an attractive option for many parents, but
not many Canadians can afford to live on
just 33 percent of their salary. New Democrats
will bring in a new special leave that allows
parents to take shorter parental leave at a
higher replacement rate. We’ll also allow
self-employed workers to opt-into parental
benefits at any time before taking the leave,
and move to double leave for parents
of multiples.
To help make ends meet while on EI, we’ll
increase the income replacement rate to
60 percent – and create a low income
supplement so that no one receiving EI
regular or special benefits receives less
than $1,200 a month.
For many Canadians who need to rely on EI
when they’re dealing with an illness, the current
system falls far short and doesn’t provide
flexibility to support those who do want to work
when they can. To make sure that Canadians
can count on EI when they’re dealing with a
serious illness, a New Democrat government
will extend sickness benefits to 50 weeks,
expand access to re-training, and create a
pilot project to allow workers with episodic
disabilities to access EI sickness benefits
periodically, as they need them.
Finally, we will also protect the EI Operating
Account in law, so that future governments
can’t raid it for general revenue.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government would immediately put in place a universal qualifying threshold of 360 hours to make sure that many more Canadians can access benefits, no matter what kind of work they do – and restore the appeals system to make decisions fast and fair.
New Democrats understand that seasonal workers face particular challenges accessing EI. To help Canadians in seasonal industries bridge the cap between the end of EI and the start of seasonal work, we'll bring back the former Extra Five Weeks pilot project and make it permanent, and we will restore the economic regions in the territories and PEI to their 2014 boundaries.
Parental leave should be available for all Canadian families, in the way that works best for them. Eighteen months of leave is an attractive option for many parents, but not many Canadians can afford to live on just 33 percent of their salary. New Democrats will bring in a new special leave that allows parents to take shorter parental leave at a higher replacement rate. We'll also allow self-employed workers to opt-into parental benefits at any time before taking the leave, and move to double leave for parents of multiples.
To help make ends meet while on EI, we'll increase the income replacement rate to 60 percent – and create a low income supplement so that no one receiving EI regular or special benefits receives less than $1,200 a month.
For many Canadians who need to rely on EI when they're dealing with an illness, the current system falls far short and doesn't provide flexibility to support those who do want to work when they can. To make sure that Canadians can count on EI when they're dealing with a serious illness, a New Democrat government will extend sickness benefits to 50 weeks, expand access to re-training, and create a pilot project to allow workers with episodic disabilities to access EI sickness benefits periodically, as they need them.
Finally we will also protect the EI Operating Account in law, so that future governments can't raid it for general revenue.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Entrepreneurship & small business
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that small
businesses should have access to all the
support they need to grow, innovate and stay
competitive in Canada and around the world.
That’s why we have stood up for lower small
business taxes, opposed unfair merchant
fees, and fought to make it easier to pass
on small businesses to the next generation.
In government, New Democrats will keep
working hard for small businesses to tackle
issues that impact their bottom line, like
high credit card merchant fees. Our plan
for public, universal pharmacare will also
save businesses approximately $600 per
employee with extended health benefits
every year – and it means that all small
businesses can feel confident knowing
that their employees are able to access
the prescription drugs they need.
We’ll also make it easier for the family business
to be passed on to future generations, with new
legislation to end the unfair tax treatment of
family transfers of small businesses.
To help Canadian small business step out on
the world stage, a New Democrat government
will streamline access to government export
services and make it simpler to break into
foreign markets. We’ll also provide small- and
medium-sized businesses with a single point
of contact to help ease regulatory processes
and support compliance - freeing up time
for entrepreneurs to invest in growing
their business.
Recognizing that a shortage of workers is
a major barrier for many small businesses
operating in rural areas, we’ll make important
new investments in training Canadians and
boost support to traditionally underemployed
groups, ensuring that they can access good
jobs that pay a fair wage.
Fair trade
NDP's promise
New Democrats support fair trade that broadens opportunity in all areas of the country while protecting our industries and upholding labour standards, environmental protections and human rights. That’s why we’ll always defend Canadian workers in trade negotiations, protect supply management and stand up against unfair tariffs.
We’re committed to improving the transparency of trade negotiations, so that Canadians can clearly understand the costs and benefits of any proposed agreement and have their say before it’s signed. That’s why a New Democrat government will directly engage with Canadians on the expected costs and benefits of potential trade deals, as well as ensure that all trade agreements are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We will evaluate all potential trade deals for their social, environmental and gendered impact on Canadians.
When it comes to what’s on the negotiating table, Canadians know that there are some things that we shouldn’t be willing to compromise on, like investor-state dispute settlement measures that hand too much power to corporations and undermine the rules that keep us safe and healthy. Trade agreements should have enforceable labour, human rights and environmental protections – and New Democrats will always protect Canadians against measures that could increase the cost of pharmaceuticals, weaken our cultural protections, or undermine privacy rights.
A New Democrat government will also do more to defend Canadian workers and, communities from unfair trading practices. We will modernize Canada’s trade remedy system and make sure that trade unions have full standing in trade cases and the ability to initiate trade disputes, as is the case in other countries.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Financial advice
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrats have the courage to stand
up for you and increase consumer protection
for financial transactions, and require financial
advisors to offer advice that is in your best
financial interest, not what is best for the
bank’s bottom line. We’ll also make sure that
you have the right to repair electronic devices
and other products at affordable prices,
expanding consumer choice, and cutting
down on waste.
NDP's promise
Investment in industries
Angelique Belcourt's promise
From steel mills to auto plans to
to farms and high-tech companies, and
everything in between, Canadian industries
power our economy and sustain the jobs that
families across the country rely on. But for
too long, Liberal and Conservative governments
have ignored the need to support Canadian
industry, trading away advantages in trade
deals and failing to invest in the targeted
support that our industries need to thrive.
If we make the right choices now, we can
make Canada an even better place to invest,
protect and create good jobs for the future.
We can make Canadian industry a global
leader as market needs evolve. We’ll make
sure that Canadian workers are at the centre
of a robust strategy to drive innovation and
boost competitiveness, now and into the
future. And as we grow our clean energy
economy, we’ll protect and create good
jobs for families today – and tomorrow.
As a start, New Democrats will strengthen
and modernize the Investment Canada Act
to protect Canadian jobs and undo the
damage done by the Liberal government,
which has allowed more takeovers of
Canadian companies by foreign investors
without national security reviews. We’ll
scrap the failed Invest in Canada agency and
create iCanada, a one-stop shop inside the
federal government to help attract investors
to Canada and turn their plans into reality –
and champion Canadian industry on the
international stage.
NDP's promise
Manufacturing jobs
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats know that this sector and
these jobs are vital for so many communities
across the country. We are committed to
fighting for a strong and robust future for
Canadian manufacturing.
A New Democrat government will bring
together all levels of government, together
with business and labour leaders, to develop
a national industrial strategy to build an
advanced low carbon manufacturing economy
in Canada that will provide good middle-class
jobs to Canadian workers. We will also take
measures to grow the domestic market for
Canadian manufactured goods, and provide
strategic supports to our long-neglected steel
and aluminum industries to attract and retain
jobs and investments in communities across
the country.
When the Liberal government signed a
new trade deal with the United States that
contained damaging steel and aluminum
tariffs, New Democrats fought alongside
labour and the industry get the tariffs
permanently removed – and won. But there
is still much work to be done to protect
Canadian jobs against the risk that the U.S.
could impose new tariffs. For New Democrats,
no tariffs against our steel or aluminum will
ever be acceptable. That’s why we will adopt
measures to stabilize the Canadian steel
market, and protect the sector from predatory
practices of foreign producers who are shut
out of other markets.
Liberal and Conservative governments
have failed to use Canadian government
infrastructure procurement to support
Canada’s manufacturing economy, and have
often negotiated trade deals that put domestic
procurement policies at risk. New Democrats
will require the use of Canadian-made steel
and aluminum for infrastructure projects
across the country.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will bring together all levels of government, together with business and labour leaders, to develop a national industrial strategy to build an advanced low carbon manufacturing economy in Canada that will provide good middle-class jobs to Canadian workers. We will also take measures to grow the domestic market for Canadian manufactured goods, and provide strategic supports to our long-neglected steel and aluminum industries to attract and retain jobs and investments in communities across the country.
When the Liberal government signed a new trade deal with the United States that contained damaging steel and aluminum tariffs, New Democrats fought alongside labour and the industry get the tariffs permanently removed – and won. But there is still much work to be done to protect Canadian jobs against the risk that the U.S. could impose new tariffs. For New Democrats, no tariffs against our steel or aluminum will ever be acceptable. That’s why we will adopt measures to stabilize the Canadian steel market, and protect the sector from predatory practices of foreign producers who are shut out of other markets.
Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to use Canadian government infrastructure procurement to support Canada’s manufacturing economy, and have often negotiated trade deals that put domestic procurement policies at risk. New Democrats will require the use of Canadian-made steel and aluminum for infrastructure projects across the country.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Minimum wage & universal income
Angelique Belcourt's promise
For too long, the Liberal and Conservative
governments refused to take action on low
wages. It’s not okay that Canadians can get up
every morning and work 40 hours a week, yet
still live below the poverty line. New Democrats
believe that everyone deserves a living wage –
and in government, we’ll put in place a federal
minimum wage of $15 an hour that will cover
over 900,000 workers. Not only will this help
hundreds of thousands of workers, it will also
set a national standard for a fair, living wage. New Democrats will work with the provinces
to launch a national basic income pilot project,
in addition to continuing Ontario’s program, to
gather data about this approach to tackling
income precarity.
NDP's promise
New Democrats will work with the provinces to launch a national basic income pilot project in addition to continuing Ontario’s program, in order to gather data about this approach to tackling income precarity.
Minorities in nontraditional fields
NDP's promise
Part-time and contract work
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Right now, without access to benefits like
extended health coverage and dental care,
temporary workers earn roughly 75 per cent
of what permanent employees do – a divide
that hits the most vulnerable and precarious
workers hardest, and gives employers an
incentive to limit the number of full-time
positions they offer. We don’t think that’s
right, and we will put in place rules to require
that part-time and contract workers be
compensated equally to full-time workers
NDP's promise
Pensions
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats believe that every Canadian
should be able to count on a dignified, secure
retirement – and we’ll fight hard to protect
pensions that workers have earned. To that
end, we will make sure that pensioners are
at the front of the line when a company
goes bankrupt – making sure unfunded
pension liabilities owed to workers, and
employees’ severance pay, are the top
priority for repayment.
We’ll stop companies from paying out
dividends and bonuses when pensions are
under-funded, and we’ll create a mandatory,
industry-financed pension insurance program
to make sure that no worker is deprived of the
retirement benefits they’ve earned.
The federal government has a critical role to
play in protecting defined benefit pensions
across the country. The Liberals’ openness to
target benefit plans in the public sector, which
don’t guarantee stable benefits for retirees,
puts defined benefits at risk for all Canadians
– and we will immediately put a stop to this
chipping away of retirement security.
We are committed to strengthening public
pensions and improving retirement security
for all Canadians. A New Democrat government
will create a Pension Advisory Commission
to develop a long-term plan to protect and
enhance Old Age Security, boost the
Guaranteed Income Supplement, and
strengthen the Canada Pension Plan. We’ll
also make automatic enrollment in OAS and
GIS retroactive, so no retiree misses out on
benefits that they should be receiving, and
support efforts to make sure Canadians have
good retirement financial literacy.
NDP's promise
[...] we will make sure that pensioners are at the front of the line when a company goes bankrupt, and make sure unfunded pension liabilities owed to workers and employees’ severance pay are the top priority for repayment.
We’ll stop companies from paying out dividends and bonuses when pensions are under-funded and we’ll create a mandatory, industry-financed pension insurance program to make sure that no worker is deprived of the retirement benefits they’ve earned.
The federal government has a critical role to play in protecting defined benefit pensions across the country. The Liberals’ openness to target benefit plans in the public sector, which don’t guarantee stable benefits for retirees, puts defined benefits at risk for all Canadians – and we will immediately put a stop to this chipping away of retirement security.
We are committed to strengthening public pensions and improving retirement security for all Canadians. A New Democrat government will create a Pension Advisory Commission to develop a long-term plan to protect and enhance Old Age Security, boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and strengthen the Canada Pension Plan. We’ll also make automatic enrollment (sic) in OAS and GIS retroactive, so no retiree misses out on benefits that they should be receiving, and we will support efforts to make sure Canadians have good retirement financial literacy.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Poverty
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We need the courage – and meaningful action
– to build a Canada without poverty, where all
Canadians can count on quality public services
and community supports to help them lead
dignified lives. A core component of our
approach is enshrining the right to housing
in law, and starting work now with a goal of
ending homelessness in Canada within a
decade. In a country as wealthy as Canada,
there is no excuse to leave any Canadian
living in poverty or without a safe roof over
their head.
Our affordable housing strategy will include
measures to support Canadians at risk of
becoming homeless, taking the lead from
communities about local needs and adopting
a “housing first” approach. To help people find
an affordable home in the long term, we will
support the creation of more social housing
and other affordable options.
Poor health and poverty are linked, and a
national pharmacare program will mean that
all Canadians can access the prescription
medicine they need, regardless of their income
or address. Better access to mental health and
addictions support will also form a key part of
our approach to tackling poverty.
New Democrats will work with the provinces
to launch a national basic income pilot project,
in addition to continuing Ontario’s program, to
gather data about this approach to tackling
income precarity. Developing a national, public,
universal child care program is also critical for
lifting women and their families out of poverty,
and an important way to give all kids a good
start in early learning.
NDP's promise
A core component of our approach is enshrining the right to housing in law and starting work now with a goal of ending homelessness in Canada within a decade. In a country as wealthy as Canada, there is no excuse to leave any Canadian living in poverty without a safe roof over their head.
Our affordable housing strategy will include measures to support Canadians at risk of becoming homeless, take the lead from communities about local needs, and adopt a “housing first” approach. To help people find an affordable home in the long term, we will support the creation of more social housing and other affordable options.
Poor health and poverty are linked and a national pharmacare program will mean that all Canadians can access the prescription medicine they need, regardless of their income, or address. Better access to mental health and addictions support will also form a key part of our approach to tackling poverty.
New Democrats will work with the provinces to launch a national basic income pilot project in addition to continuing Ontario’s program, in order to gather data about this approach to tackling income precarity. Developing a national, public, universal child care program is also critical for lifting women and their families out of poverty and is an important way to give all kids a good start in early learning.
Finally, making sure that all Canadians can access healthy, affordable food is a cornerstone of our Canadian food strategy. A national school nutrition program will make sure that no child enters their classroom hungry. Children should always have access to healthy food and the ability to concentrate on learning. In addition, New Democrats will ensure that a reformed Nutrition North program is able to better respond to the needs of Northern families, to put an end to chronic food insecurity in the North.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Public infrastructure
NDP's promise
Our vision is one where communities can afford to build the infrastructure they need to thrive, from roads and bridges to community centres and child care centres, and everything in between. These investments will create good jobs in every part of the country. To get there, we will partner with provinces, territories, First Nations, and municipalities to deliver reliable public infrastructure funding that puts people – not profit – first. By using Community Benefit Agreements, we will guarantee that good jobs, training, apprenticeships, and support for local businesses are part of every infrastructure project.
When it comes to getting around, public transit should be a convenient and affordable option that makes your commute easier, all while taking cars off the road, cutting emissions, and reducing gridlock. New Democrats understand that getting our communities moving is critical for our economy and our quality of life. That’s why we’ll put in place a permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism for modern public transit across Canada for the long run. We’ll also step up investments now to help cities transition their bus fleets to electric and to expand affordable rail and bus options in all parts of the country. And for municipalities that make it a priority, a New Democrat government will work with them towards fare-free transit to ease commutes and make life more affordable.
Nothing is more important than having a place to call home. No matter who you are, you need a safe and affordable place to live and raise your family. But Canadians across the country are facing a housing crisis and we need a government that gets back to work building new affordable housing to help confront it. A New Democrat government will partner with provinces and municipalities to create half a million units of affordable housing over the next ten years. This will include social housing, community, and non-market housing, as well as co-ops. We’ll also streamline the application process and immediately provide dedicated fast-start funds to help communities get the expertise and assistance they need to get projects off the ground now, not years from now. Wherever possible, we’ll encourage provinces to work with social enterprises to make sure that the training and jobs associated with building affordable housing go to those who need opportunities the most.
As the impacts of climate change are felt across the country, New Democrats believe that all levels of government have to step up to help communities cope with the impacts of extreme weather. That’s why a New Democrat government will expand federal funding to respond to disasters and support communities in proactively adapting their infrastructure to withstand floods, forest fires, and other extreme weather events. We will also partner with Canadians and communities to make serious investments in making buildings more energy efficient to help families save money and fight climate change.
In our digital age, technological infrastructure is more important than ever. That’s why we’re committed to making sure that every community in Canada has access to high-speed internet. We’ll also ensure that the right investments are made to expand cell phone coverage to all parts of the country, so that Canadians can stay connected – affordably – no matter where they are.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Public service
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Finally, public servants make incredible
contributions to our country – and they deserve
a government, and an employer, that treats
them with respect. New Democrats will replace
the failed Phoenix pay system brought in by
the Conservative and Liberal governments,
and ensure that impacted workers get fair
compensation. We will also work to reduce
the inefficient and costly practice of contracting
out government work, which has only grown
under the Liberal government, and we will
take action to put an end to harassment in
the federal workplace.
NDP's promise
Unpaid internships
Angelique Belcourt's promise
The rampant use of unpaid internships exposes
young workers to abuse. The Liberals promised
to end unfair unpaid internships, but nothing
has been done. A New Democrat government
will immediately ban unpaid internships
outside of education programs.
NDP's promise
Justice, Crime, & Law Enforcement
Cannabis
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will also proactively expunge criminal
records for Canadians convicted of minor
cannabis possession. With cannabis now legal
in Canada, too many people are still burdened
with criminal records for simple possession –
records that mean real hardships that affect
their employment opportunities and their ability
to travel. These records for minor cannabis
possession will be completely erased, allowing
people to get on with building their lives.
NDP's promise
Deferred Prosecution Agreements & SNC-Lavalin scandal
NDP's promise
Extremism & terrorism
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To help protect our communities against
gangs, New Democrats will make sure that
communities have access to funding for
anti-gang projects that help deter at-risk youth
from joining gangs. We’ll address radicalization
by focusing on preventing youth from falling
prey to violent extremism, including through
support for community-led initiatives. New Democrats will deal with threats to our
national security, including foreign interference
and espionage, terrorism and cybercrime, by
working with our international allies, enhancing
real-time oversight of security services, and
fully respecting the privacy and Charter rights
of all Canadians.
NDP's promise
We’ll address radicalization by focusing on preventing youth from falling prey to violent extremism through support for community-led initiatives.
New Democrats will deal with threats to our national security, including foreign interference and espionage, terrorism, and cybercrime, by working with our international allies, enhancing real-time oversight of security services, and fully respecting the privacy and Charter rights of all Canadians.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Gangs
Angelique Belcourt's promise
To help protect our communities against
gangs, New Democrats will make sure that
communities have access to funding for
anti-gang projects that help deter at-risk youth
from joining gangs. We’ll address radicalization
by focusing on preventing youth from falling
prey to violent extremism, including through
support for community-led initiatives.
NDP's promise
Guns
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Too many lives have been lost in Canadian
cities to rising gun crime. We will work to
keep assault weapons and illegal handguns
off our streets, and to tackle gun smuggling
and organized crime.
NDP's promise
Legal aid & access to justice
Angelique Belcourt's promise
to make sure that the most vulnerable
have access to the legal support they need,
New Democrats will increase federal funding
for legal aid programs across the country.
NDP's promise
Mandatory minimums
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will restore
the independence of the judiciary by reducing
reliance on mandatory minimums and allowing
trial judges to have greater discretion in
sentencing. As we work towards reconciliation,
we will also make sure that Gladue principles
are consistently applied in court proceedings,
and uphold the importance of communitybased and restorative justice approaches.
NDP's promise
Policing
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will work with
the provinces, territories, and Indigenous
governments to support innovative models of
community policing. And we will make sure
that the RCMP retains trained members and
provides a harassment-free work environment.
NDP's promise
Victims of crime
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our vision of public safety is one that is
informed by the need for more restorative
justice. Victims should have access to the
services and supports they need, such as
counselling, referrals, police and court-related
services, and a voice in decisions that may
impact their safety.
NDP's promise
Military & Veterans
Canadian Forces bases services
NDP's promise
Defence funding
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We need to do better for Canadians in uniform
and for the defense of our country. A New
Democrat government will make sure that
our troops have the equipment, training,
and support they need to do the difficult and
dangerous work we ask them to undertake. We
will ensure that funding supports our national
defence and international commitments, with
a renewed priority of advancing multilateral
peacekeeping initiatives around the world.
NDP's promise
Defence shipbuilding
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will keep shipbuilding procurement
on-time and on-budget, and ensure that the
work is spread out fairly across the country.
Fighter jet replacement will be based on a free
and fair competition to make sure that we get
the best fighters to meet Canada’s needs, at the
best price. And when it comes to operations
here at home, New Democrats oppose the
privatization of services on Canadian Forces
bases across the country.
NDP's promise
Diversity in armed forces
NDP's promise
Fighter jet replacement
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will keep shipbuilding procurement
on-time and on-budget, and ensure that the
work is spread out fairly across the country.
Fighter jet replacement will be based on a free
and fair competition to make sure that we get
the best fighters to meet Canada’s needs, at the
best price. And when it comes to operations
here at home, New Democrats oppose the
privatization of services on Canadian Forces
bases across the country.
NDP's promise
Ill and injured CAF members
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We will
reform the universality of service principle to
make sure that ill and injured Canadian Armed
Forces members are not unfairly pushed out
of service.
NDP's promise
Mental health for defence
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will make
mental health support for members and their
families a priority. No member or veteran of
the Canadian Forces should ever feel that they
are all alone in dealing with the impact of their
experiences or in transitioning to civilian life.
They – and their families – need to know that
their country and their government has their
back, during their service and for the rest of
their lives.
NDP's promise
Military sexual harrassment
Angelique Belcourt's promise
We are also committed to putting an end to
sexual harassment and assault in the military.
We will also ensure that the recruitment and
retention efforts of the Canadian Armed Forces
reflects the diversity of Canada. Finally, we will
reform the universality of service principle to
make sure that ill and injured Canadian Armed
Forces members are not unfairly pushed out
of service.
NDP's promise
Veterans
Angelique Belcourt's promise
It’s time to do right by Canada’s veterans.
A New Democrat government will honour
the special bond of mutual obligation
between Canadians and veterans, and deliver
the services that veterans need and deserve.
As part of this process, we will launch a full
review of benefits and work with veterans to
determine the best way to provide fair benefits
to all veterans, including tackling the issue of
equal access to lifetime pensions.
Veterans shouldn’t have to wait weeks or even
months to receive the services they need. We’ll
get rid of backlogs and step up high-quality,
personalized service delivery by providing one
caseworker for every twenty-five veterans,
and improving services that are delivered by
phone and online.
There’s also much more that we can do to ease
the transition from service for veterans. A
New Democrat government will give Canadian
Forces members access to care and support
before the transition, and make sure that their
benefits are in place before they are released
from service.
To give more veterans access to postsecondary education and training that works
for them, we will expand the education benefit
to more people. We will also help support
veterans and their families by reviewing the
caregiver allowance and making it available
to more people.
New Democrats will work with partners
in community services and the veterans
community to end veteran homelessness
for good – because one veteran on the
streets is one too many.
And to ensure that taxpayer money earmarked
for veterans care actually gets spent on it,
we will automatically carry forward all annual
lapsed spending in Veterans Affairs to improve
services. There should never be an incentive
for any government to save money on the
backs of veterans.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will honour the special bond of mutual obligation between Canadians and veterans, and deliver the services that veterans need and deserve. As part of this process, we will launch a full review of benefits and work with veterans to determine the best way to provide fair benefits to all veterans, including tackling the issue of equal access to lifetime pensions.
Veterans shouldn’t have to wait weeks or even months to receive the services they need. We’ll get rid of backlogs and step up high-quality, personalized service delivery by providing one caseworker for every twenty-five veterans and improving services that are delivered by phone and online.
There’s also much more that we can do to ease the transition from service for veterans. A New Democrat government will give Canadian Forces members access to care and support before the transition and make sure that their benefits are in place before they are released from service.
To give more veterans access to post-secondary education and training that works for them, we will expand the education benefit to more people. We will also help support veterans and their families by reviewing the caregiver allowance and making it available to more people.
New Democrats will work with partners in community services and the veterans community to end veteran homelessness for good – because one veteran on the streets is one too many.
And to ensure that taxpayer money earmarked for veterans care actually gets spent on it, we will automatically carry forward all annual lapsed spending in Veterans Affairs to improve services. There should never be an incentive for any government to save money on the backs of veterans.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Natural Resources
Fisheries
Angelique Belcourt's promise
New Democrats are committed to a vision
of strong coastal communities, sustainable
fisheries and thriving marine and freshwater
ecosystems. With the right choices today,
we can protect our fisheries and the jobs
they provide for generations to come – and
make Canada a global leader in ocean and
freshwater sustainability.
To keep the benefits of the fishery local,
New Democrats will work towards a
community-based terminal fishery system
on the west coast. On the east coast, we’ll
work to protect, enshrine, and enforce the
government’s owner-operator and fleet
separation policies, while ensuring that
our small craft harbours get the upgrades
they need for safety and resilience to
climate change.
In order to protect wild salmon on the
Pacific coast, we will fully implement the
recommendations of the Cohen Commission
and work with the province of British Columbia
and First Nations to support the transition to
land-based closed-containment systems. On
the Atlantic coast, we’ll ensure that resource
allocations in the fishery are guided by the
principles of adjacency, historic dependence
and sustainability, while also respecting
Indigenous rights.
To help consumers make healthy choices and
to combat seafood fraud, a New Democrat
government will put in place stronger labelling
rules and a Boat to Plate traceability standard
for Canadian seafood products – and we will
support the marketing of quality Canadian
seafood at home and around the world. When it comes to sustainability, New
Democrats recognize that the wellbeing of
our communities is reliant upon the health
of our marine and freshwater ecosystems.
That’s why we will invest in habitat restoration
and the rebuilding of fish stocks, as well as in
strengthening our response to oil spills and
derelict vessels to better protect our coasts.
At the same time, we will harness the potential
of our coastline and spur jobs in Canada’s blue
economy through investments in research,
ocean science and technology.
So often, local communities, and
particularly First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
peoples, are the first to respond in the event
of an emergency along our coastlines. In
areas where this is the case, a New Democrat
government will work in partnership with
Indigenous communities to make sure that
they have the right equipment, training and
support to help save lives and protect the
marine environment in their territory. We’ll also
take steps to modernize Canada’s aging Coast
Guard fleet, improve training and facilities, and
enhance the Coast Guard auxiliary.
NDP's promise
To keep the benefits of the fishery local, New Democrats will work towards a community-based terminal fishery system on the west coast. On the east coast, we'll work to protect, enshrine, and enforce the government's owner-operator and fleet separation policies, while ensuring that our small craft harbours get the upgrades they need for safety and resilience to climate change.
In order to protect wild salmon on the Pacific coast, we will fully implement the recommendations of the Cohen Commission and work with the province of British Columbia and First Nations to support the transition to land-based, closed-containment systems. On the Atlantic coast, we'll ensure that resource allocations in fisheries are guided by the principles of adjacency, historic dependence, and sustainability, while also respecting Indigenous rights.
To help consumers make healthy choices and to combat seafood fraud, a New Democrat government will put in place stronger labelling rules and a Boat to Plate traceability standard for Canadian seafood products – and we will support the marketing of quality Canadian seafood at home and around the world.
When it comes to sustainability, New Democrats recognize that the wellbeing of our communities is reliant upon the health of our marine and freshwater ecosystems. That’s why we will invest in habitat restoration and the rebuilding of fish stocks, as well as in strengthening our response to oil spills and derelict vessels to better protect our coasts. At the same time, we will harness the potential of our coastline and spur jobs in Canada’s blue economy through investments in research, ocean science, and technology.
So often, local communities and particularly First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, are the first to respond in the event of an emergency along our coastlines. In areas where this is the case, a New Democrat government will work in partnership with Indigenous communities to make sure that they have the right equipment, training, and support to help save lives and protect the marine environment in their territory. We’ll also take steps to modernize Canada’s aging Coast Guard fleet, improve training and facilities, and enhance the Coast Guard auxiliary.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Forestry
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our forests are
vital to global climate health – and to the
health of our sustainable economy. Canada’s
forestry industry supports rural communities
from coast to coast to coast and families
deserve to know that sustainable forestry
practices will continue to provide good jobs,
now and for the next generation. But under
Liberal and Conservative governments, forestry
communities are facing an uncertain future.
As our environment changes, so too must the
forestry industry. And the federal government
needs to be working alongside as a partner
to ensure that Canadian forestry continues
to succeed, while meeting the highest
environmental and sustainability standards.
A New Democrat government will invest in
forestry innovation and support value-added
Canadian wood products – and the good
jobs that go with them. Our plan will support
forestry research and development, help
companies commercialize new technologies,
and expand market access for wood products
to keep Canada competitive.
We’ll also boost reforestation efforts to
strengthen our climate resilience and ensure
the sustainability of the forestry sector. New
Democrats will help protect communities
through forest management to mitigate forest
fire risk, including by combatting the spread
of the mountain pine beetle and improving
coordination of fire prevention efforts across
all levels of government.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will invest in forestry innovation and support value-added Canadian wood products – and the good jobs that go with them. Our plan will support forestry research and development, help companies commercialize new technologies, and expand market access for wood products to keep Canada competitive.
We’ll also boost reforestation efforts to strengthen our climate resilience and ensure the sustainability of the forestry sector. New Democrats will help protect communities through forest management to mitigate forest fire risk, including combatting (sic) the spread of the mountain pine beetle and improving coordination of fire prevention efforts across all levels of government.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Technology
Cell service and broadband
Angelique Belcourt's promise
It’s time for a government that’s on your side –
protecting your pocketbook and delivering the
modern services you need.
New Democrats believe that no matter
where you live in Canada, you should be able
to stay connected – without breaking the bank
because of unfair gouging. That’s why, until the
industry becomes more competitive, we’ll put in
place a price cap to make sure that Canadians
aren’t paying more than the global average for
their cell phone and internet bills. Expanding cell coverage and delivering
reliable, affordable broadband internet to
every community in Canada is vital to the
economic future of rural Canada and remote
communities. But it has been ignored by
successive governments for far too long. That’s
why we believe that we need to act urgently to
close the digital divide now, not ten years
from now as the Liberal government proposed.
We are committed to making sure that every
community in Canada has access to highspeed internet without delay.
In addition, we’ll make sure that providers offer
a basic plan for wireless and broadband that is
comparable with the affordable plans that are
available in other countries. To put an end to
surprise bills, we’ll require companies to offer
unlimited wireless data options at affordable
rates, as exist elsewhere in the world, and
abolish data caps for broadband internet.
And finally, to protect Canadians from unfair
wireless and internet sales and services
practices, we’ll introduce a Telecom
Consumers’ Bill of Rights and put an end
to gouging for good.
NDP's promise
No more huge bills. Every Canadian will save $10 on every cell or internet bill on average, thanks to price caps that make sure Canadians are paying a fair price no matter where they live.
No more data caps. Ending caps for internet plan and requiring companies to offer affordable, unlimited data plans for cellphones – so that there are no surprises at the end of the month.
Selling the airwaves should benefit us. The government makes billions selling the right to provide cell and internet service – and people, not corporations, should benefit from that money.
Basic plans for better access. Every company will be required to have a basic plan for internet and cell service that meets the needs of Canadians.
Protecting Canadians. A Telecom Consumers’ Bill of Rights will put an end to the outrageous sales and services practices of big cell and internet companies and protect people from being gouged.
From Lower Cellular Fees and Better Coverage, retrieved 2019-09-24.
Culture rules in digital media
NDP's promise
Privacy protections
NDP's promise
Right to Repair
NDP's promise
Tech investment
NDP's promise
We’ll take a strategic, sector-specific approach that invests in innovation and R&D here at home – and we’ll put a particular focus on developing the technologies the world will need to thrive in a low-carbon future.
We’ll review the federal procurementsystem (sic) to ensure that, wherever possible, federal government processes are designed to encourage Canadian bidders - including projects supporting the expansion of digital government.
A New Democrat government will step up as a partner to foster entrepreneurship and support a Canadian start-up culture with a focus on helping Canadian companies in all regions of the country commercialize new technologies and scale-up, train, and retain the highly-skilled Canadian workforce needed to support industry growth and bolster Canadian competitiveness on the world stage.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Transit & Transportation
Active transportation
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Better commutes include promoting smart
community planning and active transportation
like walking and cycling, helping Canadians
make choices that are healthier and more
affordable for everyone.
NDP's promise
Low-emissions vehicles
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Our vision includes making it possible for
Canadian auto manufacturers to produce more
ZEVs in Canada, safeguarding good jobs and
strengthening our auto sector, while building
towards ZEVs being 100% of new car sales by
2040. We will create a centre of excellence
for research and development of ZEVs, and
support Canadian manufacturing of batteries,
energy storage solutions, and alternative fuels
like biofuels made from waste.
A New Democrat government will extend
federal incentives for ZEVs and provide a
break for working families by waiving the
federal sales tax on ZEV purchases, and
grow these incentives up to $15,000 per
family for made-in-Canada vehicles. To make
ZEV use easier for Canadians in all regions,
we’ll expand charging networks for ZEVs
across the country, and help homeowners
cover the cost of installing a plug-in charger.
NDP's promise
Our vision includes making it possible for Canadian auto manufacturers to produce more ZEVs in Canada, safeguarding good jobs, and strengthening our auto sector, while building towards ZEVs being 100% of new car sales by 2040. We will create a centre of excellence for research and development of ZEVs, and support Canadian manufacturing of batteries, energy storage solutions, and alternative fuels like biofuels made from waste.
A New Democrat government will extend federal incentives for ZEVs and provide a break for working families by waiving the federal sales tax on ZEV purchases, and grow these incentives up to $15,000 per family for made-in-Canada vehicles. To make ZEV use easier for Canadians in all regions, we’ll expand charging networks for ZEVs across the country and help homeowners cover the cost of installing a plug-in charger.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Northern travel
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Public transit options
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Working with provinces and municipalities
that identify it as a priority, we will help
build a path towards fare-free transit to
ease commutes, help people make ends
meet, and lower emissions. At the same
time, Canadians living in rural areas need
affordable, convenient transit options that
they can rely on, too. We’ll re-establish rural
bus routes abandoned by Greyhound and
expand bus service in rural regions.
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will modernize and expand public transit in communities across Canada, and ensure that federal transit funding flows with an emphasis on scaling up low-carbon transitprojects, like zero-emissions buses and electric trains, with the goal of electrifying transit and other municipal fleets by 2030.
Working with provinces and municipalities that identify it as a priority, we will help them build towards fare-free transit to ease commutes, help people make ends meet, and lower emissions. At the same time, Canadians living in rural areas need affordable, convenient transit options that they can rely on, too. We’ll re-establish rural bus routes abandoned by Greyhound and expand bus service in rural regions.
A New Democrat government will also support creating high-frequency rail along the Quebec-Windsor corridor and expand rail service options in other regions in partnership with the provinces and territories. By working to restore the Ontario Northlander and grow passenger rail service, we will help provide a crucial transportation link for communities and businesses alike in Northern Ontario.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Rail
Angelique Belcourt's promise
A New Democrat government will also
support creating high-frequency rail along
the Quebec-Windsor corridor, and expand rail
service options other regions in partnership with the provinces and territories.
Transit infrastructure
Angelique Belcourt's promise
Quality public transit is essential to making our
cities and towns run. Municipalities are already
investing in making their transit systems better
and more environmentally friendly – it’s time
that they had a federal partner to help.
A New Democrat government will modernize
and expand public transit in communities
across Canada, and ensure that federal
transit funding flows with an emphasis on
scaling up low carbon transit projects like
zero-emissions buses and electric trains,
with the goal of electrifying transit and
other municipal fleets by 2030.
NDP's promise
[...] we’ll put in place a permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism for modern public transit across Canada for the long run. We’ll also step up investments now to help cities transition their bus fleets to electric and to expand affordable rail and bus options in all parts of the country. And for municipalities that make it a priority, a New Democrat government will work with them towards fare-free transit to ease commutes and make life more affordable.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Misc. topics
Arts & culture
NDP's promise
Emergency services
NDP's promise
Gas prices
NDP's promise
Official languages
NDP's promise
A New Democrat government will enhance the Action Plan for Official Languages to improve access to services in the language of choice, including working with the provinces and territories to improve minority language education, and attract more French-speaking immigrants to communities all across the country.
We’ll also modernize the Official Languages Act to strengthen oversight and accountability, expand the scope of language rights, and ensure that minority language communities are consulted on decisions that impact them. New Democrats will make sure that Canadians can access justice in their language of choice, and that judges on the Supreme Court are bilingual.
These efforts will happen alongside our commitment to the promotion and revitalization of Indigenous languages – recognizing that honouring Canada’s linguistic heritage must include reconciliation.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Rural and northern communities
NDP's promise
[...] a New Democrat government will focus on improving access to in-person services in northern and rural communities. In order to make our rural and northern communities safer, and to recognize the selfless work of our volunteer emergency responders, we’ll also expand the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and ensure that federal funding for rural and First Nations policing is made available in a fair, predictable, and sustainable way.
In many rural areas, simple things like going to the bank have become complicated and difficult. Despite record profits, financial institutions are closing rural branches and cutting services in more and more communities every year. It’s clear that we need to find other ways to deliver these important financial services. Today, almost 1,200 rural communities in Canada have a post office but no financial services. That’s why a New Democrat government will work with Canada Post to develop a model of postal banking that will help nearly two million Canadians access more affordable, quality banking services where none are currently available.
Travel is a necessity of life in rural Canada and it should be easier to get around without putting a dent in the family budget. But instead of improving rural tranist services, the lack of funding and coordination under this Liberal government has made the situation worse. Combined with Greyhound’s route cancellations, too many communities have been left stranded without reliable transportation services.
New Democrats believe that every community in Canada should be able to count on reliable transit to connect them to their jobs, health care services, schools, and family members. That’s why we’ll work with the provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities to grow affordable transit services for rural areas, including restoring cancelled bus services in Western Canada, expanding bus service into East Kootenay, restarting the Ontario Northlander train, and much more to keep our communities connected.
Staying connected digitally is more essential than ever, yet too many rural communities in Canada don’t have reliable cell phone or broadband service. A New Democrat government will change that by delivering high-speed rural broadband to all communities in Canada without delay and ensuring that reliable cell phone service is expanded to every area of Canada, while keeping rates affordable for families and businesses.
Rural Canada drives at least a third of the country’s economy, but successive Liberal and Conservative governments have missed the opportunity to develop these regions to their full potential. A New Democrat government will invest in regional economic development agencies and provide economic support for rural areas to invest in job creation in areas like tourism and community development.
Many northern, rural, and remote communities are working hard to retain families, attract workers, and stop out-migration but they can’t do it alone. That’s why New Democrats will put in place a new tax credit for graduates to work in designated rural and northern communities, and make it easier for employers to hire and retain the workers they need.
To make all of Canada’s communities sustainable for the long term, we need to change how we build them. Rural communities need fair access to federal infrastructure and transit funds, and more help to prepare for and deal with the increasingly severe impacts of climate change. New Democrats will work with provinces to put in place a new deal for rural infrastructure programs that provide long-term predictable funding for communities. And we’ll increase the amount of help the federal government provides to communities to adapt to climate change and rebuild when disasters happen. We’ll make sure that affordable housing investments go to rural communities, too, and that federal infrastructure dollars flow now to create good local jobs that stay in the community.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Seniors
NDP's promise
We will lead a National Seniors Strategy that will work with the provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments to make seniors health care a priority, reduce isolation, and tackle seniors’ poverty. This will include a funded national dementia strategy and an elder abuse prevention plan developed with seniors to put an end to abuse and neglect in our communities.
Our national pharmacare for all plan will provide prescription medicine to all seniors, saving seniors hundreds of dollars every year and ensuring that no one needs to choose between medicine and other essentials.
Seniors deserve a retirement that’s financially secure and dignified. And no senior should miss out on benefits they qualify for because of a paperwork oversight – but that’s exactly what’s happening to tens of thousands of seniors today. We’ll put in place a one-year delay to help seniors at risk of having their GIS benefits suspended for being unable to make the required income statement.
Many seniors are themselves caregivers to a loved one, or rely on the caregiving of family members. In order to help make life a little more affordable for caregivers, who are overwhelmingly women, we’ll make the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit refundable. This will provide thousands of dollars to the most low-income caregivers, many of whom have given up work completely to care for a loved one.
Every senior should have a safe and affordable place to call home. Our commitment to create half a million affordable housing units in the next decade will include accessible housing that will increase choices for seniors. We’ll also support connection to community and tackle seniors’ isolation by working with cities to make transit more affordable and convenient, create more community recreation spaces, and support innovative housing solutions like intergenerational co-housing.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Taxation
NDP's promise
To boost the integrity of our tax system and combat tax evasion, we will take measures to close loopholes that include eliminating bearer shares, compelling companies to prove the economic reason for their offshore transactions, and improving transparency on the taxes paid by large corporations.
A New Democrat government will ensure that large, profitable corporations are contributing to the important services and infrastructure that make Canada such a good place to do business. We will roll back the Conservatives’ corporate income tax cuts by three percentage points to 2010 levels.
To make our tax system fairer and ensure that the wealthiest individuals are paying their fair share, we will increase the capital gains inclusion rate to 75 percent. A New Democrat government will also boost the top marginal tax rate and ask the very richest multi-millionaires to pay a bit more towards our shared services with a new 1 percent wealth tax on wealth over $20 million.
From A New Deal for People, retrieved 2019-09-22.
Biography
Angelique was born in Toronto and spent her formative years raised in Perkinsfield and Midland within the riding of Simcoe North. She is currently in her Master's of Arts in Adult Education and Community Development. She prides herself in being an young Métis woman, and her family's connection to the Historic Georgian Bay Métis Community. She is trilingual in French, English and Spanish along with enjoying learning Michif and Anishnaabemowin.
Ma langue maternelle est le Français et notre communauté Française est vif et present ici a Simcoe Nord. Je veux bâtir un espace où c'est évident que notre communauté joue un rôle positif dans cette élection et dans l'avenir. Pour moi, c'est essentiel de tisser le liens entre tour les résidents de Simcoe Nord afin qu'ensemble, on peut travailler a un avenir généreux pour notre communauté et les jeunes qui vont grandir et vivent ici.
Angelique has experience within a variety of realms. Her professional career has included work in programs within the Guelph Wellington Family and Child Services, the Métis Nation of Ontario and Laurentian University. Angelique has worked as an Indigenous Addictions Outreach Counsellor and Case Manager, for a non-for-profit organization. Here, she was introduced to the very real systematic realities of socio and economic barriers presented to individuals in all walks of life. This evoked a passion for Angelique to recognize that institutional change needs to happen to support individuals and that any and all persons should have access to a government that recognizes their value and invests in their well-being.
With a volunteering background in community-led initiatives, Angelique believes we should be working hand in hand with all individuals to address their concerns and needs. It's time for constituents who have MPs who go above and beyond to advocate for them in the House of Commons. Constituents should know they can rely on their MP for their every day needs, and one that actively maintain and values their relationship with their community. Change is possible, the future is bright, and there can be demonstrable change for the evolving realities of residents of both the rural and cities of Simcoe-North. Ultimately, Angelique understands the diversity of our riding. She believes given her background, she is well-rounded to represent the experiences of those in her constituency and holds herself accountable to her Indigenous ancestry to guiding her to walk in a good way in all her relationships. MP's should not speak for people, but to speak with them and ensure their voices are heard.
Marsi, Miigwetch, Merci, Thank-you, and I hope you consider the NDP on October 21st.
Angelique
angeliquebelcourt.ndp.ca angeliquebelcourt.ndp.ca