NDP: Workers didn’t cause inflation and they shouldn’t have to pay for it

Jagmeet Singh urges direct help for Canadians as inflation rate hits new high

OTTAWA— Today Statistics Canada announced that the cost of living is continuing to rise for Canadians. The inflation rate hit an almost 40-year high of 7.7 per cent in May. Canada's NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is again pushing the Liberal government to take real, concrete action to help Canadian families who are falling further and further behind while huge corporations make record profits. Singh is pushing for an additional $500 to $1,000 in families' pockets now.

“Canadians have been struggling with the cost of living for months. They’re making tough decisions about what groceries they can and can’t afford to feed their kids,” said Singh. “Instead of responding to their struggles with real solutions to help Canadians make ends meet, last week the Deputy Prime Minister made reannouncements from the budget that won’t get people the support they desperately need. The Liberals are getting Canadians an extra seven dollars on their GST cheques. It’s absolutely insulting. Millions of Canadians are worried about feeding their families or losing their homes and $7 won't do anything to help them. New Democrats will continue to fight for you and your family.”

The data released today shows that the cost of food is up 9.7 per cent – that’s the fastest hike since 1981. The price of gas is up a staggering 48 per cent and so are the profits of big oil and gas companies; Imperial Oil made its highest profit in 30 years. While the price of necessities and corporate profits grow at alarming rates, workers’ wages have only increased by 3.9 per cent. New Democrats say this profit-driven inflation is making it impossible for hardworking people to afford the things they need like food, gas, and housing. Singh has called on the government to double the GST rebate and add $500 to every Canada Child Benefit to get between $500 - $1000 back into peoples’ pockets.

“Workers aren’t causing inflation and they shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Singh. “The Liberals and choosing to stand by while Canadians pay to make the ultra-rich even richer. When you pay 48 per cent more to fill up your gas tank, oil and gas companies are pocketing record profits. It doesn’t have to be this way. The NDP has been calling on the government to put an excess profit tax on these oil and gas companies and redistribute that money to hardworking people through the GST tax credit and the Canada Child Benefit. New Democrats want to get up to $1,000 back in your pocket to help you and your family now.”