NDP NORTHERN PLATFORM PUTS NORTHERN ONTARIO PRIORITIES FIRST
NDP Candidate, Bruce Hyer, Thunder Bay-Superior North
New Democrats: Northern families need MPs who understand challenges faced in region
THUNDER BAY, ON – New Democrat candidates across Northern Ontario released their plan today for creating jobs, protecting pensions, restoring health care, and making life more affordable in the region.
“In 2008 our region sent a clear message to Ottawa with the Northern Ontario New Democrat Team – a team that has been the truly effective opposition in Parliament.” said Bruce Hyer, running for re-election in Thunder Bay-Superior North. “We’ve been holding Stephen Harper to account. We’ve been introducing legislation to protect pensions, to unlock wireless phone competition, and to protect Canada from risky foreign takovers. We’ve tabled initiatives to make E.I. more flexible for Northerners, to fight dangerous climate change, to put a cap on credit card gouging, and more. We’re taking local issues to Ottawa.”
Amongst other initiatives, the Northern Ontario NDP Platform will:
- Strengthen the Canada Pension Plan, and protect workers’ pensions;
- Reduce the small business tax rate from 11% to 9%, and launch a $4,500 Job Creation Tax Credit;
- Cap consumer credit card rates at Prime plus 5%;
- Allocate an additional $700 million to GIS, to eliminate seniors poverty;
- Provide permanent flow-through shares for mineral exploration;
- Provide up to $7,000 for making seniors’ homes accessible;
- Introduce a new Canada Drinking Water Act, after broad consultation;
- Train and hire new doctors and nurses; more home care.
“Today’s Northern Ontario NDP is giving our region a strong voice. Our platform addresses issues that Northerners told us they care about,” said John Rafferty, incumbent in Thunder Bay-Rainy River. “Our platform was made in the North, for the North. It outlines a number of key successes over the past two years and highlights the priorities New Democrats will continue to fight for in Ottawa.”
“Stephen Harper and his Ministers might fly into Northern Ontario for the occasional photo-op, but we live here.” said Rafferty. “New Democrat MPs are putting the unique concerns of people in the North ahead of well-connected insiders. We’ve been standing up for families here – and we’re ready to build on that success.”
