NDP priorities for the Throne Speech

Canada’s progressive opposition expects the Speech from the Throne to fight for jobs, families and communities.

“We are ready to help the government deliver the change Canadians want,” said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. “The Liberals made ambitious promises to deliver change. Now, they must back up their words with actions.”

NDP priorities for the Speech from the Throne include:

• Protecting Health care: New Democrats expect the Speech from the Throne to cancel Harper’s cuts to health care, help the 5 million Canadians who don’t have a family doctor, fund a prescription drug plan, expand long-term and palliative care for seniors and uphold the principles of the Canada Health Act.
• Combatting climate change: New Democrats expect the Speech from the Throne to set firm targets to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, present a plan for fighting climate change, and repair the environmental review process with strengthened provisions to account for impact on climate.
• Building a nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples: New Democrats expect the Speech from the Throne to close the funding gap for First Nation education, call a public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, immediately boost funding for child and family services on reserves, and improve water treatment facilities.
• Fighting poverty: New Democrats expect the Speech from the Throne to close stock option loopholes and invest the money in helping eliminate child poverty, give tens of thousands of families a raise by reinstating a federal minimum wage of $15 an hour, increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement to lift 200,000 seniors out of poverty, return the retirement age from 67 to 65 and reverse Harper’s damage to EI.
• Creating childcare: New Democrats expect the Speech from the Throne to announce measures that make childcare spaces more affordable, build new childcare spaces and ensure universality – so middle class and lower income families have access to the same high quality childcare.

“Your NDP team is ready to fight for your jobs, your family and your community,” said Mulcair. “As the progressive opposition, we will hold the Liberal government to account on their promises.”