Another election run for Judith Monteith-Farrell in the riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
The NDP Incumbent was first elected in 2018 as a Member of Provincial Parliament, but she is hoping for another successful campaign.
“I am proud that I have been able to really listen and get a handle on what people in the riding need,” said Monteith-Farrell. “I am really excited about being part of a Northern team. We have eight members from the North, and that is always exciting because we bring that perspective to Queen’s Park.”
Farrell feels there is an obvious need for mental health and addictions services in Northwestern Ontario, “What we have in our community are people that need our help and we need to move forward to help everyone have a better life. That involves housing, health care and ensuring that everyone has enough money to live on with good jobs and opportunities.”
In the last provincial election, Monteith-Farrell defeated Liberal candidate Bill Mauro by just 81 votes.
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.
Another party platform outlined by the Andrea Horwath and the provincial NDP.
Party leader, Andrea Horwath, outlined that if elected to lead the province in June she would make changes within weeks that would allow OHIP to cover all prescription birth control.
In a written release, Horwath said “the change will remove any cost barriers that limit people’s ability to make free choices about their reproductive health…,”. Types of contraceptives that would be included are the emergency Plan B pill, oral contraceptives, patches, injection/shots, IUD’s (intrauterine devices), rings and implants.
Currently tubal ligations (getting tubes tied), vasectomies and some forms of prescription birth control are available through the province’s health care system, and are only for those 25 and under. There are some exceptions for those outside of that age limit.
The provincial election is scheduled for June 2nd.
The Province is being asked to take action against high gas prices here in northern Ontario.
NDP critic Michael Mantha says the price at the pump is going through the roof.
“Gas prices across the province are reaching a ten-year high,” says Mantha, “And in the north, we are still paying the highest price for gas in this province. What is the government doing for the people living in northern Ontario to end price gouging at the pumps?”
He goes on to say that one way to address the problem is through their private members’ bill.
“The Fairness in Petroleum Product Pricing Act, which would allow the Ontario Energy Board to regulate the retail and wholesale mark-up of petroleum products in Ontario. Families in Ontario literally cannot afford the price of more talk with no action.”
In response, PC House Leader Paul Calandra says the gas tax is increasing the cost of living in general, not just gas.
“The carbon tax will cost the people of the Province of Ontario…will cost Canadians…on everything whether they went shopping or to drop of their kids at soccer games. That would cost people massive amounts of money and we are seeing it every single day the cost of a carbon tax to the people of the Province of Ontario.”
Gas prices in Dryden are as high as 144.9 cent a litre with Kenora and Thunder Bay as high as 154.9 cents per litre, up 13 cents in the past few days.
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.
Canada’s five party leaders will debate affordability, reconciliation, climate, leadership and accountability during the English language television debate on Thursday night.
University of New Brunswick political science professor J.P. Lewis said seeing political violence in the United States, it’s not surprising to see it creep into the Canadian political landscape.
With violence impacting campaign stops by the Liberal party recently, Lewis said there is nothing new in seeing anger for the incumbent government.
“What changes the dynamics of this sort of thing is obviously social media in terms of individuals’ ability to share messages and organize with like-minded individuals,” Lewis said.
A lot may be riding on the debate for some party leaders.
Lewis said for many Canadians the debate will be an introduction to Conservative leader Erin O’Toole even though he’s been an MP since 2012 and served as a cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“If you are not following things daily, this may be a new politician to you. Because the Tories have been up in the polls for a couple of weeks now, I’d say the spotlight may be on him and we’ll see how the other leaders react,” Lewis said.
Lewis thinks this will be a very close election.
Joining O’Toole will be Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, The Green party’s Annamie Paul, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet.
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.
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.
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.”
The Leader of the federal NDP is putting his support behind Afghans fleeing the Taliban.
Several people died at the Kabul airport today as thousands of civilians tried to get onto planes leaving the country.
Campaigning in Toronto, Jagmeet Singh says Canada needs to do everything possible to help Afghans, especially those who assisted the Canadian military.
“Every single one of them should have a path to coming to Canada, them and their families at a minimum. And we need to be allies in supporting the relocation and providing safe refuge for those who are fleeing what is, right now, a really dangerous and scary situation,” Singh says.
The Liberals have committed to settle 20,000 Afghan refugees, but Singh has called for the government to expand eligibility for that program.
At the same announcement, the party Leader opened his campaign with a promise to tax the ultra-rich.
He says he wants to hold that group accountable for misusing pandemic supports.
Singh says his government would “make sure any company that abused the system, that took public money and then paid out dividends to their shareholders or increased executive pay, that we’re going to stop that, make sure they reimburse [the government for] that, and re-invest into people.”
Singh says that money could be redirected to things like pharmacare, dental care, and mental health services.
On the COVID-19 front, he is pushing for faster vaccinations even now that Parliament has been dissolved for the election.
He says it’s possible and necessary for Canada to focus on getting all federally-regulated industries vaccinated, and ideally issue vaccine passports, by Labour Day.
A lot of experts are saying, if we don’t do everything possible to get all adults vaccinated, it’s really kids that are going to be at risk when the school year resumes,” Singh argues. “So we think this is a priority, we believe this is a priority, and we’re going to do everything we can to get everyone vaccinated.”
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