True democratic reform starts in our own House of Commons. We propose replacing Canada’s rigid party discipline system with the more accountable model used in the UK, where backbench MPs are free to vote according to their constituents—not their party leader. This would empower citizens, strengthen local representation, and force party leaders to earn—not command—support. The application of free votes varies based on the subject matter at hand: at the lowest level it is an entirely free vote, while at the highest level, such as those items within the platform MPs ran on, it becomes a whipped vote following party lines.

We’ve seen it work in practice, and we know it can help restore connection between Parliament and the people. It costs nothing, requires no legal change, and it would transform the way our government operates, and make our MPs real politicians, not just voting machines there to serve party leaders.

The CFP is committed to strengthening democracy by ensuring that every Canadian vote has real and fair impact. Our current electoral system, though rooted in a long and stable Westminster tradition, no longer reflects the diversity of political opinion across the country. Elections can produce results where large portions of the population are left without meaningful representation in Parliament.

To modernize Canada’s democracy while respecting its parliamentary heritage, the CFP will implement a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system to ensure a more balanced and representative House of Commons.

Add a limited number of proportionally elected MPs to the House of Commons

1. Increase the number of seats in the House of Commons by up to 25%, distributed proportionally by province or territory.
2. These new seats will be filled through a closed, ranked party list, allowing voters to influence national representation in addition to their local Member of Parliament.
3. List MPs will serve as full, ordinary Members of Parliament, accountable to all Canadians and party platforms—not just regional interests.

Preserve the strengths of what we have

1. Maintain existing ridings and the tradition of electing MPs locally by first-past-the-post, preserving direct local accountability and constituency representation.
2. Strengthen parliamentary stability while improving fairness and proportionality in election outcomes.

"We will fix Canada’s broken voting system and make every vote count. For too long, our electoral system has distorted results and denied millions of Canadians real representation. In 2025, New Democrats will make sure it’s the last election held under this outdated, unfair system—ten years after the Liberals promised change and failed to act.

Unlike the Liberals, we will actually deliver. We will establish an independent citizens assembly to advise on how best to put in place a Mixed-Member proportional system in time for the next federal election. This will ensure that the next Parliament truly reflects the choices of voters."

— ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"We will change the voting age to allow 16 and 17-year olds to vote. Young people should have a stronger say in choosing their government and addressing the issues that affect them and their futures. Bringing more voices into politics will ensure that better decisions are made, and will ultimately result in a stronger democracy." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"We will make voting more accessible to people living in Inuit, First Nations or Métis communities by ensuring that Indigenous languages are on election ballots in Indigenous territories. This is a concrete step we can take towards meaningful reconciliation, and it will boost participation in democracy as well as contributing towards the revitalization of Indigenous languages." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"[...] and strengthening Election Canada's Vote on Campus programming to ensure elections are accessible to university and college students." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"Finally, we are committed to seeing a foreign agent registry put in place to help protect people and our democratic institutions." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"New Democrats are rejecting calls for cuts to the public sector and to social programs – cuts which would be made to reach a budgetary balance in the short-term, despite the costs and the consequences for people. Instead, we are proposing increased investments in both infrastructure and in people." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"In the context of significant uncertainty, and in an abundance of caution, our fiscal plan will set aside an additional amount each year as a contingency fund. This will help hedge against risks, including further external shocks or events that could reduce government revenue and increase expenditures more than anticipated." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"The NDP’s fiscal target over a four-year mandate is a falling debt-GDP ratio by the fourth year at the latest. After accounting for the impact of revenue and expense measures on the economy via the fiscal multiplier, this is achieved even under the more dire scenario considered by the BoC." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"We are also committed to bringing greater transparency and accountability to the federal budget-making process. This includes strengthening the role of House of Commons standing committees in reviewing and approving government estimates. Canadians deserve to know not just where their money is going—but whether it’s actually delivering results." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"Poilievre has already announced that he will appoint a Bring It Home Tax Task Force to make tax rules fairer, simpler and easier to administer. The same task force will also ensure that we close all the loopholes that allow companies like Brookfield to stash their money in offshore tax havens to avoid paying their fair share here in Canada." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

"Redirect CRA resources away from auditing and harassing small business owners and charities towards cracking down on offshore tax havens — collecting at least $1 billion more every year from those who try to hide their wealth overseas." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

"Create a name-and-shame website to expose all the wealthy multinational corporations that are dodging taxes and refusing to pay their fair share." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

"Expand the Offshore Tax Informant Program, giving whistleblowers up to 20% of recovered funds when they help expose illegal tax schemes." — conservative.ca, retrieved 2025-04-17

The CFP believes that a modern, fair, and efficient tax system is essential to individual prosperity, business investment, and national unity. Canada’s tax code has grown overly complex, placing an unnecessary burden on citizens, families, and businesses alike. Despite calls for reform going back over 60 years—including the recommendations of the Carter Commission—governments have failed to act.

The CFP calls for real tax reform that works for the 21st century.

Royal Commission on Tax Reform

1. The CFP recommends establishing a Royal Commission to reform and simplify the Canadian tax system.
2. The Commission should deliver its recommendations within 18 months, with legislation to be introduced and implemented by the third year.

Reform Based on Core Principles

The Commission’s work will be guided by the following principles:

1. Progressive taxation: Those with greater ability to pay should contribute a fairer share.
2. Tax fairness and integrity: Ensure all individuals and businesses pay what they owe—close all loopholes.
3. Competitiveness: Make Canada a globally attractive destination for business and investment.
4. Simplicity and transparency: Cut red tape and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

"We will maintain the capital gains inclusion rate changes which the Liberal government flip flopped on, and was opposed all along by the Conservatives. As the Minister of Finance said at the time, “only 0.13 per cent of Canadians—with an average annual income of $1.4 million—will be affected by this change in any given year. But millions more, especially younger Canadians, will benefit from it.”" — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"Income from flipping stocks should not be taxed at a lower rate than the wages earned by a nurse, a carpenter, a pipefitter, or a teacher. We will rebalance the tax system to ensure it values work as much as wealth." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"For those at the very top, super-rich multi-millionaires with over $10 million in wealth holdings, we will put in place a graduated wealth tax of 1% for wealth between $10 million and $50 million, 2% from $50 million to $100 million, and 3% for households with net worth over $100 million." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"We will put in place a 2% surtax on the most profitable corporations – those earning over $500 million in profits." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19

"We will take additional measures to tackle corporate tax avoidance, including instituting a 15% minimum tax on corporate book profits, ending tax agreements with known tax havens, requiring corporations to prove a genuine business reason for offshore accounts, and providing additional resources to the Canada Revenue Agency to step up enforcement." — ndp.ca, retrieved 2025-04-19