Menu

Liberals

doug-ford-may-5

Provincial Leaders Kick Off Election Campaigns

, , , , , , , , , , ,

PC leader Doug Ford’s reelection bid is now underway as the campaigning toward the June 2 election officially got underway on Wednesday.

Addressing supporters in Etobicoke last night, Ford says he’s ready to back his campaign slogan, Get it done.

“Friends, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work and say yes to more jobs, more homes and more roads, more highways and public transit, and more money back into your pocket,” says Ford.

Ford labelled the NDP as ‘the party of no’ while criticizing the Liberals for wasting tax dollars, leaving health care on the brink of collapse, and stalling the economy while they were in power.

Supplied photo Ontario NDP

NDP leader Andrea Horwath warns of more cost-cutting if the PCs receive a second mandate.

“So the first job, the most important thing that we can do in this election is to make sure Doug Ford does not get a second term so that the Conservatives can’t make even more cuts that hurt people,” says Horwath.

Horwath says the NDP is the best party to get that done.

She notes the party finished first or second in one hundred ridings in the last election.

Photo courtesy Ontario Liberal Party/Facebook

Education was top of mind as Liberal leader Steven Del Duca kicked off his campaign.

He is promising funding that will lead to the construction of 200 new schools and the upgrade of 4,500 others.

He says the $10 billion will come from cancelling the planned construction of Highway 413 in southern Ontario.

“From my perspective as a dad with kids in the system, the fact that Doug Ford wants to invest at $10 billion on the 413, instead of making sure that our kids attend state of the art schools really underscores how frankly he is not up to the job,” says Del Duca.

Del Duca says he would invest that $10 billion back into the education system within the first 100 days of taking office.

Supplied photo/Green Party of Ontario

While the other party leaders will travel by bus across Ontario, Green Party leader Mike Schreiner is going electric.

He unveiled his campaign and the electric vehicles he will use to tour the province.

Schreiner says running to earn your vote, not buy it.

“Gimmicks are not going to solve the challenges we face in this province. Gimmicks are not going to address the climate crisis and leave a livable future for our children. Gimmicks are not going to provide the housing solutions,” says Schreiner.

On the campaign trail today, Horwath will unveil her party’s plan to expand health care coverage in the province while she campaigns in the Scarborough area.

Del Duca makes a campaign announcement of his own in Woodbridge.

Schreiner talks housing in Waterloo and takes part in a candidate’s debate in his Guelph riding tonight.

The itinerary for PC leader Doug Ford was not immediately available.

rob-moore

Bill To Ban Conversion Therapy Headed To The Senate

, , , , , , , ,

The Liberal government’s bill to ban conversion therapy is on its way to the Senate after being fast-tracked through the House of Commons.

A motion by Fundy Royal Conservative MP Rob Moore of New Brunswick to pass Bill C-4 through all stages without amendment was unanimously adopted Wednesday.

Applause erupted in the Commons after the vote and several Liberal MPs crossed the floor to shake hands with their Conservative counterparts.

Justice Minister David Lametti thanked those in the Conservative caucus who “exercised a great deal of leadership on the issue” to make this happen.

“This is what we can accomplish when Parliament works together,” Lametti told reporters after Wednesday’s vote.

“If we can now work hard to get this through the Senate quickly, less Canadians are going to suffer, less Canadians are going to be tortured — I can’t put it any more simply than that.”

New Democrat MP Randall Garrison, who represents Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke in British Columbia, described it as a great day for the House of Commons.

“But there are still people who are being subjected to conversion therapy, there are still transgender people and non-binary people who are being subjected to what’s supposed to be therapy and trying to talk them out of who they are.”

Conversion therapy aims to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, their gender identity to cisgender, or their gender expression to match the sex they were assigned at birth.

According to the Government of Canada, the practice can take various forms, including counselling and behavioural modification.

This is the third time the Liberals have tried to ban conversion therapy in recent years. Two previous versions of the bill died on the order paper.

4020195237_739f9c58c2

Day 31: Families, Cell Phones, Healthcare

, , , , , , , , , ,

Making the pitch to voters ahead of election day on Monday.

On Day 31 of the federal election campaign, Conservative leader Erin O’Toole made his pitch to families east of Ottawa, promising that if he’s elected Prime Minister, the Child Care Expense deduction will be converted into a refundable tax credit.

Screen capture of Conservative leader Erin O’Toole (CPAC)

“To help lower income families today, not five years from now, with up to 75 per cent of child care expenses covered,” remarked O’Toole. “Six years of inaction by Mr. Trudeau, now he’s telling families to wait another five or six years, we’re going to help them now.”

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in British Columbia pressed that the Tories don’t believe in climate change.

“Do we continue and move forward even faster and harder in the fight against climate change or do we let Erin O’Toole take us back?” asked Trudeau.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau image (CPAC)

“Mr. O’Toole says now he’s in favour of public health care but he told groups of Conservatives that he thinks there should be more, private, for-profit health care. These are the types of things we’re seeing from Mr. O’Toole, he’s not leading he’s misleading Canadians.

The NDP are promising to lower cellphone and internet bills if they’re the governing party.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in Toronto (CPAC)

Leader Jagmeet Singh said in Toronto that he wants to put a cap on telecom bills, implement mandatory unlimited data plans as well as break up monopolies that allow companies to charge higher prices.

“One of the proposals that we’ve put forward is looking at putting in place a publicly owned crown corporation to invest in the infrastructure necessary, to connect communities that don’t have access to the internet. That is a vital infrastructure piece.”

When it comes to voting before election day, you have until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday to vote at any Elections Canada office using a special ballot.

Election Day is Monday, September 20th.

22123881438_40aca33358-e1571691025652

Day 29 Of The Election Campaign

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

The federal party leaders entered the final week of the election campaign on Sunday.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole announced plans to support parents experiencing a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a child.

O’Toole says his party would extend EI parental leave for at least eight weeks after a child’s death, and provide parents with three days of paid bereavement in the event of a miscarriage.

“Canada’s Conservatives will end the stigma and ensure parents have access to the financial support and time they need to mourn,” O’Toole said in a news release.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh repeated his commitment to close loopholes and crack down on big corporations avoiding their fair share of taxes.

The party pointed to figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office which shows Canada misses out on up to $25 billion a year in taxes.

Singh said he would invest in the Canada Revenue Agency to help with audits on large companies and the wealthy.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was in Quebec to highlight what his party would do for that province if re-elected.

Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

elections-canada-vote-sign-scaled-1

Federal Election Campaign: Day 23

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Workers were the main focus for Canada’s federal party leaders during their campaign stops on Labour Day.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole pledged to double the Canada Workers Benefit to $2,800 for individuals and $5,000 for families.

It represents a $1 per hour raise for someone earning between $12,000 and $28,000 a year, according to the party.

The Conservatives also promised to double the disability supplement from $713 to $1,500.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said he would table legislation to ensure every business that requires proof of vaccination can do so without fear of a legal challenge.

During a campaign stop in Ontario, Trudeau also highlighted his election platform, such as extending the Canada Recovery Hiring Program through March and expanding the Canada Workers Benefit to support one million additional Canadians.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, also campaigning in Ontario, outlined his party’s plan to support workers, which includes $10 a day universal childcare, a $20 federal minimum wage, and 10 days of paid sick leave for workers in federally regulated workplaces.

Singh said his party would also fix the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit so more Canadians have access to paid leave when and how they need it.

Voters across the country will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

T9CXBZLUvic-scaled-1

Campaign Day 16

, , , , , , ,

Animal rights, water, and taxing the ultra-rich take center stage as we near the halfway point of the campaign.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Ottawa, vowing that if elected all Canadians would pay their fair share.

Singh says this will be ensured by closing tax loopholes that benefit the ultra-rich, something he says the Liberals have not done during their six years in power.

“Despite the Panama Papers, and a number of other documents that have shown the super-wealthy not paying their fair share, hiding their wealth, there has not been a single conviction in six years for tax evasion.”

Part of the NDP plan will include ensuring the CRA has the funding and staff to be able to crack-down on tax evasion.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

“If you believe the super wealthy should pay their fair share, if you believe we need to increase enforcement for the super wealthy and make sure wealthy corporations are actually contributing fairly, and if you believe in that, you need to vote,” says Singh. “The only way we can make this happen, is by voting, and voting New Democrat. The Liberals haven’t done this, they might promise a number of things in this campaign but they won’t deliver because we’ve seen their track record. They don’t want to make this a priority, they have not made the wealthy pay their fair share.”

Conservative Leader Erin O’ Toole was in King City, Ontario and discussed the party’s position on animal welfare.

Reports have shown over the pandemic, there has been an increase in animal abuse and violence.

Conservative Leader Erin O’ Toole

“A Conservative government will ban puppy mills; inhumane high volume dog breeding facilities that churn out puppies for profit, ignoring the needs of the pups and their mothers,” says O’ Toole. “We will crack down on unethical breeders and dealers who mislead the public by claiming to offer rescue animals or pets bred humanely, while that is not the case. Canada’s Conservatives will ban imports of animals bred inhumanely, and strengthen enforcement powers to seize animals when imported under poor welfare conditions.”

O’ Toole also promised if elected he would put into place a national ban on cosmetic testing on animals, something he stated was long overdue.

Along with this, it was said that animal cruelty would be considered an aggravating factor in domestic violence prosecutions. O’ Toole said part of this is due to the strong link between these types of violence.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was in Granby, Quebec discussing more green initiatives that would be put in place if his party is re-elected.

Specifically, it was promised $1 billion would be invested over the next decade to restore lake and river systems across Canada.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau

Trudeau stated this is nothing new for their party, stressing they have had a strong focus on environmental protection since coming into power in 2015.

“Stephen Harper had protected less than 1 per cent of our marine and coastal areas and in the six years since, we have boosted that to 14 per cent, and on our way to 30 per cent,” says Trudeau. “We’ve worked with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to safeguard fresh water, and we’re banning harmful single-use plastics, and ending plastic waste by 2030. We’ve done a lot. Now, we’re choosing to do even more.”

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is in Montreal, holding two separate press conferences Monday. The first looks at immigration, and the second gun control.

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul is off the campaign trail Monday, attending private meetings.

Election day is Monday, Sept. 20.

 

 

 

4629119005_7df83d3927-e1546187244693

Day 11 Of The Federal Election Campaign

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Canada’s three main party leaders made announcements in Ontario on Day 11 of the election campaign on Wednesday.

The NDP released a plan to lower cell phones and internet bills and save the average family $1,000.

Leader Jagmeet Singh committed to working with the CRTC to force telecom giants to reduce prices on plans and cap fees.

“Most Canadians are paying hundreds of dollars a month for barebone cellular and internet plans — often with terrible service. That’s wrong,” said Singh.

“The pandemic showed us just how important affordable access to these services are for Canadians when it comes to work, school or even connecting with loved ones.”

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole unveiled his party’s mental health action plan, which includes more mental health funding for provinces.

O’Toole committed to helping an additional million Canadians to receive mental health treatment every year and creating a national three-digit suicide prevention hotline.

The Tories are also promising a tax credit for employers who add mental health coverage to the employee benefit plans or boost their coverage.

“As a country, we need to recognize that mental health is health,” said O’Toole. “We have tremendous work to do to end the stigma and build more integrated mental health care systems across the country.”

The Liberals are promising to raise taxes on the country’s largest banks and insurance companies.

Leader Justin Trudeau said his party would raise the corporate income tax from 15 to 18 per cent on earnings over $1 billion.

If re-elected, Trudeau said the Liberals would also establish what he called the “Canada Recovery Dividend.”

“Big banks and insurance companies have been doing very well over these past many months,” he said. “Because you sacrificed, because you saved, big banks got a windfall.”

Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20.

trudeau

Trudeau Vows Canada Will Be Better Prepared Next Fire Season

, , , , , , ,

Climate change and forest fires the focus as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau campaigns in Vancouver.

As of Wednesday, there were 5,673 forest fires recorded across Canada this year, compared to the 10 year average of 4,506.

Trudeau promised if re-elected, the country would be better prepared for next year’s fire season.

“A re-elected Liberal government will invest $500-million ahead of the next fire season for the firefighters and equipment that provinces need,” says Trudeau, “To begin with, we’ll train at least 1,000 more firefighters in communities across the country that can mobilize right away when a major burn starts. We know communities could have used more hands this year, so when next year comes around, this training means teams will be ready and complete.”

Liberal Leader Trudeau went on to acknowledge the severity of climate change, and the detrimental effects it has had on Canadians.

“When the interior of BC is burning up, when families are losing their homes to floods, farmers are losing their crops to droughts, we know we are facing a climate crisis and we have to take even more action.”

Climate change is a focal point of this election, many saying it will play a significant role in who is elected on Sept. 20.

All four major parties have released plans to tackle the climate crisis, including each one supporting carbon pricing in some capacity.

justin-trudeau

Liberals Continue Push For $10 A Day Child Care

, , , , , , , , , ,

The Liberals will keep pushing for $10 a day child care across the country if re-elected.

Leader Justin Trudeau made the commitment during a campaign stop Tuesday in Markham, Ont.

“If all provinces sign on to our plan as we expect they will, we will create 250,000 new quality child-care spaces across the country,” Trudeau told reporters.

The Liberals said those agreements would see early learning and child care fees reduced by 50 per cent by the end of next year and to $10 a day on average by no later than 2025-26.

Ottawa has yet to sign deals with three provinces and two territories, including New Brunswick and Ontario.

The Liberal leader also took aim Tuesday at the Conservative Party’s child care plan.

In their platform released a day earlier, the Conservatives said they plan to replace Liberal child-care funding deals with a refundable tax credit if elected.

“They’re promising backward Stephen Harper-era policies that won’t create a single child-care spot in Ontario or in any other province or improve the quality of child-care anywhere across the country,” said Trudeau. “Parents can’t afford to move backward.”

Trudeau was joined for the announcement by Chrystia Freeland, who reiterated the importance of affordable early learning and child care.

“I am hearing over and over from our businesses, from our small businesses, that they need workers, and so many mothers across our amazing country want to work,” said Freeland, “but they also want to know that their children are getting outstanding care and learning while their parents are working.”

Afghanistan situation

Trudeau said he took part in a Tuesday morning briefing with officials to get an update on the situation in Afghanistan.

He said Canadian officials are working with their counterparts in the United States to help more people escape the Taliban government.

Trudeau said Canada had had a total of nine flights leave the country in recent weeks.

“In the coming days, a number of the Afghan families that arrived weeks ago will be ending their COVID-19 quarantine and able to start their new lives across the country,” he said.

Canada has said that it plans to resettle as many as 20,000 Afghan refugees.

Trudeau said they will not recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan

“They have taken over and replaced a duly-elected democratic government by force,” he said, adding that they are “a recognized terrorist organization under Canadian law.”

trudeau-on-businesses

Liberals Promise More Support For Businesses, Workers

, , , , , , , , ,

The Liberals are promising more emergency supports for businesses and workers if re-elected.

Justin Trudeau says his party would extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Program through the end of next March.

The program provides eligible employers with a subsidy of up to 50 per cent on the incremental remuneration paid to employees from June 6 to Nov. 20.

“For hard-hit businesses who get the workers they need to workers who get the jobs they need to support their families, this is a win-win,” Trudeau said during a stop in Quebec on Monday.

Trudeau said the Liberals would also provide the tourism industry with temporary wage and rent support of up to 75 per cent of their expenses to help them get through the winter.

They are also promising to launch a program that will match ticket sales for performing arts, live theatres, and other cultural venues to compensate for reduced capacity.

In addition, the Liberals said they would extend COVID-related insurance coverage for media production stoppages and implement a transitional support program to help bridge workers from the creative industry who continue to be impacted by the pandemic.

Load More