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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A New Democratic

government will step up and regulate natural

health products under stand-alone legislation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.