Dear Editor,
In drawing inspiration from New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent election victory and wondering what it would take for progressives to win here (Money talks, Nov. 12), you make some good points.
You are absolutely right that the Liberals won the last election not because they presented a positive vision, but because voters trusted Mark Carney to stand up against Trump and to counter the nasty and divisive conservatism of Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre is an imposter when it comes to understanding his vision for Canada – he has none that would help ordinary Canadians.
Now, just six months later, we’ve seen that Prime Minister Carney has veered sharply to the right, implementing many of the Conservatives’ policies, with their support, and without a sense of apparent irony. The Carney budget – with its grand sounding themes containing give-aways to the corporate elite of the nation – will not bring immediate relief to Canadians struggling with the high cost of living.
From axing the carbon tax, deep cuts in public spending except for military spending, abandoning environmental protections and programs, to supporting the fossil fuel industry and cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy. No wonder Poilievre is pissed off at the Liberals stealing his policies!
But in your editorial you ask, “where was the New Democratic Party in all of this (during the federal election)? Hard to say.” Well, it shouldn’t be that hard to say.
Just like Mamdami, the NDP has focused on advocating that it will reduce costs and make life more affordable and better for Canadians – and it has effectively used its political power to make the governing party introduce them.
The NDP fought hard to secure the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which continues to help thousands of Pontiac families afford dental care. The NDP also fought hard to secure a national pharmacare plan, which would save families hundreds of dollars in costs for prescription medicine. The Conservatives fought hard against this, and true to form, Carney has not added any additional funding the program would need to include deals with all provinces and territories. The NDP also pushed to crack down on price-fixing and anti-competitive behaviour by large grocery companies and cap prices for essential items. This would bring much-needed relief to the many families who are struggling with high food prices across the region and country.
The NDP is the only federal party truly concerned with the affordability crisis for ordinary and working families. Poilievre pretends to show concern, but we know his cuts would make life much more difficult for ordinary and working Canadians. And sadly Carney is now just offering a pale imitation of Poilievre.
NDP leadership candidates such as Avi Lewis are proposing many more actions to make life better for ordinary Canadians, and taxing the wealthy and corporations more to pay for them – just as Mamdani is.
It is unfortunate that THE EQUITY didn’t report on more of these policies, or on the Canada at a Crossroads public forum that the Pontiac Kitigan Zibi NDP held on Oct. 29, where many of these issues were discussed – because then you would have an answer to where the NDP is in all of this. And that is: offering a positive world building vision to benefit working and middle-class Canadians.
Carl Hager, Gatineau
Executive member of NDP Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi Riding Association
