WORKERS FOR CANADA

A Plan to Build a Stronger, Fairer, More Resilient Canadian Economy

BUILDING A WORKER-FIRST ECONOMY

The global economic landscape is shifting, and Canada must adapt to protect workers and families. Donald Trump’s trade wars have already driven up costs for Canadians and cost us jobs. We can’t afford to wait for things to return to “normal”—because the old normal wasn’t working for working people.

Some want to take us down the wrong path: cuts to public services, less support for families, and corporate handouts with no strings attached. But the NDP has a better plan—a worker-first economy that puts people ahead of profits and builds resilience for the long term.

Our plan, developed with input from progressive economists, workers, and labour leaders, is about creating an economy that works for everyone—not just billionaire CEOs. It’s about fairness, security, and opportunity for all Canadians.

DEMOCRATIC EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP: PUTTING WORKERS IN CONTROL

At the heart of our vision is democratic employee ownership—a proven model that empowers workers, reduces inequality, and builds resilient communities. By giving workers a real stake in the businesses they help build, we can create an economy that works for everyone.

Why Democratic Employee Ownership?

1. Empowers Workers: Employees have a voice in decision-making and a share in the profits.
2. Reduces Inequality: Wealth stays in the hands of workers, not distant shareholders.
3. Builds Resilient Communities: Employee-owned businesses are more likely to keep jobs and investment local, even during economic downturns.

The NDP will:

1. Create Clear Legal Frameworks: Establish Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) and worker cooperatives to make it easier for businesses to transition to employee ownership.
2. Provide Tax Incentives: Make the capital gains tax exemption permanent for EOTs and extend it to worker cooperatives.
3. Ensure Access to Capital: Create a public investment bank to provide patient capital for employee-owned firms.
4. Support Regional Development: Fund regional employee ownership centres to provide technical support and raise awareness.

MEANINGFULLY IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed glaring gaps in Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) system. Workers deserve a safety net they can count on—one that ensures they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, no matter what challenges arise.

The NDP will:

1. Remove barriers to EI access by setting a universal 360-hour qualifying standard and extending benefits to contractors and self-employed workers.
2. Extend benefit duration to 50 weeks, ensuring workers have the support they need during tough times.
3. Increase benefit levels to two-thirds of insurable earnings, with a minimum weekly benefit of $450, putting more money in workers’ pockets.
4. Eliminate the one-week waiting period, so workers get support when they need it most.
5. Expand the EI work-share program, helping businesses avoid layoffs by spreading hours evenly among workers.

These changes will ensure that no worker is left behind and that our economy remains strong and resilient.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE TO KEEP PEOPLE WORKING

Canada’s infrastructure deficit is holding us back. From crumbling roads to a dire shortage of affordable housing, we need bold action to rebuild our communities and create good jobs.

The NDP will:

1. Invest in shovel-ready projects—roads, bridges, transit, and hospitals—that create jobs and strengthen communities.
2. Build more homes for families and first-time buyers, working with provinces, municipalities, and non-profits to deliver affordable and non-market housing.
3. Launch an East-West clean energy grid, a nation-building project that will deliver affordable, clean energy while creating well-paying, unionized jobs across the country.

By investing in infrastructure, we’ll stimulate the economy, create jobs, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

PROTECTING PEOPLE AND JOBS

In times of economic uncertainty, workers and families need protection—not cuts to public services or layoffs that hurt communities. The NDP will stand up for workers and ensure that no one is left behind.

The NDP will:

1. Develop a national strategy to boost domestic manufacturing and value-added processing of Canada’s natural resources, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on foreign markets.
2. Preserve good jobs by supporting businesses that retool and refocus on new markets, with strict conditions to protect workers and prevent executive payouts.
3. Invest in public services like health care, education, and transit—services that make Canada a great place to live, work, and do business.
4. Introduce emergency income supports, including boosts to the GST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and GIS, to help seniors, families, and people with disabilities.
5. Protect Canadians from price gouging, ensuring corporations can’t use crises as an excuse to hike prices on essential goods.
6. Expand trade relations with countries that share our values, while ensuring strong labour rights are part of every trade agreement.
7. Eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers, harmonizing standards to the highest level to create a stronger, more unified economy.
8. Prevent American owners from stripping valuable assets from Canadian plants, protecting jobs and public investments.

A STRONGER, FAIRER CANADA

The NDP’s plan is about putting workers first and building an economy that works for everyone. It’s about fairness, resilience, and opportunity—not just surviving the challenges of today, but thriving in the future.

Together, we can build a Canada where no one is left behind, where good jobs and strong communities are the foundation of our economy, and where workers have the power to shape their own futures.