WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS – As part of our Federal Election coverage, we will be running a special feature over the next three weeks, asking regional candidates questions related to their party platforms. This is the second of our three part series.
Michael Chong, Conservative Party of Canada
- What’s the best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living?
People have told me they’re concerned about the cost of living and housing. I’ve raised these concerns with my Conservative colleagues. That’s why we’re focused on making life more affordable. We’re going to do this by leaving more money in people’s pockets. We’re proposing: a Universal Tax Cut, saving an individual taxpayer up to $440 in taxes, and saving a two-income couple earning an average salary over $850 in taxes; to increase the age credit for seniors by $1,000; and a four-point plan for more affordable home ownership, including increasing the amortization period for first-time home buyers.
- What is your position on the “media bailout” funds included in the 2019 federal budget? Is there a better way to support traditional media sources?
A strong, independent media is essential to democracy. However, I’m opposed to the newspaper bailout of $600 million. For starters, it isn’t enough to bail out every newspaper – some will get money, others won’t – and it isn’t enough to save failing newspapers. It also creates a conflict of interest – will newspapers be as critical of government for fear of losing the subsidy? And there are other problems. It would be better to look at prohibiting CBC from accepting advertising dollars and eliminate the advertising deductibility for foreign newspapers. Newspapers should be allowed to innovate and grow – without government interference.
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Summarize your personal view on climate change and the best way to address it.
I believe climate change is a serious global challenge. There are numerous ways to address climate change and reduce emissions – the State of California has proven this. They’ve used a range of measures and, more importantly, built a consensus across party lines. With a population of 39 million and an economy bigger than Canada’s, they’ve achieved their goal of reducing emissions four years ahead of schedule (2016 vs. 2020). California shows how Canada can do it. I’m one of only 25 candidates across Canada to be endorsed by GreenPAC for my environmental leadership. Find out more at GreenPAC.ca.
Ralph Martin, Green Party of Canada
- What’s the best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living?
The Green Party will legislate housing as a legally protected fundamental human right for all Canadians and permanent residents. We will collaborate with provincial ministers to meet affordable housing needs with 25,000 new and 15,000 rehabilitated units annually, for 10 years. We will establish a universal Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI) program to replace the current array of income supports, such as disability payments, social assistance and income supplements for seniors. Payment would be set at a “livable” level for different regions of the country. Pharmacare, public transportation and home retrofits are also planned.
- What is your position on the “media bailout” funds included in the 2019 federal budget? Is there a better way to support traditional media sources?
A vibrant, diverse media sector is a prerequisite for a healthy democracy. Government support for local media is important. However, the government should not pick winners and losers. Traditional media are withering and disappearing from small markets due to a combination of digital and on-line competition and corporate concentration of ownership. A Green government will: 1) reform anti-trust laws to enable the break-up of media conglomerates and 2) close the loophole that exempts social media platforms from collecting taxes on advertising and ensure all government advertising is placed in Canadian publications.
- Summarize your personal view on climate change and the best way to address it.
Green house gas (GHG) emissions threaten our ecological systems. As a scientist, my reading of scientific literature and my own research verify that unusually high or low temperatures or too much or too little precipitation, at the wrong times, are destabilizing crop production. It is crucial to meet goals of reducing GHGs 60% by 2030 and to net zero by 2050 as we propose in Mission Possible of the Green Party (www.greenparty.ca/en/mission-possible). Building retrofits and non-internal combustion engines will help. It is important to incentivize landowners for measurable sequestration of carbon with cropping systems and trees.
Lesley Barron, Liberal Party
- What’s the best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living?
The Liberals’ National Housing Strategy, which includes the First Time Home Buyer Incentive, will ease entry into the housing market for young families. I know how costly childcare is, and the Liberals’ Canada Child Benefit takes the edge off for the families struggling the most. Seniors will be helped by boosts to OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. We’re also laying the first planks of a national pharmacare program that will cut drug costs, and we’ve announced tax changes that will save the middle class hundreds of dollars annually, along with measures to lower phone bills by 25 per cent.
- What is your position on the “media bailout” funds included in the 2019 federal budget? Is there a better way to support traditional media sources?
Media outlets have struggled with huge changes in the industry, and I see no value in sitting idly while we allow them to fail, especially now when we are bombarded with online misinformation, so I support the Liberals’ proposed measures: a refundable tax credit for media organizations, a non-refundable credit for subscriptions, access to tax incentives for not-for-profit outlets, and an independent panel of experts from the journalism industry to help us set it all up. As for accountability concerns, the publicly-funded CBC never seems to have any trouble holding governments to account, nor, I think, will any other media.
- Summarize your personal view on climate change and the best way to address it.
Climate change is happening, human activity is the major cause, and it won’t fix itself. Governments must take action to bring down greenhouse gas emissions, while minimizing the impact on Canadians. I think the Liberals have the best balance: carbon pricing that forces polluters to pay the costs, while rebating the money back to Canadians, who will be likelier to choose cleaner options. The Liberals make that choice easier with boosts like electric vehicle purchase incentives, new tax breaks for clean tech businesses, and interest-free loans for energy efficiency for homeowners and landlords. We’re aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
Andrew Bascombe, New Democratic Party
- What’s the best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living?
The best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living is to look at changing the mix of housing that is being built. Working with the provinces and municipalities to build capacity of mixed residential homes (co-ops, social and non-profit housing). Reducing the qualifying requirements of a mortgage, and re-introducing 30-year terms to CMCH insured mortgages on entry-level homes for first time home buyers. At the same time action can be taken to reduce the federal portion of the GST/HST on new affordable rental units and doubling the Home Buyer’s Tax credit to $1,500.
- What is your position on the “media bailout” funds included in the 2019 federal budget? Is there a better way to support traditional media sources?
The media bailout funds in the 2019 federal budget is a bandage fix to a situation created by a lack of vision by previous governments. While I agree with the need to support traditional media sources (especially in smaller communities) that help should have come at the start of the emergence of the digital shift … The funds have been made available and the concern has turned to how and who is responsible for managing it. The conflict of interest that I feel Unifor finds itself in is troubling. I would seek public input in determining the best way forward.
- Summarize your personal view on climate change and the best way to address it.
Climate change is real! Let’s move beyond that debate and address how to deal with it. The price of pollution has been: acid rain, mercury in our waterways, the extinction of species, respiratory problems, water boiling advisories and changes to weather patterns, over my life time. Taking money out of the pockets of Canadians, not meeting agreed upon targets, and playing politics, while big corporations profit from failing to be held accountable is the biggest failure of our governing bodies. The best way to address it, is to invest in clean, ethical, green and renewable resources while making polluters pay.
Sylvain Carle, People’s Party of Canada
- What’s the best way to address housing affordability and the rising cost of living?
Affordability is negatively affected by a severe lack of supply. At the federal level, an immediate reduction in immigration levels will help increase availability until a permanent solution is implemented. This provincial jurisdiction will require consultation with affected provinces to develop a policy framework that will promote the addition of new rental units with the right balance of incentives for the industry to fill the supply gap. Reclassifying housing providers from passive income earners to active businesses will also help spur growth. A PPC government will also move to set an inflation target of 0%.
- What is your position on the “media bailout” funds included in the 2019 federal budget? Is there a better way to support traditional media sources?
Our Party does not support any form of bailouts and I am a strong backer of that position. It is not the job of governments to pick winners and losers in any areas of our economy. Industries and media alike need to be given a level playing field and a fair taxation system. As technology evolves, industries and media will need to adapt. Cost neutral policies such as accelerated amortization of assets will kick start investments and innovations.
- Summarize your personal view on climate change and the best way to address it.We understand Canadians are concerned with the environment. However, climate change alarmists have hijacked the debate for reasonable policies. For example, a carbon tax has failed in reducing emissions produced by vehicles. This is due to what economists call inelastic demand. People must get from point A to B no matter the cost. Whether that’s driving to work or taking your son to a hockey game, Canadians have obligations that do not vanish with a carbon tax implemented. We believe in practical policies that do not include taxing you into submission. For more information, visit our website or Twitter page.
