Please tell our readers three policies you would champion as NDP leader.
A citizen’s assembly on proportional representation, a citizen’s assembly on the principles of a fair tax system, and a program to support local communities in regenerative or redesign projects that will improve their local ecosystem and their community’s connection via transit, housing, or local food production. To finance this regenerative and redesign program, we need to reallocate the subsidies to the oil companies and the money targeted for “Carney’s nation-building planet destroying projects.”
Which Carney government legislative initiatives would you change, if you could, and in what way?
I would cancel Bill C-5 and redirect the increases in the military budget to the development and implementation of a national, unarmed civilian defense program and strategy for Canada. Such an approach would build on the growing research that shows that non-violent defense is more effective, both in dealing with authoritarianism within countries and invasion and oppressors from without. This strategy is far more egalitarian and can involve people at all stages of their lives, and build community and democracy, thus strengthening community without the costs to society of military violence and the mis-allocation of resources for military preparation.
How would you combat separatism in Quebec and Alberta?
I would combat separatism by having a clear, holistic goal for Canada that would help create a country they want to be part of, helping them understand that we are more effective together, and building a country that works for the 99 per cent in all provinces.
What would your conditions be for supporting a Liberal minority government?
That we would implement a civilian’s assembly on proportional representation, and their recommendations would be implemented in the next federal election without a referendum. It is way past time for a proportional electoral system in Canada, so that everybody’s vote counts toward representation every election. We need to have a true democracy.
If you were in charge of Canada–U.S. relations, what would your strategy be for dealing with the Trump administration?
We would re-localize our economy to meet Canadians’ basic needs (food, shelter, and transportation). We would de-emphasize the export-import side of our economy and work on cooperative trade arrangements with government-to-government trade instead of the competitive advantage trade model that enriches the traders while impoverishing the producers in one country and the consumers in the other. We would also develop an unarmed civilian non-violent defense strategy.
What steps would you take to decrease growing economic inequality in Canada?
- Implementing a progressive wealth tax
- Creating a more progressive income tax
- Closing offshore loopholes
- Implementing Universal Basic Income (UBI)
- Supporting cooperatives and credit unions
- Respecting collective agreements
What measures are necessary to empower Indigenous communities in Canada and assure their prosperity?
Respecting treaties and court settlements, as well as fulfilling the obligations as set out under them.
Ensuring that Indigenous Peoples are included in the community regeneration and redesign program I’m putting forward (mentioned above).
Where previous treaties and agreements were not honoured, we need to work with all communities to redress the situation and find equitable ways of moving forward.
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