NDP
Leader Andrea Horwath and MPP Jagmeet Singh meet with Ontario’s ethnic
press
NDP
Leader Andrea Horwath has addressed members of the National Ethnic Press
and Media Council to explain her priorities for the upcoming provincial
budget, where she was joined by Jagmeet Singh, the NDP’s new MPP for
Bramalea-Gore-Malton.
In
a presentation to the media at Queen’s Park, Horwath said the priority
must be to ensure the financial well-being of families who make our
province work.
“The
people of Ontario expect politicians to work together to make their lives
better,” said Horwath. “We’re putting forward some concrete ideas
that we hope to see reflected in the next budget and telling the Premier
we expect him to put people first.”
“Ontario
needs a balanced approach to balancing the books,” said Horwath.
“Our province won’t succeed unless the people who make it work are
financially secure. We need to make life affordable, improve our
health services and adopt a smarter strategy that creates and protects
good jobs.”
Horwath
and Finance Critic Michael Prue have held province-wide consultation to
hear ideas from leading economists in the private sector, organised labour,
small business owners and families worried about making ends meet.
Horwath
outlined the NDP’s priorities for the upcoming budget:
·
An effective jobs strategy: replacing no-strings-attached
corporate tax cuts with tax measures that reward companies when they hire
and make job-creating investments in machinery, equipment and training;
legislation to ensure natural resources aren’t shipped away if they can
be processed in Ontario and create value-added jobs; ongoing investment in
infrastructure.
·
Ensuring government services are there when they need them: Enhance
home care hours to eliminate waits, put a hard cap on executive
compensation and put a moratorium on health restructuring until a full
LHIN review has been conducted with a mandate to review the
effectiveness of privatized health services such as the competitive
bidding process in home care.
·
Make life affordable: Take the HST off home heating and conduct a
full-scale review of electricity sector, with a view to merging
Ontario’s five hydro agencies and restoring public ownership and
accountability.
Finally,
Horwath called for, “a balanced approach to balancing the books”, one
that looks at revenue generation as well as spending and one that balanced
the priorities of families with the need to eliminate the deficit.
“I’m
too optimistic to believe that Ontario’s on a path of permanent
decline,” said Horwath. “We can balance Ontario’s budget but to do
that we need to plan responsibly and well, and not make reckless cuts that
leave families falling behind.”
Jagmeet
Singh, elected as an MPP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton in October talked about
his first months at Queen’s Park and his commitment to working hard to
represent the needs of his constituents.
One
of Singh’s main campaign promises was to fix the unfair auto insurance
system that leaves some families paying more simply because of where they
live.
Singh
has persistently raised the concerns of drivers about unfair insurance
premiums since his election last year, calling for a change in the law to
protect drivers.
Most
recently he has introduced a new bill at the Ontario Legislature to stamp
out the practice of charging drivers more depending on their neighbourhood.
“Families
in many GTA communities are facing astronomical insurance premiums that
have more to do with where they live than their accident history or
driving ability. This bill will tackle that unfair practice and help make
life more affordable for families,” said Singh.
Singh
said that during the last election he heard from voters worried about
unfair auto insurance rates, and promised to make it a priority if elected
to Queen’s Park.
“Two
people buy the same product but the person living in a modest income
neighbourhood with more new Canadians pays twice as much. We wouldn’t
accept this in any other business. We need change that puts everyday
drivers first,” added Singh.
Research
done by the NDP based on the lowest quotes available, shows that a 40-year
old driver with a spotless record, driving a subcompact Yaris and living
at Weston and Jane, will pay approximately $2,500 premium, while 40-year
old living in Lawrence Park with the same car and driving record will pay
approximately $1,150.
Andrea
Horwath and Jagmeet Singh were eager to take questions from the media on a
range of important topics, and look forward to many further meetings with
the National Ethnic Press and Media Council in the future.
