New Democrats launch Northern Ontario platform
SUDBURY – Committing to create and support good jobs, protect communities from the effects of climate change, and put reconciliation into action, New Democrats shared their commitments today, to make life better and more affordable for families across Northern Ontario.
NDP candidates Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay), Carol Hughes (Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing), Nadia Verrelli (Sudbury) and Andréane Chénier (Nickel Belt) launched the NDP’s Northern platform in Sudbury on Wednesday.
“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, families in Northern Ontario were struggling from decades of Liberal and Conservative cuts to services,” said Angus. “Instead of helping Northerners get through this pandemic, Justin Trudeau called an early election to help himself. Northern Ontarian are ready for better. We need a strong northern team of NDP MPs to stand up for the North.”
“After six years under Justin Trudeau, the cost of living in Northern Ontario keeps going up while the services we need keep getting cut,” said Hughes. “New Democrats will make life more affordable and provide more services families can depend on.”
New Democrats highlighted five commitments for Northern Ontario:
- Making life affordable – Cover the costs for prescription medication and dental care, reduce the cost of rent and buying a home, bring down cell phone bills and bring in affordable and reliable broadband to all northern communities.
- Strengthening Northern services – Hire more nurses and doctors, protect seniors and workers by taking the profit out of long-term care, and faster and free access to mental health care and addictions services.
- Fighting for jobs and economic growth – Support small businesses and local jobs through the pandemic, ensure an independent FedNor agency is focused on investing in northern economic development and job creation, and prioritize northern steel, lumber, and minerals in infrastructure projects.
- Putting reconciliation into action – Work in partnership with First Nations to pursue reconciliation and foster thriving, resilient communities with strong public services like clean drinking water, quality housing and better health care.
- Acting on climate change – End Trudeau’s record of climate failure and multi-million-dollar subsidies to big oil companies, and instead, invest in communities to respond to wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather events