In the leadup to the April 28 federal election, Black Press Media asked the candidates in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford a series of three questions. These are their responses.
What would your party do to safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout from tariffs?
Kathy Code – Green
Tariffs are posing great concerns as Trump waffles between one position and another. The bottom line is that Canada must find more trustworthy and consistent trading partners. I am very proud of the way Canadians have universally decided not to buy American goods or travel there for vacations. Our local economy will benefit greatly from all the money spent at home.
The Green Party is ready to roll up its sleeves and protect South Island workers, farmers and businesses through its Protecting Canada document. It contains a full range of international, border, defence, economic and legal remedies designed to protect Canadians. We propose the creation of an economic NATO, offering a safe haven for the UN HQ, closer ties with the EU, and recognizing the state of Palestine.
We would beef up border security, increase our shipbuilding and submarine capacities, suspend the $80 billion F35 acquisition and create well-paying jobs for a 130,000 civilian Federal Home Guard. We propose creating a Federal Strategic Reserve of aluminum, steel, lumber, rare earth, potash so that we can build public housing, etc. for Canadians. We would guarantee strong financial support for small- and medium-sized businesses impacted by tariffs and other American threats.
Blair Herbert – Liberal
A two-pronged approach is needed to address the anticipated tariffs – retaliatory tariffs and investment in Canadians. Both actions will help safeguard South Island workers and businesses from the fallout of tariffs.
Firstly, the U.S. tariffs are a violation of trade agreements and require serious trade and economic responses. I support dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs aimed where they will be felt the hardest in the United States with the least impact in Canada.
Secondly, and at the same time, we need to boost investment and support Canadian workers. Working with the business community and other levels of government, I will explore ways to diversify trading relationships and build new sources of jobs and growth based on our natural resources, our talented people and their innovation.
Rather than 13 different provincial and territorial economies, we can create one amazing national economy. Removing barriers to internal trade alone would lower prices for consumers by reducing trade costs and would expand our economy by up to $200 billion.
I ask for your vote. Only by having a seat at the national table, with Liberal leader Mark Carney, can we champion growth for our riding.
Elbows up Canada, we got this.
Jeff Kibble – Conservative
Jeff Kibble did not respond to the questions.
Alistair MacGregor – NDP
In our communities, there is a lot of anxiety, fear, and a real sense of betrayal regarding the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump. But underneath is a growing resolve and desire to support Canadian workers, industries, and small businesses.
With nine years experience of serving my constituents, I want to safeguard South Island workers and businesses by implementing a federal Buy Canadian, Build Canadian policy, and bringing together all levels of government, industry, and business to develop a National Industrial Strategy aimed at boosting critical domestic manufacturing capacity. The NDP is committed to providing our workers a robust and easy-to-access Employment Insurance system to protect them, and we'll invest in skills training, apprenticeships, and job transition plans so people can find good jobs close to home.
The NDP would help small businesses and industries navigate uncertain economic waters by working with provinces to eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers, reducing the small business tax rate from 9% to 8%, and capping high credit card merchant fees at a maximum of 1%.
Workers and small and medium-sized businesses, the heart of our communities, deserve a government that fights for them – under the NDP, people will always come before corporate interests.
What do you see as the best way to address the cost-of-living crisis?
Blair Herbert – Liberal
To address the cost-of-living crisis, Liberals will make life more affordable:
- Develop affordable housing and lower rents
This riding has an average home price of approximately $850,000; a price out of reach for many. The Liberal government will build more affordable homes, with Canada’s most ambitious plan since the Second World War. During and after the Second World War, Canada faced a massive housing crisis. The Liberal government of the day built tens of thousands of affordable homes for returning veterans and their families.
Canada has solved a housing crisis before; we can do it again.
Skyrocketing rents are often the product of supply and demand. Our investment in new homes will increase supply and, as a result, reduce rents.
- Cut taxes for the middle-class
The Liberal party is cutting taxes to put money in the pockets of Canadian families. More than 22 million Canadians will benefit directly from this tax cut, which is targeted to help middle- and low-income Canadians. 82% of those who benefit earn less than $80,000 annually.
- Grow the economy
Mark Carney is a world-class economist, and his goal from day one has been for Canada’s economy to be the fastest growing in the G7. A strong economy will create higher-paying jobs and improve affordability.
Alistair MacGregor – NDP
It is important that we acknowledge this is a time when people are really struggling to afford the most basic necessities of life. At the same time, many of the major corporate players in key economic sectors have enjoyed record net profits in the last few years, directly at the expense of people in our communities. Record profits at a time of so much hardship for so many points to the culture of corporate deference that has grown under successive Liberal and Conservative federal governments. The NDP knows that tackling the cost-of-living crisis requires the courage to stand up to billionaires.
I plan to address the cost of living with a permanent GST cut on essentials; a price cap on essentials; legislation to crack down on price gouging, surging, fixing, and shrinkflation; and with fairer taxation on excess profits. It is time to make big corporations pay their fair share.
We’ll build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes so people can find a place they can afford. New Democrats already delivered universal dental care and will push to finish pharmacare and affordable childcare, saving families thousands every year.
I am here to fight for workers and families – not corporate profits.
Kathy Code – Green
The cost-of-living issue requires an immediate response along with the political will to make an honest difference for millions of Canadians. The first step is fair taxation. While corporations make bigger profits and find ways to hide their billions, the Greens are advocating the elimination of all federal income taxes on earnings under $40,000. This transformative change will make sure working Canadians keep more of what they earn, strengthen local businesses and revitalize communities by ensuring Canadians have more disposable income to spend – and help break the cycle of debt for those forced to spend more than they earn on basic necessities. For someone earning $40,000, this means around $3,644 more in their pocket each year.
Corporations will no longer be afforded the big subsidies they demand, and the Greens will close the loopholes that allow for wealth disparity. The Greens also advocate for public programs that provide universal health care and pharmaceuticals, food security, free education and access to public housing that will ease the financial strain on Canadians from coast to coast to coast. A Basic Guaranteed Income will also become available.
There will be more announcements coming in the next two weeks.
With the south Island’s aging demographic, what would you do to ensure Canada’s seniors continue to have access to the services they need?
Alistair MacGregor – NDP
Seniors on the South Island – and across Canada – deserve to live with dignity and respect. Not only did seniors help build Canada into what it is today, but they are valued and contributing members, giving much of their time, experience, and expertise to help make our communities such amazing places to live.
The cost-of-living pressures, housing, and health care remain top concerns for seniors in our region. New Democrats will protect pensions and make sure no senior ever has to worry about losing their retirement security. We’ll invest in long-term care and expand home care so seniors can stay at home longer if they choose. We’ll push to deliver universal pharmacare so no senior ever has to skip medication because they can’t afford it. We’ll create national care standards to improve long-term care, including improving wages and workplace conditions for personal support workers, and make housing more affordable so seniors aren’t forced out of their communities.
These policy pledges would be part of a new Safe Long-Term Care Act and the result of working with provinces to ensure that federal funding for home care is tied to established national standards, guaranteeing basic levels of care.
Kathy Code – Green
It is time that we treat our elders with the dignity and respect they deserve, not as beings to be stored in a warehouse. Our elders have a lifetime of learning and wisdom to share with the younger generations. We must start building generational housing so that there is a transfer of that knowledge. We must honour them and ensure that they have everything they need to live their days in comfort and respect.
That said, seniors would greatly benefit from the public programs the Greens are advocating for all Canadians. Seniors often require a higher level of medical care and all care would be available through our universal health care programs.
For-profit health care will be avoided at all costs. In fact, the Greens would install stable and secure funding for universal health care from coast to coast to coast, expanding services to include mental health, more medical practitioners, an expansion of home and community care housing and food security. Access to universal pharmacare and dental services will ensure seniors don’t have to make painful decisions between paying the bills and looking after their health needs. And we would expand paid leave to include elder care.
Blair Herbert – Liberal
The answer provided to the earlier question is also relevant to supporting South Island seniors. Specifically, developing affordable housing, lowering rent costs and growing the economy will put more money in the pockets of seniors so that they can access the services they need.
In addition, the Liberal Party will:
- Maintain and expand the Canadian Dental Care plan, a program that helps cover the cost of dental care for eligible Canadians. Seniors were amongst the first Canadians for which this plan was made available.
- Maintain the age of eligibility for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement at 65 years (reversing the policy of 67 years adopted by the previous Conservative government).
As your MP, I will listen. I will listen to the voice of seniors and work with Liberal leader Mark Carney to support them and ensure they continue to have access to the services they need.
