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Gerald Irish

Green candidate for Saint John—St. Croix

Affordability & Housing

Poverty

Green's promises

Raise the federal minimum wage to $21/hour, and index it to inflation and productivity growth
Set livable wage floors by region based on the cost of housing, food, and essentials

"Establish a National Livable Wage Index to set wage floors by region based on the cost of housing, food, and essentials." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Mandate living wages for all federally-funded jobs, including contractors and subcontractors
Work with provinces and indigenous governments to implement a Guaranteed Livable Income

Tax measures and rebates

Green's promise

Raise the Basic Personal Amount for income tax to $40,000

"Eliminate federal income taxes for low income Canadians and decrease the tax burden on Canadians earning $100,000 or less by raising the Basic Personal Amount to $40,000." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Climate Change & the Environment

Clean energy

Green's promises

Ban new nuclear development

"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage tech

"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy; and modernised transmission, smart grids, and energy storage systems

Climate adaptation

Green's promises

Start a National Civil Defence Corps to build resilience and preparedness for emergencies

"Establish a National Civil Defence Corps — a civilian-led national service dedicated to building Canada’s resilience and preparedness for emergencies. This initiative will provide meaningful employment for workers impacted by economic transitions, equipping them with vital skills in disaster response, emergency management, infrastructure protection, and climate resilience." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

  1. "Establish a National Civil Defence Corps (NCDC) to strengthen Canada’s emergency readiness, protect critical infrastructure, and support national resilience in the face of 21st-century threats.
  2. Structure the NCDC as a multi-tiered program that includes paid service placements, seasonal or term-based roles, and civilian volunteers, all contributing to community preparedness and national resilience.
  3. Create paid civil service placements in emergency response, infrastructure protection, and environmental restoration, prioritizing workers and communities affected by economic transition, including former fossil fuel and resource sector workers.
  4. NCDC members will support emergency response, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation efforts in their own communities.
  5. NCDC members will deliver universal civil defence training to Canadians — covering first aid, crisis response, and cybersecurity awareness — and those who complete it will receive Civil Defence Certification, recognizing them as part of Canada’s broader resilience network.
  6. Promote non-militarized national preparedness by supporting public awareness campaigns, universal training opportunities, and community-led civil defence engagement.
  7. Ensure that NCDC opportunities are open and accessible to people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and regions, reflecting the diversity and strength of Canadian society."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Normalise Canadian Armed Forces deployment for civilian protection during climate disasters
Transform Public Safety Canada into a FEMA-equivalent agency with specialised disaster intervention teams ready for rapid deployment

"Transform Public Safety Canada into Canada’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), a FEMA-equivalent agency with specialized disaster intervention teams ready for rapid deployment." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Incorporate Indigenous governments in all national emergency planning and response efforts through the Council of Canadian Governments
Create a Federal-Provincial-Territorial Emergency Response Framework, ensuring seamless coordination between federal, provincial, municipal, and Indigenous governments
Launch a National Wildfire Resilience Strategy, invoking federal emergency powers to expand tree planting, fire breaks, and wildfire suppression efforts
Procure additional water bombers for high-risk zones
Restore natural buffer zones to protect vulnerable communities from wildfires and floods
Mandate Floodplain and Disaster Risk Mapping

"Mandate Floodplain and Disaster Risk Mapping, improving flood plain, tornado corridor, and natural hazard mapping to support local emergency planning." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Integrate AI-based disaster prediction tools into national planning
Expand climate-resilient infrastructure investments, prioritising drinking water and wastewater systems

"Expand climate-resilient infrastructure investments, prioritizing drinking water and wastewater systems to protect against flooding, droughts, and contamination." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand adaptation funding for the most vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous and remote communities
Invest in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage tech

"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand and fully fund emergency response forces, including Northern Rangers, Coast Guard, National Civil Defence Corps, Park Rangers, and Fisheries Patrol
Increase disaster assistance and rapid response capabilities through defence spending

Electric vehicles

Green's promises

Ban the sale of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles by 2030
Exempt new and used zero-emission vehicles from federal sales tax
Expand electric vehicle charging stations at all federal facilities and parking lots

Electricity

Green's promises

Swiftly transition to a fully renewable electricity system

"Swiftly transition Canada to a fully renewable electricity system by eliminating coal, oil, and gas-fired power generation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy; and modernised transmission, smart grids, and energy storage systems
Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect regional and provincial grids

"Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect and modernize regional grids, improve interprovincial energy sharing, and ensure renewable electricity can flow efficiently across the country." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand access to community-owned renewable microgrids for northern and remote communities

"Support northern and remote communities in transitioning off diesel by expanding access to community-owned renewable microgrids, tailored to local needs and priorities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban new nuclear development

"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Freshwater

Green's promises

Develop a National Water Strategy to ensure long-term protection of freshwater resources in collaboration with Indigenous and provincial governments
Recognise water as a collective resource in federal legislation to prevent privatisation and unsustainable extraction

Green building retrofits

Green's promises

Launch a nationwide energy efficiency retrofit programme to lower emissions from buildings, homes, and industrial facilities
Revisit trade restrictions with China to balance economic and environmental goals, and protection of Canadian EV manufacturing jobs, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels

"Revisit trade restrictions with China to strategically balance economic and environmental goals, maintaining tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles to protect Canadian manufacturing and jobs in our rapidly growing domestic EV sector, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels to accelerate the adoption of affordable renewable energy and create jobs in solar installation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Update the National Building Code to mandate net-zero building standards by 2030
Set a national target to reduce overall energy demand across all sectors by 50% by 2050 through efficiency measures, electrification, and sustainable urban planning
Provide direct grants and zero-interest loans for renewable installations in homes, businesses, and communities

Green jobs

Green's promises

Ensure clean economy subsidies serve workers and communities by requiring strong labour, environmental, and transparency conditions on all public funding

"Ensure clean economy subsidies serve workers and communities — not just corporate profits by requiring strong labour, environmental, and transparency conditions on all public funding." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Enact a Just Transition Act to ensure affected workers and communities lead their own transition plans with legally-protected rights to income support, retraining, and career placement
Create a Just Transition Benefit to provide wage insurance, income protection, early retirement options, and relocation assistance for workers in declining industries
Set up locally-driven Just Transition Centres to connect displaced workers to new employment, training, and economic development opportunities
Set up a National Skills Tracking & Transition Database to ensure every fossil fuel worker has a direct job-matching pathway to well-paid, long-term work
Start a National Civil Defence Corps to build resilience and preparedness for emergencies

"Establish a National Civil Defence Corps — a civilian-led national service dedicated to building Canada’s resilience and preparedness for emergencies. This initiative will provide meaningful employment for workers impacted by economic transitions, equipping them with vital skills in disaster response, emergency management, infrastructure protection, and climate resilience." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

  1. "Establish a National Civil Defence Corps (NCDC) to strengthen Canada’s emergency readiness, protect critical infrastructure, and support national resilience in the face of 21st-century threats.
  2. Structure the NCDC as a multi-tiered program that includes paid service placements, seasonal or term-based roles, and civilian volunteers, all contributing to community preparedness and national resilience.
  3. Create paid civil service placements in emergency response, infrastructure protection, and environmental restoration, prioritizing workers and communities affected by economic transition, including former fossil fuel and resource sector workers.
  4. NCDC members will support emergency response, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation efforts in their own communities.
  5. NCDC members will deliver universal civil defence training to Canadians — covering first aid, crisis response, and cybersecurity awareness — and those who complete it will receive Civil Defence Certification, recognizing them as part of Canada’s broader resilience network.
  6. Promote non-militarized national preparedness by supporting public awareness campaigns, universal training opportunities, and community-led civil defence engagement.
  7. Ensure that NCDC opportunities are open and accessible to people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and regions, reflecting the diversity and strength of Canadian society."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Launch a national program to provide free training, paid apprenticeships, and wage support in green jobs, prioritising workers affected by automation and the transition away from fossil fuels

"Launch a National Green Jobs Training and Apprenticeship Program to provide free training, paid apprenticeships, and wage support, prioritizing workers affected by the transition away from fossil fuels and automation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Support the Youth Climate Corps to create tens of thousands of youth jobs in green infrastructure, conservation, and public service
Invest in green value-added industries such as battery production and critical minerals refining, green steel and zero-emission aluminium processing, and mass timber and engineered wood production

Greenhouse gas emissions

Green's promises

Develop a National Industrial Decarbonization Strategy

"Develop a National Industrial Decarbonization Strategy to transition manufacturing, resource processing, and heavy industry away from fossil fuels." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Redirect Natural Resources Canada to support low-carbon industrial development, sustainable resource extraction, and clean tech innovation
Introduce carbon border adjustments to protect Canadian industries from high-emissions imports

"Introduce carbon border adjustments to protect Canadian industries from high-emissions imports and ensure fair competition. Use these tools to encourage global emissions reductions and incentivize climate action in international trade." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Contribute to international climate finance, including a Global Justice Fund

"Support a just global transition by contributing to international climate finance, including a Global Justice Fund." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Implement a Buy Clean strategy for government procurement, with 75% Canadian-made goods and services, and 50% clean technology and low-carbon materials

"Implement a national Buy Clean strategy, ensuring that:

» At least 75% of federal procurement prioritizes Canadian-made goods and services.

» At least 50% of federal procurement prioritizes clean technology and low-carbon materials.

» All federally funded infrastructure projects align with Buy Clean standards.

» A procurement review ensures compliance with trade agreements while protecting Canadian industries."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce an international aviation and shipping fuel tax

"Introduce an international aviation and shipping fuel tax to ensure these industries contribute to climate initiatives." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Align national trade policy with climate goals and implement carbon-intensity tariffs on imported goods

Mining and minerals

Green's promises

Incentivise value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships

"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development supports the transition to a net-zero economy

"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in a Sudbury-based mining innovation cluster to drive sustainable mining practices and processing
Mandate strong environmental and labour protections all mining developments
Increase funding to the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency to expand Indigenous participation in decision making on industrial projects
Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue-sharing frameworks for natural resources

"Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue- sharing frameworks for natural resources, ensuring structured, rights- based agreements that honour Treaty obligations and the principles of UNDRIP." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in green value-added industries such as battery production and critical minerals refining, green steel and zero-emission aluminium processing, and mass timber and engineered wood production

Oil and gas

Green's promises

Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects

"Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects. No public funds should support continued fossil fuel expansion." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development supports the transition to a net-zero economy

"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Increase funding to the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency to expand Indigenous participation in decision making on industrial projects
Invest in green value-added industries such as battery production and critical minerals refining, green steel and zero-emission aluminium processing, and mass timber and engineered wood production
Cancel all new fossil fuel pipelines and oil exploration projects
End federal fossil fuel leases and retire existing licenses
Ban new offshore oil and gas development and phase out existing operations
Ban fracking

"Ban fracking due to environmental and seismic risks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Phase out bitumen production for fuel through a managed decline strategy
Explore options to nationalise fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations, or threaten energy and climate security

"Explore options for public ownership or nationalization of fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations or threaten Canada’s energy and climate security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Make fossil fuel companies fully liable for abandoned wells and tailings ponds
Repurpose orphaned wells for geothermal energy where viable, and restore all remaining sites through soil remediation, rewilding, and Indigenous-led land recovery
Divest federal public investment funds from fossil fuels, and require Crown corporations to do the same
Mandate Canadian banks and pension funds to phase out fossil fuel investments and transition financing toward clean energy

Pollution

Green's promises

Support a global tax on pollution from aviation and shipping

"Support a global tax on pollution from aviation and shipping, ensuring major international polluters pay their fair share. Work with global partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to develop a fair and effective system." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Implement stronger environmental accountability measures

"Implement stronger environmental accountability measures to prevent corporate abuse of Canada’s natural resources." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require that federally procured goods prioritise repairability, durability, and recycled content

"Require that federally procured goods prioritize circular economy principles, including repairability, durability, and recycled content, reducing waste and supporting sustainable industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Public transit

Green's promises

Adopt a National Transportation Strategy to reach zero-carbon public ground transportation across Canada by 2040
Commit to a permanent, dedicated federal public transit fund annually starting in 2026
Require all federally-funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses

"Require all federally funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses to accelerate the transition away from diesel." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Allow cities to use federal transit funding for operations, including hiring drivers, increasing service frequency, and reducing fares
Provide an annual federal transfer to municipalities to support free public transit

"Advocate for user-fee-free public transit, with an annual federal transfer to municipalities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Support discounted public transit fares for youth

"Support preferential public transit tariffs for youth and ensure safe, accessible transit options for seniors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require all passenger ferries to convert to electric or hybrid systems
Introduce fair tax measures to encourage sustainable mobility choices, including public transit use and active transportation

Culture, Arts, & Media

News and journalism

Green's promises

Prohibit Canadian businesses from deducting advertising costs on foreign-owned sites, like Google and Facebook
Introduce a tax on US tech monopolies operating in Canada and reinvest the revenue into Canadian-owned tech, broadband expansion, and independent journalism

"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Health & Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals and pharmacare

Green's promise

Ban imports of US food and pharmaceuticals hat fail to meet international safety standards

"Ban imports of U.S. food and pharmaceuticals that fail to meet international safety standards, protecting Canadian consumers from deregulated products." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Indigenous Peoples and Nations

Indigenous businesses and economic opportunity

Green's promises

Expand Indigenous-led training and employment opportunities in clean energy

"Expand Indigenous-led training and employment opportunities in clean energy, ensuring full Indigenous participation in Canada’s transition economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require at least 5% of federal contracts be awarded to Indigenous businesses

"Require at least 5% of federal contracts be awarded to Indigenous businesses, supporting economic reconciliation and Indigenous economic self-determination." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure First Nations governments, not federal officials, determine eligibility for Indigenous procurement programmes, with safeguards to prevent fraudulent Indigenous identity claims

Jobs, Businesses, & Labour

Agriculture

Green's promises

Ban imports of food products containing substances prohibited in Canada

"Ban imports of food products containing substances prohibited in Canada to protect Canadian health, food safety, and agricultural standards." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure public institutions prioritise Canadian-grown food

"Expand farm-to-institution procurement, ensuring public institutions (schools, hospitals, universities) prioritize Canadian-grown food." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require federally-funded food procurement programmes purchase at east 75% Canadian-grown food

"Mandate a “Canada First” purchasing policy for all federally funded food procurement programs, requiring a minimum of 75% Canadian-grown food, with priority given to local and provincial suppliers" — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Build and expand food processing, storage, and distribution infrastructure
Replace 1/3 of food imports with locally-produced food

"Increase Canada’s food self-sufficiency by replacing one-third of food imports with locally produced food." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Create a system of regional food hubs
Reduce regulatory barriers for small-scale processors to ensure local producers have access to food processing
Invest in urban agriculture

"Invest in urban agriculture to increase food production and distribution in high density areas." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand farmers' markets, culinary tourism, and direct-to-consumer food sales

"Expand farmers’ markets, culinary tourism, and direct-to-consumer food sales, reducing corporate control over food distribution and supporting local food cooperatives and processing facilities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Implement safeguards to prevent speculation of agricultural lands
Support a transition of agroecological systems using and respecting traditional ecological knowledge
Ensure that the National School Lunch Program prioritises purchasing local and regional food
Promote plant-based eating

"Promote plant-based eating in alignment with Canada’s Food Guide, supporting public health and lowering the environmental impact of food production." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Employment Insurance

Green's promises

Lower the eligibility threshold for EI to 360 hours or 12 weeks
Extend maximum EI benefit periods to 50 weeks nationwide
Raise the EI replacement rate from 55% to 66.6% of previous earnings
Create an EI Emergency Response Fund for workers affected by disasters, economic downturns, or industry shutdowns
Set a minimum EI benefit of $450/week, increasing over time
Increase Maximum Insurable Earnings (MIE) to $94,000, aligning with Quebec's parental insurance plan

Fishing and aquaculture

Green's promise

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Forestry

Green's promises

Incentivise value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships

"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Develop a National Forest Strategy focused on carbon sequestration, wildfire resilience, and biodiversity restoration
Expand tree nursery infrastructure and invest in sustainable forestry research to accelerate reforestation efforts
Fund Indigenous-led protection of old-growth and boreal forests while supporting sustainable community forestry initiatives
Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Inter-provincial business and trade

Green's promise

Invest in east-west Canadian trade infrastructure, like railroads, roads, and energy transmission lines

"Invest in East-West Canadian trade infrastructure. Improve rail, roads, and energy transmission lines to strengthen internal markets and reduce reliance on U.S. exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

International trade

Green's promises

Strengthen trade partnerships with Europe, Latin America, Africa, and BRICS+ nations

"Strengthen trade relationships with Europe, Latin America, Africa, and BRICS+ nations (India, Brazil, South Africa, etc.) to create new markets for Canadian goods and services." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Align national trade policy with climate goals and implement carbon-intensity tariffs on imported goods
Renegotiate trade agreements to remove Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions, which allow multinational corporations to sue Canada over public interest laws
Lead a global effort to reform the World Trade Organization to prioritise enviornmental and social justice

"Lead a global effort to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) into a World Trade and Climate Organization, ensuring trade agreements prioritize environmental and social justice." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Revisit trade restrictions with China to balance economic and environmental goals, and protection of Canadian EV manufacturing jobs, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels

"Revisit trade restrictions with China to strategically balance economic and environmental goals, maintaining tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles to protect Canadian manufacturing and jobs in our rapidly growing domestic EV sector, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels to accelerate the adoption of affordable renewable energy and create jobs in solar installation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Labour rights

Green's promises

Implement a clear ABC Test to classify workers as employees and prevent gig economy exploitation

"Implement a clear ABC Test to classify workers properly and prevent gig economy exploitation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Crack down on misclassification of employees as independent contractors

"Crack down on sham contracting and unjust misclassification of employees as independent contractors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Increase federal labour inspectors and compliance funding to strengthen enforcement against employer violations

"Increase federal labour inspectors and compliance funding to strengthen enforcement against employer violations, including worker misclassification, wage theft, and unfair labour practices." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Establish a Federal Worker Rights Ombudsman to support employees experiencing workplace harassment, wage theft, and unfair treatment
Expand and enforce full successor rights for workers, to prevent contract flipping that reduces wages and benefits
Require gig companies to guarantee minimum pay, mileage reimbursement, and employment protections

"Require gig companies (Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, etc.) to guarantee minimum pay, mileage reimbursement, and employment protections." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Establish a Portable Benefits Fund for gig workers, to provide pensions, health insurance, and paid leave

"Establish a Portable Benefits Fund for gig workers, ensuring access to:

» Pensions, health insurance, and paid leave regardless of employment classification.

» This fund will be financed through a mandatory per-trip or per-hour employer levy, ensuring companies contribute their fair share."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Fund a permanent Statics Canada study on gig work to ensure accurate data
Establish a Federal AI and Workplace Privacy Roundtable to oversee AI-driven workplace changes
Strengthen worker protections to prevent unfair job losses due to AI-based automation
Require mandatory AI impact assessments for federally-funded companies, ensuring job security and ethical AI use
Expand Labour Code protections against workplace monitoring and algorithmic exploitation, ensuring workers can challenge AI-driven employment decisions
Implement mandatory human rights and labour due diligence standards for all government contractors

Manufacturing

Green's promises

Invest in repair, remanufacturing, and local recycling industries to support a circular economy with more jobs in sustainable production, and in R&D to develop these

"Support the transition to a circular economy by investing in repair, remanufacturing, and local recycling industries, reducing dependence on raw material extraction while creating jobs in sustainable production." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

"Increase research and innovation funding for circular economy solutions, including material recovery technologies, zero-waste manufacturing, and advanced recycling systems." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage tech

"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Mining and minerals

Green's promises

Incentivise value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships

"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development supports the transition to a net-zero economy

"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in a Sudbury-based mining innovation cluster to drive sustainable mining practices and processing
Mandate strong environmental and labour protections all mining developments
Increase funding to the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency to expand Indigenous participation in decision making on industrial projects
Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue-sharing frameworks for natural resources

"Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue- sharing frameworks for natural resources, ensuring structured, rights- based agreements that honour Treaty obligations and the principles of UNDRIP." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in green value-added industries such as battery production and critical minerals refining, green steel and zero-emission aluminium processing, and mass timber and engineered wood production

Oil and gas

Green's promises

Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects

"Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects. No public funds should support continued fossil fuel expansion." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development supports the transition to a net-zero economy

"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Increase funding to the Canadian Impact Assessment Agency to expand Indigenous participation in decision making on industrial projects
Invest in green value-added industries such as battery production and critical minerals refining, green steel and zero-emission aluminium processing, and mass timber and engineered wood production
Cancel all new fossil fuel pipelines and oil exploration projects
End federal fossil fuel leases and retire existing licenses
Ban new offshore oil and gas development and phase out existing operations
Ban fracking

"Ban fracking due to environmental and seismic risks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Phase out bitumen production for fuel through a managed decline strategy
Explore options to nationalise fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations, or threaten energy and climate security

"Explore options for public ownership or nationalization of fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations or threaten Canada’s energy and climate security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Make fossil fuel companies fully liable for abandoned wells and tailings ponds
Repurpose orphaned wells for geothermal energy where viable, and restore all remaining sites through soil remediation, rewilding, and Indigenous-led land recovery
Divest federal public investment funds from fossil fuels, and require Crown corporations to do the same
Mandate Canadian banks and pension funds to phase out fossil fuel investments and transition financing toward clean energy

Small businesses

Green's promises

Expand access to capital for small businesses through an annual loan and grant programme, ensuring startups and SMEs can scale up
Create an impact/social enterprise designation for federally-registered businesses that use revenue to support environmental and social impact
Hold the small business tax rate at 9% on the first $500,000 of active income
Eliminate duplicative tax filings and regulations on small businesses, including full digitisation of SME tax reporting
Streamline approvals for SMEs to adopt new technology
Ensure all new legislation considers the impact on small businesses
Establish a federally-funded Green Venture Capital Fund to support local green startups
Subsidise clean tech adoption for SMEs with investment to accelerate business-led climate solutions
Ensure at least 30% of federal procurement contracts are awarded to small businesses, with priority for equity-seeking entrepreneurs
Invest in Digital and Rural Business Infrastructure

Start-ups and innovation

Green's promises

Increase direct annual funding for private and student-led business R&D

"Increase direct annual federal funding for private and student-led business R&D, ensuring more research is commercialized by Canadian companies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Develop flexible intellectual property licensing tools and provide discounted federally-funded IP for Canadian firms

"Develop flexible IP licensing tools and provide discounted federally funded IP for Canadian firms to strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Fully implement House of Commons recommendations on intellectual property and tech transfer, ensuring knowledge transfer policies benefit both researchers and the public
Require Statistics Canada to conduct an annual technology survey to track innovation trends and investment needs
Create an Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program in national labs to facilitate knowledge-sharing between researchers and businesses
Expand access to capital for small businesses through an annual loan and grant programme, ensuring startups and SMEs can scale up
Expand entrepreneurship training and support for equity-seeking groups with an annual grant programme

"Expand entrepreneurship training and support for equity-seeking groups, including Indigenous, Black, and women-led businesses, with an annual grant program." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Supply management

Green's promises

Strengthen supply management
Ensure small-scale and cooperative food producers have fair access to markets

"Strengthen supply management to protect Canadian farmers, while ensuring small-scale and cooperative food producers have fair access to markets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Technology and the digital economy

Green's promises

Support tech transfer partnerships between businesses and universities, while ensuring publicly-funded research remains accessible
Introduce a tax on US tech monopolies operating in Canada and reinvest the revenue into Canadian-owned tech, broadband expansion, and independent journalism

"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Trump's tariffs

Green's promises

Create national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against US trade disruptions, stabilise domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty

"Establish national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against U.S. trade disruptions, stabilize domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty.

» Stockpile essential raw materials to ensure stable supply and prevent price spikes during shortages.

» Ensure reserves are managed on a cost-recovery basis."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Apply export taxes on key resources that the US relies on

"Apply export taxes on key Canadian resources that the U.S. relies on— such as oil, gas, uranium, aluminum, potash, and natural gas. This would make it more expensive for U.S. industries to source these materials, discouraging tariffs on Canadian goods while generating revenue to invest in domestic industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Coordinate economic responses with Mexico and other key partners, creating joint countermeasures to US tariffs
Cancel government contracts with US companies tied to Trump's corporate allies

"Cancel government contracts with U.S. companies tied to Trump’s corporate allies, redirecting public funds to Canadian businesses and ethical international partners." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Lower the threshold for government review of US and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies

"Strengthen protections against foreign takeovers by lowering the threshold for government review of U.S. and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies. This will prevent American investors from buying up struggling Canadian industries at bargain prices and ensure critical sectors remain under Canadian control." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure all CPP pension funds are invested in Canada with priority on industry, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience; and increased transparency and accountability

"Reform the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to ensure all pension funds are invested in Canada, supporting Canadian workers, communities, and infrastructure. The current CCPIBA requires pension funds to be invested solely based on return on investment (ROI).

» Prioritize investments in Canadian industries, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience rather than speculative market activities.

» Increase transparency and accountability in how CPP funds are managed, ensuring investments align with Canada’s economic and social priorities."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce a tax on US tech monopolies operating in Canada and reinvest the revenue into Canadian-owned tech, broadband expansion, and independent journalism

"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce targeted taxes on US oil and gas corporations operating in Canada

"Introduce targeted taxes on U.S. oil and gas corporations operating in Canada to ensure they contribute fairly to our economy. This measure would prevent American fossil fuel companies from profiting off Canadian resources while their government imposes tariffs on Canadian exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Prioritise domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods

"Implement “Buy Canadian” policies. Prioritize domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods, ensuring federal and provincial governments lead by example." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to insulate Canadians from global price shocks

"Support local and regional value chains. Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to build economic resilience and insulate Canadian households from global price shocks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance with democracies to counter US economic pressure

"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Upskilling

Green's promises

Expand labour market training investments by making the top-up to workforce development agreements permanent
Ensure employment programmes cover secondary school completion; adult literacy and numeracy training; English/French language instruction; and union and community-led workforce development

"Expand access to training for all workers, ensuring employment programs cover:

» Secondary school completion and upgrading.

» Adult literacy and numeracy training.

» English/French language instruction.

» Union and community-led workforce development."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Provide income support for workers seeking training

"Provide income support for workers seeking training, eliminating financial barriers to career shifts." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Minority Rights, Fair Government, & Democracy

Foreign interference and transnational repression

Green's promises

Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection

"Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection to combat election interference and foreign manipulation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets

"Mandate transparency in media ownership, requiring full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Centralise Canada's response to digital warfare, cybercrime, and disinformation campaigns in a new National Cyber Defence Agency

Government transparency and lobbying

Green's promises

Ensure all government contracts are publicly tendered
Create a public portal for government science and decision-making evidence to enhance transparency and public trust

Immigration

Green's promise

Terminate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the US, ensuring asylum seekers are not forced to remain in a country violating international refugee protections

Public service

Green's promise

Mandate living wages for all federally-funded jobs, including contractors and subcontractors

Tax fairness

Green's promises

Increase the corporate tax rate from 14% to 21% for businesses with profits over $100M

"Increase the corporate tax rate from 14% to 21% for businesses with profits over $100 million ($44 billion in revenue)." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce a permanent 15% Excess Profit Tax on large corporations, including banks, grocery chains, and fossil fuel companies

"Introduce a permanent Windfall Tax (Excess Profit Tax) on large corporations, including banks, grocery chains and fossil fuel companies, to prevent profiteering at the expense of Canadians. This tax will apply at a rate of 15% on profits exceeding 120% of a company’s average profits over the previous four years, ensuring that large corporations contribute fairly when they generate excessive gains." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Implement a 0.35% Financial transaction Tax on trades involving stocks, bonds, derivatives, and currencies, to curb speculation

"Implement a 0.35% Financial Transactions Tax (Tobin Tax) on trades involving stocks, bonds, derivatives, and currencies. This measure will help curb speculative trading practices that destabilize markets and generate significant revenue for social, economic, and environmental programs."

Apply a corporate tax on transnational e-commerce companies operating in Canada
Implement a progressive wealth tax on net wealth above $10M

"Implement a progressive wealth tax on net wealth above $10 million. The tax would apply at a rate of 1% on net wealth over $10 million, 2% on net wealth over $50 million, and 3% on net wealth over $100 million. This policy would impact only .5% of Canadian households." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Apply a net wealth-based exit tax of 35% on assets over $10M for individuals renouncing Canadian tax residency

"Strengthen Canada’s exit tax to prevent the ultra-wealthy from avoiding taxes by moving assets abroad. We will apply a net wealth-based exit tax of 35% on assets over $10 million for individuals renouncing Canadian tax residency, ensuring those who have benefited the most from Canada’s economy must contribute significantly before leaving. Loopholes that allow tax avoidance through corporate structures and exempt assets will also be closed." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Apply a progressive tax only to profits over $10M, and limit the ability to deduct past investment losses to a maximum of 10 years

"Ensure fair taxation of extreme capital gains by applying a progressive tax only to profits over $10 million. To prevent wealthy investors from avoiding taxes indefinitely, we will also limit the ability to deduct past investment losses to a maximum of 10 years." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Revise the Select Luxury Items Tax to remove loopholes, increase tax rates on private jets and super-yachts, and exempt Canadian-made vessels

"Revise Canada’s Select Luxury Items Tax Act to eliminate the “lesser of” rule and apply a flat luxury tax rate (e.g., 10% or higher on the full purchase price).

» Increase the tax rates for extreme wealth purchases (e.g., higher rates for private jets and superyachts.)

» Close corporate loopholes that allow businesses to buy these assets to avoid the Select Luxury Items Tax.

» Exempt Canadian-made commercial and recreational vessels from the Select Luxury Items Tax, to support small manufacturers and coastal industries."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Work with international partners to implement a global minimum corporate tax and combat tax evasion
End tax agreements with known tax havens
Close stock options and capital gains tax loopholes

"Close stock options and capital gains tax loopholes, which primarily benefit wealthy executives." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Tax hidden funds and require proof of foreign business operations

"End off shore tax evasion by taxing hidden funds and requiring proof of foreign business operations." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Focus the CRA on identifying hidden wealth and recovering tax revenue lost in offshore tax havens, rather than auditing low-income Canadians
Eliminate the 50% corporate meals and entertainment expense deduction
Review and phase out corporate subsidies that don't deliver proven economic, environmental, or social benefits

"Review and phase out corporate subsidies that fail to deliver proven economic, environmental, or social benefits, with priority given to eliminating subsidies that:

» Distort markets without improving public well-being.

» Contribute to corporate concentration of key industries.

» Benefit large corporations disproportionately over small businesses and workers.

» Are provided to corporations with majority foreign ownership, particularly U.S.-based firms, undermining Canadian economic sovereignty.

» Fail to pass a cost-benefit analysis."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Mandate full public reporting on corporate tax benefits, grants, and loans

"Increase transparency on business subsidies by mandating full public reporting on corporate tax benefits, grants, and loans — including which corporations receive them and their economic impact." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Create an independent Federal Tax Commission to continuously review tax fairness

Women and gender equality

Green's promise

Increase funding for the Pay Equity Commission to enforce federal pay equity laws

"Fully implement and enforce federal pay equity laws, ensuring equal pay for work of equal value. The Pay Equity Commission remains underfunded and requires a budget increase." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Post-Secondary Education & Jobs Training

Post-secondary funding

Green's promise

Provide direct research funding to Canadian universities, allocated automatically based on graduate student enrolment in thesis-based programmes

"Provide direct research funding to Canadian universities, allocated automatically based on graduate student enrollment in thesis-based programs, to ensure stable baseline funding for curiosity-driven, early-stage research. This will support long-term scientific inquiry and breakthrough discoveries without the burden of competitive grant applications.

» Require that all research funded through this program be fully public, preventing the privatization of publicly funded knowledge and ensuring open access for researchers, businesses, and the public."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Scientific research

Green's promises

Increase R&D funding to 2.7% of GDP

"Increase R&D funding to 2.7% of GDP to bring Canada in line with the OECD average." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Increase funding for research councils, ensuring a minimum 60% success rate in grant competitions

"Increase funding for research councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), ensuring a minimum 60% success rate in grant competitions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Restore and expand Climate Change and Atmospheric Research funding and provide annual funding for the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Lab
Ensure full implementation of Scientific Integrity Policies across government departments to protect research independence
Mandate environmental, social, and governance considerations in federal research grants to ensure ethical and sustainable research funding

"Mandate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) considerations in federal research grants to ensure ethical and sustainable research funding." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Allocate at least 10% of all research council funding to support underrepresented groups in science and technology
Introduce a programme of direct, non-reviewed research funding to all Canadian universities based on graduate student size, with the condition that all results are made fully public
Mandate open access for publicly-funded research

"Mandate open access for publicly funded research, following Europe’s “Plan S” model to make science freely available." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Create a public portal for government science and decision-making evidence to enhance transparency and public trust

Upskilling

Green's promises

Expand labour market training investments by making the top-up to workforce development agreements permanent
Ensure employment programmes cover secondary school completion; adult literacy and numeracy training; English/French language instruction; and union and community-led workforce development

"Expand access to training for all workers, ensuring employment programs cover:

» Secondary school completion and upgrading.

» Adult literacy and numeracy training.

» English/French language instruction.

» Union and community-led workforce development."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Provide income support for workers seeking training

"Provide income support for workers seeking training, eliminating financial barriers to career shifts." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Public Safety, Policing, & the Justice System

Border security

Green's promise

Deploy additional drones, thermal sensors, and surveillance capabilities to monitor irregular crossings and illegal trafficking

Sovereignty, Foreign Relations, & the United States

American threats to Canada's sovereignty

Green's promises

Invest in sovereign infrastructure and partnerships with like-minded democracies to end reliance on US-owned defence, digital, and IT systems

"End Canada’s reliance on U.S.-owned defence, digital, and IT systems by investing in sovereign infrastructure and partnerships with like-minded democracies to strengthen cyber defence and national security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Separate our security architecture from that of the US
Pursue production and acquisition of defensive military material domestically, as well as with like-minded democracies
Revise Canada's Defence Doctrine to address modern threats, including hybrid warfare, cyber threats, and the risk of direct US agression

Defending Canada's north

Green's promises

Expand arctic and coastal security patrols and upgrade surveillance, monitoring, and defence equipment

"Expand Arctic and coastal security patrols, upgrading surveillance, monitoring, and defence equipment to protect Canada’s northern and maritime sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand naval and coast guard capacity in the arctic

Foreign interference and transnational repression

Green's promises

Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection

"Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection to combat election interference and foreign manipulation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets

"Mandate transparency in media ownership, requiring full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Centralise Canada's response to digital warfare, cybercrime, and disinformation campaigns in a new National Cyber Defence Agency

Foreign policy

Green's promises

Ensure decisions affecting national sovereignty and international partnerships reflect the shared governance framework established through the Council of Canadian Governments
Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance with democracies to counter US economic pressure

"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Terminate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the US, ensuring asylum seekers are not forced to remain in a country violating international refugee protections
Re-engage in the UN system, increasing Canada's funding for peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, and explore opportunities to host expanded UN programmes and institutions in Canada

"Re-engage in the UN system, increasing Canada’s funding for peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. Explore opportunities to host expanded UN programs and institutions in Canada to strengthen global geographic equity in multilateral governance." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand Canada's role in global peace efforts, focusing on climate security, nuclear disarmament, and conflict prevention
Commit to global climate diplomacy that centres equity, international justice, and the leadership of the Global South

"Commit to global climate diplomacy that centres equity, international justice, and the leadership of the Global South. Prioritize contributions to international climate finance and support reforms to global trade and financial institutions that advance sustainability and human rights." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Sustain diplomatic initiatives with a PR campaign involving prominent Canadian personalities

"Sustain diplomatic initiatives with a PR campaign involving prominent Canadian personalities to emphasize Canada’s historical alliances and independence." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

End arms exports to regimes that commit human rights abuses

"End Canadian arms exports to regimes that commit human rights abuses, ensuring Canadian-made weapons are not used in conflicts that violate international law." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Sign and ratify the Treaty to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and press for global disarmament
Ban autonomous weapons systems and lead a global pact to outlaw them
Ban weapons exports to dictatorships and rights-violating regimes
Ban the importation of Saudi oil into Canada
Work with the Global Greens network to create a new security alliance for democracies

"Work with the Global Greens network to foster the creation of a new security alliance for democracies, encompassing Europe, South America, and the Asia Pacific." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Israel and Palestine

Green's promises

Recognise the State of Palestine
Advocate for full UN membership for Palestine

"Recognize the State of Palestine and advocate for its full UN membership, aligning with Canada’s commitment to international law and multilateral diplomacy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

National defence

Green's promises

Revise Canada's Defence Doctrine to address modern threats, including hybrid warfare, cyber threats, and the risk of direct US agression
Equip the Canadian Armed Forces with tailored, modernised capabilities for modern threats

"Equip the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with tailored, modernized capabilities to address today’s threats, including cyber warfare, climate-related disasters, and hybrid warfare." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Stabilise capital investment in the military to ensure consistent training and modern equipment
Normalise Canadian Armed Forces deployment for civilian protection during climate disasters
Support the UN doctrine of the duty to protect, while rejecting corporate-driven miltarism
Increase disaster assistance and rapid response capabilities through defence spending

Trump's tariffs

Green's promises

Create national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against US trade disruptions, stabilise domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty

"Establish national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against U.S. trade disruptions, stabilize domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty.

» Stockpile essential raw materials to ensure stable supply and prevent price spikes during shortages.

» Ensure reserves are managed on a cost-recovery basis."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban the export of unprocessed resources, so that resources are refined, processed, and value-added here before export

"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Apply export taxes on key resources that the US relies on

"Apply export taxes on key Canadian resources that the U.S. relies on— such as oil, gas, uranium, aluminum, potash, and natural gas. This would make it more expensive for U.S. industries to source these materials, discouraging tariffs on Canadian goods while generating revenue to invest in domestic industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Coordinate economic responses with Mexico and other key partners, creating joint countermeasures to US tariffs
Cancel government contracts with US companies tied to Trump's corporate allies

"Cancel government contracts with U.S. companies tied to Trump’s corporate allies, redirecting public funds to Canadian businesses and ethical international partners." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Lower the threshold for government review of US and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies

"Strengthen protections against foreign takeovers by lowering the threshold for government review of U.S. and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies. This will prevent American investors from buying up struggling Canadian industries at bargain prices and ensure critical sectors remain under Canadian control." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ensure all CPP pension funds are invested in Canada with priority on industry, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience; and increased transparency and accountability

"Reform the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to ensure all pension funds are invested in Canada, supporting Canadian workers, communities, and infrastructure. The current CCPIBA requires pension funds to be invested solely based on return on investment (ROI).

» Prioritize investments in Canadian industries, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience rather than speculative market activities.

» Increase transparency and accountability in how CPP funds are managed, ensuring investments align with Canada’s economic and social priorities."

— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce a tax on US tech monopolies operating in Canada and reinvest the revenue into Canadian-owned tech, broadband expansion, and independent journalism

"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Introduce targeted taxes on US oil and gas corporations operating in Canada

"Introduce targeted taxes on U.S. oil and gas corporations operating in Canada to ensure they contribute fairly to our economy. This measure would prevent American fossil fuel companies from profiting off Canadian resources while their government imposes tariffs on Canadian exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Prioritise domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods

"Implement “Buy Canadian” policies. Prioritize domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods, ensuring federal and provincial governments lead by example." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to insulate Canadians from global price shocks

"Support local and regional value chains. Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to build economic resilience and insulate Canadian households from global price shocks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance with democracies to counter US economic pressure

"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ukraine

Green's promises

Continue economic and military support for Ukraine
Increase humanitarian aid, intelligence-sharing, and military assistance

Transit, Transportation, & Infrastructure

Electric vehicles

Green's promises

Ban the sale of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles by 2030
Exempt new and used zero-emission vehicles from federal sales tax
Expand electric vehicle charging stations at all federal facilities and parking lots

Electricity

Green's promises

Swiftly transition to a fully renewable electricity system

"Swiftly transition Canada to a fully renewable electricity system by eliminating coal, oil, and gas-fired power generation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy; and modernised transmission, smart grids, and energy storage systems
Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect regional and provincial grids

"Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect and modernize regional grids, improve interprovincial energy sharing, and ensure renewable electricity can flow efficiently across the country." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Expand access to community-owned renewable microgrids for northern and remote communities

"Support northern and remote communities in transitioning off diesel by expanding access to community-owned renewable microgrids, tailored to local needs and priorities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Ban new nuclear development

"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Infrastructure investment

Green's promises

Ensure federal infrastructure projects use Canadian resources first
Invest in broadband expansion for rural businesses

"Ensure affordable, accessible internet nationwide with investments in broadband expansion for rural businesses." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Invest in east-west Canadian trade infrastructure, like railroads, roads, and energy transmission lines

"Invest in East-West Canadian trade infrastructure. Improve rail, roads, and energy transmission lines to strengthen internal markets and reduce reliance on U.S. exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Intercity transportation

Green's promises

Build high-speed rail in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec and Calgary-Edmonton corridors
Make rail the hub of transit networks, with light rail and electric bus connections in every city and region
Pass the VIA Rail Act to protect passenger rail services and ensure reliable public transit between major cities
Invest in dedicated passenger rail lines to expand high-frequency VIA Rail service and prioritise passengers over freight
Support regional rail and rural transit expansion
Increase regional rail funding, with long-term investments to strengthen national rail networks
Nationalise CN

"Nationalize Canada’s freight rail line (CN) as public infrastructure to ensure efficient, climate-friendly transport and economic resilience. To ensure service for Canadian farmers and ensure passenger rail has priority over freight" — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Re-route freight rail tracks away from populated areas and strengthen rail safety regulations
Develop a Green Freight Transport program with logistics industries to cut emissions from trucking and shipping

Municipal infrastructure

Green's promises

Create a fund to expand bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and municipal bike-share programmes

"Create a National Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Fund to expand bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and municipal bike-share programs." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Prioritise walking, cycling, and transit in city planning, reducing car dependency

Public transit

Green's promises

Adopt a National Transportation Strategy to reach zero-carbon public ground transportation across Canada by 2040
Commit to a permanent, dedicated federal public transit fund annually starting in 2026
Require all federally-funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses

"Require all federally funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses to accelerate the transition away from diesel." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Allow cities to use federal transit funding for operations, including hiring drivers, increasing service frequency, and reducing fares
Provide an annual federal transfer to municipalities to support free public transit

"Advocate for user-fee-free public transit, with an annual federal transfer to municipalities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Support discounted public transit fares for youth

"Support preferential public transit tariffs for youth and ensure safe, accessible transit options for seniors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25

Require all passenger ferries to convert to electric or hybrid systems
Introduce fair tax measures to encourage sustainable mobility choices, including public transit use and active transportation

Misc. topics

Vehicle safety

Green's promise

Introduce regulations on the production, sale, and advertising oversized light trucks to reduce environmental and safety risks
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Biography

from their website

My Name is Gerald Irish, and I am running in the Saint John – St Croix riding in this Federal election. I Grew up on the West Side of Saint John my first 30 years and made it out East the last 25 with my family.

I was introduced to what service means and being part of a community by my family’s example and have carried this out as I went out on my own by being part of environmental boards and chaired community groups that help support my neighborhood.

I chose the Green Party and have been active for the last 8 years educating and leading people about environmental issues and the impact of pollution on the earth. I believe in being a good environmental steward and fighting for Climate Action. I believe in building a stronger renewable energy strategy, stopping oil subsidies and hold the polluters accountable. I want to protect our environment so we are guaranteed safe drinking water, clean air and live on land that’s not contaminated.

We need to continue to move forward with affordable housing programs that support those who are in trouble, finding themselves on the street or with addictions that need to come with wrap around services. We need to help stabilize the housing market and use different tools to keep housing from being hijacked by corporations to artificially drive-up prices and make housing unaffordable to the majority of Canadians.

We need to support Our Healthcare system as it has become overloaded and underfunded. We have people who do not have family doctors and wait times are longer as the system is understaffed. We need to expand on Pharmacare, Mental health and addiction programs to keep up with the new trauma that has only a very limited scope till now. We need to keep healthcare public and protect it against corporations that will exploit the system and exclude anyone who cannot pay or without coverage.

Canada is facing outside threats as never before through our sovereignty and cyberspace, including interference from foreign governments, and tariffs on our goods. We need to face these serious threats head on and keep our nation safe and strong!

People in the Saint John -St Croix area have unique needs that I am looking forward to exploring and help support. This Region is a beautiful part of New Brunswick, and I want to help build their community of small business and support those that need it most.



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