The success of our cities is vital to our national interest. There is
no greater urban centre in this country than Toronto. We need a
government in Ottawa that understands that.
Toronto is currently home to 90,000 businesses, does $70 billion
in exports, and produces 20 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Most
importantly, the foundation of this dynamic metropolis is made up
of people who are hardworking, generous, and progressive.
An NDP government will ensure that Toronto reaches its full
potential by investing in its people, its businesses, and the city at
large.
Decades of downloading by Liberal and Conservative
governments have left Toronto struggling to keep up with
infrastructure needs—leaving residents with crumbling roads and
bridges, aging water systems, and snarled traffic. Commute
times in the GTA are longer than in Los Angeles, New York City,
or London, and gridlock costs up to $11 billion in lost productivity
each year in the GTHA.
An NDP government will make new investments of $60 billion in
stable, transparent federal funding for core municipal and transit
infrastructure over the next 20 years—of which $12.9 billion will
be allocated to the GTA. We will also broaden eligibility under
the New Building Canada Fund to once again include
community, recreation, sports and cultural infrastructure. And,
we will invest $150 million in innovative sustainable development
projects in our communities through the Green Municipal Fund.
Rebuilding our infrastructure will help get our city moving again,
boost productivity, create jobs, and give our residents more time
to spend with family and friends.
Our plan also targets support for businesses where it is most
effective: for job creators in small businesses and for companies
that are re-investing to create jobs here in Canada. Over the next
two years, we will cut taxes for small businesses—which create
80 per cent of new jobs in the private sector—from 11 to 9 per
cent.
Our commitment to introduce a universal quality child care
program at no more than $15 a day will help tens of thousands of
Canadian parents re-enter the labour market. Following the
creation of Quebec’s childcare program, women’s participation in
the workforce there increased by 70,000. Work-life conflict
experienced by employees with preschool children costs the
Canadian business community $4 billion per year, an expense
we can do something about. The benefits of a childcare system
are not just for parents and children, according to economist and
childcare expert Pierre Fortin, a national childcare program like
ours could generate more than $3 billion for the federal
government through additional revenues and reduced costs.
That’s on top of the clear and substantial benefits for Canadian
families.
New Democrats believe that all Canadians that can and want to
participate in the labour market should be given the opportunity.
We will work to further integrate underrepresented groups of
Canadians into the workforce because no one should be left
behind.
An NDP government will, for example, restore unspent funding to
the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, close the education
gap for Indigenous peoples, and increase training funds through
Labour Market Development Agreements.
We will also foster a culture of innovation among Canada’s
businesses through a number of productivity-boosting
investments, including launching an Innovation Tax Credit,
restoring the tax credit for Labour Sponsored Venture Capital,
and fixing the Automotive Innovation Fund, as well as other
sector-specific supports.
With the recent, steady decline of commodity prices, having a
diversified economy has never been more important. Canada
currently enjoys a competitive exchange rate and benefits from
the positive outlook of the US economy. The demand for
Canadian products abroad is strong. We need to capitalize on
this momentum.
An NDP government will make it easier for Canadian small
businesses to enter foreign markets by simplifying access to
government export services. We will also secure and maintain
production capacity here in Canada by providing Export
Development Canada with a stronger mandate to recruit and
retain investment in automotive plants and export-focused
manufacturing.
At the same time, New Democrats will encourage foreign
investment and trade deals that support Canadian jobs. This
starts by strengthening the Investment Canada Act to protect
Canadian jobs and ensure international trade deals provide a net
benefit for middle-class Canadian families.
By making sure our cities are strong and healthy, we open up
possibilities – building cities that are greener, fairer, and more
prosperous for all.
Together, we can make this city a better place to live and, in
doing so, we can create good jobs.
It’s time to think big again, to be bold again, to reach higher.
Join us in building a better city and the Canada of our dreams.
Global Trade
Encouraging value-added production in Canada’s resource sectors and developing more sustainable goods and services are key components of building a modern, sustainable, industrial economy. Canada is a trading nation and Tom Mulcair and the NDP believe that growing international trade is a cornerstone of Canada’s future economic prosperity. Diversifying and deepening our trade relationships will be a priority of an NDP government. That is why we have supported the Canada-South Korea free trade agreement, are supportive of trade negotiations with the European Union, Japan, and of the negotiations to form a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
It is, however, important to note that an NDP government will not be bound by Stephen Harper’s agreement. These secretive TPP negotiations include concessions for our auto sector, for our dairy and poultry farmers, and possible changes to patent-law that risk raising the price of prescription drugs for seniors, and restricting our Internet freedoms. Tom Mulcair will continue to stand up for the best interests of Canadians.
Infrastructure
Tom Mulcair has outlined a plan to build the roads, bridges, and vital infrastructure Canadian families and businesses require. We will start with the equivalent of one additional cent of the existing gas tax— ramping up to an additional $1.5 billion at the end of our first mandate to reach $3.7 billion annually in stable, long-term investment in core infrastructure. We will tackle gridlock and cut commute times with Tom Mulcair’s Better Transit Plan—which will be developed in partnership with provinces and territories—and provides $1.3 billion annually in predictable, stable, and transparent public transit investment over the next 20 years. The NDP will make housing more affordable in our communities by sustaining investment in Canada’s affordable housing agreements, and by providing incentives for the construction of 10,000 affordable and market rental housing units. Finally, we will respect provincial jurisdiction and local decision-making, simplify application processes, and remove funding barriers through direct, stable, and transparent transfers to help municipalities and provinces meet their priorities.
Jobs
Tom Mulcair has the plan to strengthen the middle-class and create well-paying jobs. An NDP government will cut taxes on small business owners by two per cent over two years. We will support jobs in the manufacturing sector by working with the provinces to create ICanada, a one-stop shop inside the federal government to help investors turn their plans for Canadian investment from blueprint into reality. An NDP government will extend the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance for manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment. We will create an Innovation Tax Credit for businesses that invest in machinery, equipment and property used in innovation-boosting research and development. We will also make targeted investments in Canada’s aerospace and automotive sectors by investing in space technology development, creating an aerospace advanced manufacturing fund, improving financial incentives for automakers, and working with stakeholders, provinces and municipalities to arrive at a National Automotive Strategy. Tom Mulcair will also help 40,000 young Canadians get jobs, paid internship or coop placements, and apprenticeship spaces. And, our commitment to introducing childcare across the country at no more than $15 a day will not only help tens of thousands of Canadian parents re-enter the labour market, but it will also create as many as 119,000 childcare-related jobs over four years.