Canada’s NDP to focus on health care and the cost of living when parliament returns

VICTORIA — With the House of Commons back in session Monday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will use the sitting to fight for relief from the crushing cost of living, and rebuilding and protecting public universal free health care.

“The public health care system Canadians take pride in is at a watershed moment. New Democrats believe we can rebuild the public system — to end the painfully long waits, and make sure care is ready when and where you need it. But Conservative premiers, Pierre Poilievre and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are lining up to greenlight privatize-for-profit schemes,” said Singh, speaking from Victoria on Friday alongside NDP MP Laurel Collins (Victoria).

“Private facilities will drain workers from ERs and ORs. It will cannibalize hospitals and make waits much longer. The only thing that will fix health care is more health care workers. And New Democrats are going to fight with everything we have to replace private-for-profit schemes with a plan to staff up and rebuild public, universal health care.”

“British Columbia has been making major investments in building up our public health care system, and Victoria needs a partner in Ottawa, not an opponent,” said Collins. “Privatization will only make emergency room and serious surgery waits longer. It puts quality at risk, just like it did in long-term care home across the country when for-profit corporations cut corners to pocket more profits. And for-profit corporations always find a way to give patients a big bill — from upselling to extra fees and charges.”

Singh said lowing the cost of living is also a top priority and critical mission for the NDP in the months ahead.

The NDP will extend dental care funding to teenagers, seniors and people with disabilities this year, and will also look to lower household costs by removing the GST on home heating, doubling the GST tax credit permanently, and making it easier to afford a good place to live. The NDP is also going to fight for a windfall tax and other legislative tools to tackle price gouging.

“A good job used to be enough to afford a good home, a fridge full of healthy food, and savings for the future. We can make life more affordable again. But we need the prime minister to stop leaving families fend for themselves against skyrocketing inflation and budget buster interest rate hikes. We need Justin Trudeau to stop shielding gougers like big grocery chains and oil and gas corporations,” said Singh.

“The ultra-rich and corporate giants don’t need any more help from Ottawa. This sitting, it’s time for working folks and average families to get the help and hope they deserve.”