RCD

 

Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition (RPRC), The Kehila Society of Richmond, Jewish Seniors Alliance (JSA) and the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD) have worked collaboratively to bring to our members deeper and more insightful information of Richmond Candidates in the 2021 Federal Election, which has been scheduled for September 20, 2021.

In lieu of a physical meeting we usually host for candidates and voters, we take an alternate route to bring the information to our members, via a Q & A arrangement.

We have identified 14 questions on social justice and sent to the 10 candidates of Richmond Centre and Steveston-Richmond East. We believe these issues are of great importance during this election and thus are most interested in learning their positions. When the candidates have responded to the questions, we share the information below. If the response column is blank, that means we are still waiting for the responses.

There are 11 categories of social justice issues on the provincial stage. Under each category, there is a preamble, followed by one or more questions, and candidates’ responses.

RCD RCD

 

 

Social Justice on the Federal Stage

Housing

The 2016 census states that 47% of Richmond renters spend more than 30% of gross income on housing. Many Richmond residents are living in inadequate, unsuitable and unaffordable housing due to low housing stock, long waiting lists, and the threat of demovictions/ renovictions. Housing affordability is the biggest challenges for seniors, people with disabilities, newcomer families and underemployed individuals, among others.

 

1.     Question: How would you work for Richmond to secure federal funding for the construction of non-market housing (subsidized housing, co-ops, etc) that would ensure individuals, families, people with disabilities, and seniors have the opportunity to choose and stay, in adequate, suitable, and affordable housing in Richmond?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 We need to ensure that there are a range of housing options to accommodate all Richmond residents. I would focus on partnering with the city and federal government to incentivize the building of non-market and market rental housing. The Greens will create a Canada Co-op Housing Strategy with updated mechanisms for financing co-op housing. https://www.greenparty.ca/en/platform
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 a. Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. A challenging housing market and high rent prices have made the dream of owning a home feel impossible for many Canadians. We will build more affordable homes, introduce a rent-to-own program and a Home Buyer's Bill of Rights, support multigenerational living, and further support first-time buyers.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 I would be supporting the NDP plan to offer resources, expertise and start-up funds to plan and execute projects to build various forms of non-market, co-op, and subsidized housing. I would also be pushing for the government to re-purpose land and actively seek partnerships with organizations such as the school district and local churches.

I would also like to see funding and support for more supportive housing – a big gap I see for us in Richmond. It will also be important to work with other levels of government and incentivize them to partner in building more below-market rental units.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 We need a real estate market that serves the interests of everyday Canadians: the young family who needs more space for their kids, the recent university grad trying to find an apartment in the city, the tradesperson moving to a new community for work, the retired empty-nesters wanting to downsize without losing all their home equity to pay for an overpriced condo – all are underserved by Canada’s lack of affordable housing options. In order to have more affordable housing in Richmond and across Canada, a Conservative government would swiftly increase supply by implementing a plan to build 1 million homes in the next three years. To do so, Kenny Chiu and Canada’s Conservatives will: leverage federal infrastructure investments to increase housing supply, build public transit infrastructure that connects homes and jobs by bringing public transit to where people are buying homes, and require municipalities receiving federal funding for public transit to increase density near the funded transit. The Conservatives will review the extensive real estate portfolio of the federal government – the largest property owner in the country with over 37,000 buildings – and release at least 15% for housing while improving the Federal Lands Initiative. As well, we will incentivize developers to build the housing Canadians need. This can be done by extending the ability to defer capital gains tax when selling a rental property and reinvesting in rental housing, something that is currently excluded. Finally, we will explore converting unneeded office space to housing.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 New Democrats believe that it's time to help people – now. We have an ambitious plan that will make a difference in every community in our country – because finding a good, affordable place to live shouldn't be like winning the lottery. It's time to relieve people's stress and worry by choosing to make it easier to rent and buy a home in Richmond.

A significant part of the long-term solution is to ensure that more affordable rental units are built across the country. One in three Canadians is a renter. In many cities, what few affordable apartments there are get snapped up quickly, and people end up living in either inadequate housing or simply forced to spend a huge chunk of their income on rent.

After six years in government, the Liberal plan is simply inadequate compared to the scale of the housing crisis Canadians are facing. We need to take urgent action now towards an ambitious plan to build affordable places to live in every community across the country.

That's why a New Democrat government will create at least 500,000 units of quality, affordable housing in the next ten years, with half of that done within five years. This will be achieved with the right mix of practical measures that partner with provinces and municipalities, build capacity for social, community, and affordable housing providers, provide rental support for co-ops, and meet environmental energy efficiency goals. This ambitious plan will create thousands of jobs in communities all across the country, jump-starting the economic recovery, and helping Canadians get the affordable housing they need.

In order to kick-start the construction of co-ops, social and non-profit housing and break the logjam that has prevented these groups from accessing housing funding, we will set up dedicated fast-start funds to streamline the application process and help communities get the expertise and assistance they need to get projects off the ground now, not years from now. We'll mobilize federal resources and lands for these projects, turning unused and under-used properties into vibrant new communities throughout Richmond.

2.     Supplementary Question: The National Housing Strategy requires that a mere 20% of new housing be accessible. As this is woefully inadequate, given the fact that our population is aging, by how much is your party committed to increasing this target? 

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Universal design is generally defined as creating products or environments that are accessible to all people, regardless of age, ability, etc., I feel that accessibility is something that is important for all people, to ensure that people can age in place and enjoy their homes and communities for years to come. When we work universal design into new builds, the options for that housing are unlimited. The Green Party has announced that for federally funded projects at least 30% of all units in all developments are deeply affordable and accessible and available for people with disabilities and special needs.
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 a. Specifically, to expand the supplies of affordable housing, we have a plan to build, preserve, or repair 1.4 million more homes over four years - 30% more than Erin O’Toole is promising - to increase availability. We will speed up housing construction to grow our supply and make more homes available across Canada. We will also be building and repairing more affordable housing to support the millions of Canadians who rely on it and converting empty office space into housing.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 We know the National Housing Strategy has been “underwhelming”. I will push for a much greater percentage requirement for accessibility, and would look to groups such s yours for your policy recommendations.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 No response
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 See response to question 1

Homelessness

The government of Canada states that housing is a human right. However, in the State of Homelessness in Canada 2016 report it was estimated that at least 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness in a given year. The 2020 Homeless Count found 85 people experiencing homelessness in Richmond. According to local outreach workers, the actual number is much higher, given that many people who are unhoused live with friends or relatives, and do not come into contact with emergency shelters.

3.     Question: What would your party do to create safe and affordable housing for people who are experiencing homelessness in Richmond, and what federal services would be provided to ensure people stay housed?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 We have made great strides in Richmond with establishing the Alderbridge Temporary Modular Housing and working the new location on Bridgeport but certainly more needs to be done to ensure that once people move on from TMH they are housed and supported appropriately. This can be accomplished when we really focus on more non-market and low-end market rental housing and with more money being funneled into support services. The Greens have committed to reinvesting in affordable, non-profit, co-operative and supportive housing including building 50,000 supportive housing units, and building and acquiring a minimum of 300,000 units of deeply affordable non-market, co-op and non-profit housing over a decade.
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Liberals are determined to end chronic homelessness. Since 2015, we have created Canada’s National Housing Strategy, an ambitious ten-year plan to invest over $72 billion to build supply, making housing affordable, and address chronic homelessness. Once re-elected, we will Move forward with our plan to invest in Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy to support communities across the country. And we will also appoint a new Federal Housing Advocate within the first 100-days of a new mandate to ensure the federal government's work toward eliminating chronic homelessness, as well as other housing commitments, are fulfilled.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 We need more transitional and low-barrier housing as start – more shelters, temporary modular housing and other housing that also provide wrap-around supports in accordance with people’s needs. Of course, a longer term view for keeping people housed is to ensure better affordability in general, and a guaranteed livable income, which the NDP is committed to working on right away.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 A Conservative government would re-implement the Housing First approach, which has been watered down by the current federal government, to aid in the fight against Canada’s homelessness and addictions crisis. Furthermore, we will invest $325 million over the next three years to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery community centres across the country, and support innovative approaches to address the crises of mental health challenges and addiction.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 For too long, Liberal and Conservative governments have told Canadians that the real income safety net that keeps people out of poverty is impossible. They've chosen to hand out tax breaks to big businesses while under-funding the programs that people rely on when they are older, when they lose a job, or when they can't work because of disability.

As we grapple with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, too many Canadians are living on the edge, or sliding deeper into poverty. Even when the economy recovers, it's clear that those who are struggling now will be at a disadvantage for a long time to come. We need big ideas to confront the challenges our country is facing.

New Democrats believe this is a critical moment to strengthen our social safety net and improve income supports so that all Canadians can live in dignity and security. We know that when we invest in meaningful income supports, it gives people a chance to live full and healthy lives.

With the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, we have seen what's possible when governments mobilize to make a livable income a priority. But unlike the Liberals, who moved quickly to cut these benefits, New Democrats won't stop there – we'll get to work right away building towards a guaranteed livable income for all Canadians.

We'll start this work immediately by lifting every senior and person living with a disability out of poverty, and build from there until every Canadian can count on a basic livable income when they need it. This will be complemented by bold new investments in housing, health care, post-secondary education and training to set all Canadians up to succeed.

In time, New Democrats will work to expand all income security programs to ensure everyone in Canada has access to a guaranteed livable basic income. Making the creation of a guaranteed livable basic income a priority will strengthen our social safety net and finally ensure dignity, security and peace of mind for everyone in Canada.

Indian Residential Schools

We are a rich country in many ways, but many of our First Nations reserves still do not have clean drinking water. The tragedy of Residential Schools has ripped open the hurt and trauma many of our Indigenous families have felt for generations. Many of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations remain unheeded.

4.     Question: How would you address these issues and help heal these wounds?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 There are no words to describe the pain that has been inflicted on First Nations communities in Canada. This year has been a year of learning and unlearning, of listening, and holding the government accountable to take bold steps towards fostering reconciliation. The Green Party is committed to implementing every call of the Missing Murdered and Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and UNDRIP. We are also committed to investing in the infrastructure to ensure safe water in every community. The key to moving forward lies in investment and education. More needs to be done to ensure that non-Indigenous Canadians learn about the customs, traditions and cultures of First Nations peoples in Canada. In the words of TRC Commissioner Murray Sinclair (Ojibway) stated that “education is the key to reconciliation,” adding, “education got us into this mess, and education will get us out of this mess” (CBC, 2015).
https://www.greenparty.ca/en/reconciliation

As announced in the Green Party platform today:
“A Green government will respect Indigenous sovereignty over self-defined and self-governed lands – whether First Nations, Métis Nation or Inuit – and respect all rights that their title to land entails, including the right to stewardship. We respect Inuit sovereignty over Inuit Nunangat. We support the full implementation of treaties and other self-government agreements between Canada and Indigenous governments. A Green government will welcome a genuine nation-to-nation engagement with Indigenous Peoples in Canada that is truly grounded in the UNDRIP doctrine of free, prior and informed consent.”
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 We must confront the legacy of residential schools, and it is our top priority to support Indigenous communities on all fronts. A re-elected Liberal government will continue the work to eliminate all clean long-term drinking water advisories, and take concrete actions to confront systemic racism against Indigenous peoples, especially in the justice system and health care. We are also launching appropriate and affordable housing and childcare plans for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous communities.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 There are a lot of things that need to happen. We need to get clean drinking water to all First Nations communities who don’t have it. Water is a basic human right and how are we to progress with truth & reconciliation when the government can’t even respect basic rights? The government also needs to stop taking First Nations to court, and needs to support and fund efforts of indigenous communities to bring their missing children and women home.
We need to be committed to indigenous self-determination, and forest stewardship, and I’d like to see an indigenous housing strategy. Re the Calls to Action, the NDP is committed to co-developing a National Action Plan for Reconciliation and a National Council to provide oversight and ensure accountability. Government must show leadership and also use its influence, ie) requiring organizations and projects getting funding to show how they are implementing the calls to action in their context.
Other priorities need to be respecting treaties, supporting First Nations in re-building their governance structures, and fund programs and efforts for language revitalization.
And to ensure we honour and remember the truth of colonization and the lasting trauma of genocide and the residential school system, communities need to be supported in recognizing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 The revelation of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools was horrific and shocked Canadians’ consciences. These discoveries were a heartbreaking reminder of the pain Indigenous children, their families, and their communities were subjected to. While the path of reconciliation is long and difficult, we must act now to make amends for past injustices perpetrated by and on behalf of the Government of Canada. A Conservative government with the support of Kenny Chiu would develop a comprehensive plan to implement TRC Calls to Action 71 through 76, fund the investigation at all former residential schools in Canada where unmarked graves may exist, including the sites where children have already been discovered. Furthermore, we would ensure that proper resources are allocated for communities to reinter, commemorate, and honour any individuals discovered through the investigation, according to the wishes of their next of kin, develop a detailed and thorough set of resources to educate Canadians of all ages on the tragic history of residential schools in Canada, and build a national monument in Ottawa that honours residential school survivors and all the children who were lost.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 New Democrats believe the federal government should not be able to pick and choose which Indigenous rights they will uphold, and which ones they will ignore. In line with recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which sets out minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous peoples, is the framework for reconciliation.
In partnership with Indigenous peoples, a New Democrat government will fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action.
New Democrats will work with Indigenous peoples to co-develop a National Action Plan for Reconciliation, drawing directly from the Calls to Action and the Declaration to ensure that Canada's laws, policies, and practices are consistent with Canada's human rights commitments – including cultural rights, land rights, and rights to self-determination and self-government.
We will establish a National Council for Reconciliation through legislation to provide oversight and accountability for this process, regularly reporting to Parliament and Canadians.
A New Democrat government will replace mere consultation with a standard of free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by government policies, including all decisions affecting constitutionally protected land rights, like energy project reviews. We are committed to good-faith, consent-based engagement and negotiations consistent with the Tsilhqot'in decision, an approach that honours Canada's legal and constitutional obligations.
We will recognize and respect treaties, supporting Indigenous Nations who are building and re-building their governance structures.
We will also respect Inuit self-determination by co-developing the federal government's Arctic Policy Framework through shared governance within the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, including adopting an Inuit Nunangat policy in full partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. We will support Inuit's economic and social self-reliance by addressing the massive infrastructure deficit in Northern communities, including housing, access to high-speed broadband, and airports, and ensuring that federal election ballots include Indigenous languages like Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. New Democrats recognize Métis self-determination, and in government, we will respect the path forward established by the Métis National Council and its governing members. We will pursue government-to-government negotiations on issues including self-government, education, housing and health.
A New Democrat government will partner with Indigenous communities across the country to help protect and revitalize the incredible diversity of Indigenous languages in Canada with new legislation and stable funding. In response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action 80, we will ensure there are funds to communities to commemorate a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization, honour the Survivors of residential schools, and help communities across Canada commit to meaningful reconciliation.

Childcare

The federal government has promised a nationwide $10 a Day childcare program that could be years in the making, if at all. Richmond families face great difficulties accessing quality, affordable and accessible childcare. Working families needing childcare are forced into unregulated care with no safety standards. In addition, childcare fees are the second highest family expense after housing.

5.     Question: If elected, how will you work to ensure Richmond has a $10 a Day child care program for the delivery of quality, accessible and affordable childcare to support families and allow care parents to move into the paid workforce?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 As a parent, I know the challenges of trying to balance work and childcare. We need to recognize that children are our future, and we need to invest significantly more to ensure that all children have access to quality childcare and early learning.

The Green Party of Canada is committed to universal, affordable, early learning and childcare and I am personally committed to ensuring that I work with any, and all parties to bring this to fruition. It is important to make more regulated spaces available as soon as possible and in areas where people live and work, particularly in their schools and workplaces.
https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2019-10-14/green-party-calls-universal-access-affordable-child-care
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/child-care-conservatives-liberals-ndp-greens-bloc-1.6144317
Green Party MPs will:
● Restore and revamp the 2005 agreement reached between the federal government, provinces, and territories to achieve a universal access child care program in Canada;
● Create a national Children’s Commissioner, as recommended by UNICEF, to ensure children’s best interests are considered in policy development and that services across the country are better coordinated;
● Specifically ensure that Canada’s universal childcare program provides workplace childcare spaces wherever possible;
● Tax shift to make advertising directed at children ineligible for corporate tax write-offs;
● Accelerate the creation of workplace childcare spaces through a direct tax credit to
employers (or groups of employers in small businesses) of $1500 tax credit/child per year;
● Value the decisions of parents who choose to stay home with children;
● Promote and facilitate access to the Roots of Empathy Program, an effective, award-winning program developed by a non-profit educational organization, to all Canadian children at some point in their elementary school years.
● Eliminate GST on all construction costs related to childcare spaces.
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/vision_green_-_2019_update_final.pdf
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Liberal government has signed a deal with British Columbia on federal child-care funding in July this year. Once elected, we will continue to work with the British Columbia provincial government to reach an average of $10-per-day child care in regulated spaces for children under six years old before 2027. We aim to create 30,000 new spaces in B.C. in the next five years, with fees for regulated space cut in half by the end of 2022. Transparency and accountability are imperative in ensuring the plan moving forward, and the Liberals are equipped with the experiences, determination, and strategy in realizing the life-changing child care plan.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 Fully implementing $10/day child care is essential to supporting families and those most impacted in terms of work during Covid – women. An NDP government will immediately begin working with the province bring in universal $10/day child care, while ensuring there are enough spaces to meet demand. Child care workers also need to be paid a fair, living wage.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 Canada’s Conservatives will support working families with children by providing increased funding for child care. Unlike Justin Trudeau’s plan, the Conservative plan will provide direct benefits to parents so they can make the best choice for their own families. For decades, Liberal governments have been promising a government-regulated child care system, but have not delivered; the Liberals have made child care promises in eight previous elections since 1993 and they have consistently broken every one. Trudeau waited six years into his mandate to make these announcements on child care and it’s no surprise that this comes weeks before a possible election. After three decades of broken promises, Canadians have no reason to believe the Liberals now. Canadian families cannot afford another four years of inaccessible child care under a Liberal government. Canada’s Conservatives will convert the Child Care Expense deduction into a refundable tax credit covering up to 75% of the cost of child care for lower-income families. This will increase the support that lower-income families receive by thousands of dollars per year and provide more assistance to almost all families. We will enable more women to choose to participate in the workforce. Canadian families are tired of Liberal promises and inaction. Our flexible and comprehensive approach will help all families right away and offer extra support to those who need it most.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 Young families need access to quality, affordable childcare. But today, there is an affordability crisis in childcare across the country. Families are struggling to find childcare spaces – before their children are even born. Costs are unaffordable in many cities, including Richmond. Not-for-profit childcare centres across the country are closing down because of the pandemic. And parents are forced to make impossible choices between delaying their return to work or paying huge amounts for the childcare they need.

The pressure that parents feel today is the result of inaction by the Liberal and Conservative governments. For ten years, the Conservative government worked against every effort to make quality childcare more accessible to Canadian families – and in the six years since taking power, the Liberals have only offered promises that haven't made a difference for families struggling to find the care they need.

The result is a broken system with childcare costs that are among the highest in the world, and enormous worry in the lives of Canadian families. Failing to invest in childcare keeps women out of the workforce, which will be a huge barrier to economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. It doesn't have to be this way.

Our vision is to give families relief. Every parent across Canada should be able to find affordable childcare you need, when you need it, with a licensed provider making a fair wage. We'll work with other levels of government, Indigenous communities, families and childcare workers to ensure that care is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all Canadian children. And we'll introduce legislation that enshrines Canada's commitment to high-quality, public childcare in law. Public early childhood education and childcare that is affordable and available to all families is critical to our economic recovery, and gives parents real choices.

In the absence of federal leadership, provinces have stepped up to take strides towards affordable, accessible, quality childcare – Quebec continues to be a leader, and the New Democrat government in British Columbia has shown that investments in childcare make a real difference in the lives of children, women, and families.

It's urgent to both protect existing childcare spaces, and create more. We will take immediate action to save not-for-profit childcare centres at risk of closure with relief funds to re-open spaces lost during COVID-19.

From there, we'll immediately work with the provinces to build a universal, $10 a day childcare system that's there for all parents, no matter where you live. New Democrats will actually create enough spaces, so families don't spend months on waitlists, and ensure that childcare workers are paid a fair, living wage. Richmond families deserve no less.

6.     Supplementary Question: Does your party platform support only not-for-profit childcare or a combination of for-profit and not-for-profit childcare?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 As a parent, I think that our realistic focus should be on increasing high quality spaces in the short term with a focus on increasingly funding universal childcare year after year. Our goal should be no less than publicly funded high quality, universal childcare for all. The Green party platform has announced measures which would be taken to ensure a universal and affordable childcare system becomes a reality.
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The agreement with the BC provincial government will lead to the creation of 30,000 new regulated early learning and child care spaces for children under the age of 6 within five years, and 40,000 spaces within seven years. These spaces will be focused on community investments that are long-term and run by public and non-profit institutions.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 The NDP will prioritize protecting not-for-profit child care centres that are at risk of having to close due to the pandemic, including relief funds to re-open lost spaces. I would advocate for all new child care spaces/centres to be not-for-profit.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 No response
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 See response to question 5

Long Term Care

The COVID 19 pandemic uncovered a disgraceful abuse of Canadian seniors living in long-term care. 5,324 seniors died of COVID in long term care in Canada in 2020. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, LTC residents accounted for 81% of all reported COVID-19 deaths in Canada, compared with an average of 38% in other OECD countries (ranging from less than 10% in Slovenia and Hungary to 66% in Spain) https://tinyurl.com/27j4uhd4.

 

7.     Question: Would your party work with the provinces to establish and enforce national long term care standards? If so, please give examples of what those standards would look like.

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Green Party calls the LTC crisis a humanitarian crisis. We are committed to ending this crisis by increasing the number of trained staff in LTC, establishing a minimum of 4 hours spent on personal care per resident per day, paying staff adequately with paid sick leave, supporting unions to ensure worker safety and that of residents, and ensure appropriate job training. In terms of further dealing with Covid, we need to increase access to PPE to staff, family caregivers and residents, increase rapid testing, and ensure residents who test positive are separated from other residents.

https://www.greenparty.ca/en/content/end-humanitarian-crisis-long-term-care
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Liberal Party of Canada pledges $9 billion for long-term care as we aim to develop a Safe Long Term Care Act. In addition, we vow to push for a $25 minimum wage for personal support workers. The increased investment would be used to improve the quality and availability of long-term care beds. We want to double the home accessibility tax credit by adding $1500 to help seniors stay in their homes longer by making them more accessible. Ensuring that the tragedies surfaced during the pandemic in senior care never happen again is one of our top priorities.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 YES. Examples of those standards include: prescribing resident to staff ratios so that care and safety are not compromised; bringing food service in-house rather than contracting out, communication with families, and reporting of incidents.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 If elected, Kenny Chiu and the Conservatives will invite the provinces to work with the federal government to develop a set of best practices for Long-Term Care homes. Like the National Building Code, this will provide guidance for provinces without intruding on their jurisdiction. However, we will work with all those provincial governments who want to commit to this important project and encourage all provinces to incorporate the results into provincial law. As well, Canada’s Conservatives will devote $3 billion of infrastructure funding over the next three years to renovate Long-Term Care Homes in all provinces and territories across Canada to improve the care that residents receive. We will encourage partnerships with private non-profits that have historically provided a significant amount of Long-Term Care.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 Our parents and grandparents built this country. As they age, they deserve to live in comfort and safety. People with disabilities, who may have no independent living options, often live in long-term care homes or other settings with many people and caregivers. Yet because of decades of cuts, underfunding, and privatization, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of thousands of Canadians in long-term care homes – the highest proportion in the OECD5. Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to invest in the public services that Canadians need, and too many families have paid a tragic price.

Every senior and person with a disability must have access to the care they need, helping them remain in their own homes. Family caregivers deserve more support – and should never have to worry about whether their loved ones are getting good care. And every Canadian, of every age, deserves to live in dignity and be treated with respect by their government and the health care system.

While all provinces and territories fund home care services as part of publicly insured healthcare, there are inconsistent standards -- and when it comes to long-term care, understaffing at residential homes is an ongoing and critical problem across the country. Ongoing staffing shortages make for poor quality care, hamper infection control, and leave healthcare workers at risk of experiencing workplace violence. It's time to work with the provinces and territories to take a new approach to address our ageing population's complex health care needs.

It's time to take profit and greed out of the care of our most vulnerable loved ones. It's time for a government on the side of ageing Canadians, their families, and frontline health care, workers.

New Democrats believe that families need access to quality home care and long-term care no matter where they live. To that end, we will end private, for-profit long-term care and bring long-term care homes under the public umbrella, beginning with the federally-owned long-term care company Revera.

We will work collaboratively with patients, caregivers, and provincial and territorial governments to develop national care standards for home care and long-term care, regulated by the same principles as the Canada Health Act. By doing so, a New Democrat government would legally protect access to home care and long-term care services, and ensure a consistent quality of care across the country.

This process will be backed by funding tied to meeting these standards, and include determining a core basket of home care services that will be available and covered by provincial insurance plans, and setting minimum national care standards for long-term care residents. We will also work with the provinces to develop and support workforce strategies and violence prevention to recruit and protect frontline staff, and ensure a safe working environment for personal support and health care workers.

Better long-term care starts with ensuring that the workers providing this care have better wages, stable jobs and health and safety protections. Paying and protecting long term workers will be an essential part of our approach to national standards.

Elevating the quality of care provided in long-term care homes will protect residents and health care professionals, and give families and caregivers peace of mind.

8.    Supplementary Question: Is your party opposed to for-profit operators in long term care homes?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
  The Green Party is committed to making long-term care a publicly insured, core health care service that is accessible and universal.
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 We support for-profit operators but emphasize putting in more support and restraints for the care sector to improve. Instead of allocating billions in buying out the existing for-profit operators, correctly allocated taxpayers' money gives us momentum to build stronger regulations. These regulations can include: reinstating unannounced inspections of facilities; mandating salary increases; and accelerating the modernization of existing facilities.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 Absolutely. We need to take the profit out of long term care. Not only will this improve the quality of care for our elders, it will also support workers by offering a living wage and better worker protections.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 No response
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 See response to question 7

Home Support

Seniors increasingly say that they will do everything they can to avoid going into long term care. With good reason, they want to live at home. A key to ageing in place is having available and well-funded community services and home support. The average OECD country spends 35% of its long term care budget on home support, yet Canada spends only 13%. A recent report from the Parliament Budget Officer estimated that the level of funding needed to bring Canada's spending on home care in line with our peer OECD countries would be $5.2 billion each year.

9.     Question: What commitment has your party made towards such increased funding for home support?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Green Party supports a national Aging in Place approach, modeled after the province of Ontario. This approach would ensure every Canadian can live in their own home and community safely and comfortably. The GPC is also committed to increasing the Canada Health Transfer to account for the age of a province’s population, so they can afford to provide health care with a demographic that is weighted with seniors.
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/seniors_backgrounder_-_en.pdf
https://www.greenparty.ca/en/media-release/2015-09-02/green-party-announces-national-seniors-strategy
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Liberals believe that seniors' promises should be budgeted to cost about $9 billion over five years. We want to double the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, which will provide up to an additional $1,500 to help seniors stay in their homes longer by making them more accessible. Our stronger regulations will also make seniors more comfortable to stay at modernized facilities.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 The NDP is committed to increasing the amount spent on home support to levels comparable with other OECD countries. And extra $5.2 billion each year would increase the proportion of long-term care funds being spent on home support from 13% to 35%.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 More and more Canadians are looking to stay in their own home as they age or live with their kids. Canada’s Conservatives want to help people be able to make this choice. Kenny Chiu and Canada’s Conservatives will help seniors stay in their own homes by amending the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, increasing the limit from $10,000 per dwelling to $10,000 per person, allowing seniors or their caregivers, including their children, to claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit for home care instead of only allowing them to claim attendant care if they live in a group home. Moreover, a Conservative government will help the many Canadians who are taking care of their parents and help seniors avoid having to live in Long-Term Care homes by introducing the Canada Seniors Care Benefit, paying $200 per month per household to any Canadian who is living with and taking care of a parent over the age of 70.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 See response to question 7

MAiD Legislation

The recent Bill C7 amendment to Canada’s Assisted Death legislation allowing otherwise healthy individuals with Mental Health disabilities to seek MAiD with just one witness coupled with reports from those with other disabilities, of experiencing a vailed preference from heath care workers they sign a DNR or MAID request is of great concern to the disability community.

10.  Question: What specific steps would your party take to work with the disability community and relevant federal and provincial agencies to strengthen safeguards within the Bill 14 MAID legislation and ensure the disability community continues to enjoy the full extent of its charter rights including freedom from discrimination and the right to choose to live a full and participatory life?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 A recent headline read, “Man suffering from neurological disorder says MAID easier to access than supports for disabled Canadians”. This was a heartbreaking reminder of how important it is for government to provide the supports that individuals with disabilities need to live and live well. “We need to grasp the nettle of the thorny ethical problem of assisted suicide and the right to die with dignity...The solutions will not be simple because the problems are complex. Nevertheless, Canadians are demanding better answers. Greens will engage in a respectful, informed discussion, starting with a review of the various legal regimes in use around the world. We need to ensure that the discussion is grounded in bioethics and premised on an acute awareness of the slippery slope of creating the impression that some human lives are worth more than others.”
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/attachments/seniors_backgrounder_-_en.pdf
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The proposed MAID legislation recognizes the equality rights of personal autonomy and the inherent and equal value of every life. We recognize the vulnerabilities felt by many on this issue, particularly given the systemic barriers to health care that they have experienced during the pandemic. We know the significant role that social, mental health, disability, and community support services play in the full realization of disability rights, and we have reflected this correlation in the proposed safeguards in this legislation. We also recognize that we need to do more to create a truly inclusive society, which is why we committed to implementing a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. In the spirit of “nothing without us”, we will continue to partner with the disability community because we all benefit when everyone can participate equally in our society.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 The NDP is committed to reconstituting the Special Joint Committee on MAID, which includes in its review the issues identified relating to those with disabilities. This review should include consultation with all agencies involved, and the disability community.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
To protect people within the disability community, Kenny Chiu and Canada’s Conservatives will repeal the Bill C-7 provision allowing MAiD for those with mental health challenges. As well, we will require any patient receiving MAID to be informed/reminded immediately before receiving it and given the opportunity to withdraw consent.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 It's deeply disappointing that successive federal governments have failed to deal comprehensively with the complex medical, ethical, and legal issues involved with medical assistance in dying (MAID). We need to protect the vulnerable without creating unfair barriers for people seeking access to MAID.
The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying was appointed in May with a mandate to review the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to medical assistance in dying and their application. This includes reviewing the issues you have identified. Instead of calling a snap election, Justin Trudeau should have allowed Parliament to proceed with this important work.
Looking forward, New Democrats are committed to reconstituting the Special Joint Committee and resuming its mandatory review of Canada's medical assistance in dying legislation as soon as possible following the election.

National Pharmacare

About 20% of Richmond residents are living on low-incomes and tight budgets, including seniors, people with disabilities, newcomer families and underemployed individuals. When they must choose between paying the rent and purchasing food, or filling their prescriptions, medications often lose out.

11. Question: Does your party's platform include support for a national Pharmacare program, and if so, how would you fund it?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The best way to accomplish both life-saving and cost-cutting goals is through a universal Pharmacare program, a bulk drug purchasing agency, and make new drug patent protection times shorter. We can work towards better health through prevention, active living, and health promotion.
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/vision_green_-_2019_update_final.pdf
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The liberal party has been working hard on bringing national pharmacare into reality. Recently we announced a partnership with PEI, which we think is “the first agreement to accelerate national universal pharmacare.” The Liberal Platform pledged $500 million for a program covering high-cost drugs for rare diseases. With high-cost drugs being further subsidized, community members and senior citizens can have more confidence in personal savings.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 Yes, the NDP would immediately begin implementation of a national pharmacare program, with a target start date in 2022. This could easily be funded through the funds generated with the NDP’s proposed 1% wealth tax, eliminating subsidies to oil companies and the big banks, and stopping the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 No response
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 In the days before Medicare, New Democrats saw neighbours suffering because they could not afford the health care they needed. We saw people losing their homes, their farms, and their businesses to pay their medical bills. We saw illness destroying entire families.

In response to that reality, New Democrats led the fight to establish universal public health care for all Canadians. Medicare changed the lives of millions of people – and it is one of our party's proudest achievements.

But today, decades later, as we look across this country, we see the pain of inaccessible and unaffordable health care, once again. As we work together to come through the COVID-19 crisis, we see evidence of a health system pushed to the brink.

Millions of families cannot afford to take the medications they need because they have no employer-provided drug coverage. The number of uninsured people forced to skip their medications is growing as more people work on contract, are self-employed, or have jobs that just don't come with health benefits. And too many seniors are putting their health at risk because they don't have drug coverage and can't afford to pay out-of-pocket. The stress and worry that people feel isn't an accident. It's the direct result of deliberate choices that the Liberal and Conservative governments have made. They have chosen to let drug companies gouge patients. And they have chosen to leave millions of people uninsured or underinsured, paying hundreds or thousands out of pocket for the medicine they need.

Today, Canada is the only wealthy country in the world with a universal health care system that lacks universal prescription insurance coverage. We pay the third-highest prices for prescription drugs in the world, straining our health care systems across the country, and have to deal with a patchwork of programs and coverage – if we're lucky enough to have coverage at all. In the face of a global pandemic, the need for a strong, national pharmacare program has never been more vital.

New Democrats believe that we must do better. Just as our party led the fight to establish universal public health care for all Canadians, we are leading the fight to expand Medicare – to include quality prescription drug coverage for everyone, regardless of your job, where you live, your age, your health status or how much money you make. We will begin working with the provinces right away to target a 2022 start date, with an annual federal investment of $10 billion.

This will go hand in hand with developing a national strategy to cover drugs for rare diseases, so that coverage is no longer determined by where you live or what private insurance your family has, as is currently the case.

A national pharmacare program means access to necessary medicines and medical devices in the same way that we currently have access to medical and hospital care – free at the point of care, financed by a public insurance system that covers everyone. It means that you'll need your health card – not your credit card – at the pharmacy till. And it puts an end to costly co-payments, deductibles and premiums that cost families hundreds and even thousands a year.

Poverty Reduction

Canada is a prosperous country, yet in 2015 roughly 1 in 8 Canadians lived in poverty. The federal government introduced Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy - a Canada without poverty, is meant to ensure no one is left behind. https://tinyurl.com/nv3z3b4a
In Richmond, about 20% of the population is living below the poverty line and community conversations indicate the biggest issues are housing, cost of living, accessibility, food insecurity and transportation.

12.     Question: Taking one of these issues, what will your party do to ensure no one in Richmond is left behind?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Green Party of Canada champions a guaranteed livable income which offers the greatest security to the most vulnerable Canadians.
One of the issues in Richmond that I advocate strongly for is access to secure, affordable housing. As part of the Richmond Rental Housing Advocacy Group, I have spoken to city council many times about the need to increase rental housing (Non-market, Low End Market Rental, Market Rental) and increase incentives to developers to ensure that this happens. As an MP, I would continue to work on this goal by looking at government supports and funding to dramatically increase housing supply for all residents in Richmond, with a strong focus on transitional and non-market to help people rise out of inadequate housing. “The Green Party believes it is the right of every Canadian to have affordable, safe, and secure housing...Universal housing will alleviate poverty. Universal housing provides a basis for employment, schooling, community services, and contacts. The development and delivery of adequate universal housing and emergency accommodation must be a high priority.”
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/vision_green_-_2019_update_final.pdf
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Over the past few years, Liberals developed Canada's first-ever national poverty reduction strategy. We want to focus on three goals: living in dignity, providing opportunity and inclusion, and enhancing resilience and security. We target to reduce poverty by 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030 based on the official measure of poverty. As we emphasize opportunity for all, Richmond and its diverse community landscape can benefit greatly from the National Poverty Reduction Strategy.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 All of these issues are important, but housing is absolutely fundamental to wellbeing and we know that secure, affordable housing is a huge determinant in lifting people out of poverty. The NDP has a comprehensive strategy for substantially and meaningfully increasing the supply of affordable housing of various kinds – rental, non-market rental, co-op, co-housing, etc – to meet the diverse needs of Richmond residents. Re-purposing existing land, community and government partnerships, and resourcing and financial support for community groups to build non-market housing are some of the strategies envisioned. I would also push for funding to create more supportive housing.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 Canada’s Conservatives believe that job creation is the best antidote to poverty. Canada’s Conservatives are committed to partnering with Canadians to create new tools that maximize economic growth. Canada’s maternity and parental leave programs play an essential role in enhancing equality and strengthening our economy. To improve these programs, Canada’s Conservatives will allow those on maternity and parental leave to earn up to $1,000 per month to enable them to stay connected to the workforce and ease their return to work.

Canada’s Conservatives also believe that it’s time to make work pay and help those most in need. We will double the Canada Workers Benefit up to a maximum of $2,800 for individuals or $5,000 for families and pay it as a quarterly direct deposit rather than a tax refund at year-end. This will put an average of an extra thousand dollars into the pockets of the most vulnerable workers, helping three and a half million families put food on the table. We will be giving someone making $20,000 per year a $1/hour raise. We will also double the disability supplement from $713 to $1,500, which will help almost 90,000 disabled workers.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 In 1989, NDP Leader Ed Broadbent rose in the House of Commons to put forward a successful motion to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000.

More than thirty years after Canada's pledge, more than a million Canadian children live in poverty. Children are still going to school on an empty stomach – and growing up without a place to call home. That's because successive Liberal and Conservative governments have created a patchwork of underfunded supports that still leave millions of Canadians struggling on the margins. The Liberals even brought forward a poverty reduction strategy without a single dollar of new spending – telling Canadians who need help now that they have to wait.

We need the courage – and meaningful action – to build a Canada without poverty, where all Canadians can count on quality public services and community supports to help them lead dignified lives. A core component of our approach is fully implementing the right to housing, and working toward ending homelessness in Canada within a decade. In a country as wealthy as Canada, there is no excuse to leave any Canadian living in poverty or without a safe roof over their head.

Our affordable housing strategy will include measures to support Canadians at risk of becoming homeless, taking the lead from communities about local needs and adopting a "housing first" approach. To help people find an affordable home in the long term, we will support creating more social housing and other affordable options. To deliver help to the most vulnerable right away, we'll also work with the provinces and municipalities to fast-track the purchase, lease and conversion of hotels and motels for emergency housing relief until more permanent, community-based solutions are available.

Poor health and poverty are linked, and a national pharmacare program will mean that all Canadians can access the prescription medicine they need, regardless of their income or address. Better access to mental health and addictions support will also form a crucial part of our approach to tackling poverty.

Food Security

With the majority of food bank clients earning income through social assistance, it is clear to see that the current system is grossly inadequate. Moreover many food banks across the country are seeing their numbers creep up as emergency benefits wind down.

13.     Question: What effort would you make to improve the system and give people a fair chance to escape the poverty cycle?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 “The reasons for persistent poverty are complex. Better food banks cannot bridge the growing disparity between wealthy and poor Canadians. Poverty is a systemic problem that arises from low minimum wages, a precarious job market, a shortage of social housing, reductions in EI benefits, and cuts in social programs.”
“People need healthy food and the healthiest food choices are local...ensure that local food production is prioritized over imports”.
The Green Party has announced in its platform today ambitious targets for increasing local food production and other measures for sustainable food production which are more resilient to climate disasters. Also with this, the guaranteed livable income will help all Canadians be able to afford and access healthy food.
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/vision_green_-_2019_update_final.pd
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 In our communities, Liberals aim to partner with, and support community-based food security organizations to make sure all Canadians have access to healthy food. On a greater scale, we want to tackle issues such as food waste to build a circular food economy in Canada. Building a more resilient economy such as $10 a day child care can help families in poverty put food on their tables.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 In the short term, a dramatic increase to social assistance and disability rates. They are deplorably low. In the longer term, Canada needs to implement a Guaranteed Liveable Income so people who are struggling know they will be able to afford the basics – a roof over their head, food, and other living costs covered – so they can focus on next steps in building a better life.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
Canada’s Conservatives will ensure that Canadians pay lower prices for food by increasing the maximum fine for price-fixing from $24 million to $100 million and introduce criminal penalties for executives for price-fixing. This would bring in a tough code of conduct to protect suppliers and to promote grocery competition. Furthermore, we will protect our food supply by implementing a food security strategy, including redirecting some federal agricultural research funding to partnering with the private sector to develop methods to grow more crops in Canada year-round in greenhouses.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 We believe that every child in Canada should have access to nutritious food – and that no one should have to try to learn on an empty stomach. A recent UNICEF report ranked Canada 37 out of 41 countries regarding access to nutritious food for children9 -- and despite the urgency, the Liberal government has failed to improve access to healthy food for kids.

New Democrats will partner with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities to work towards a national school nutrition program that will give every child in Canada access to healthy food, and the food literacy skills to make healthy choices for life. We'll aim to create culturally appropriate food available to children in every community in Canada, so that all children can grow and learn.
We know that supporting our local food systems is essential to ensuring that Canadians have access to healthy, affordable food. We'll connect Canadians to farmers with initiatives like local food hubs, community-supported agriculture, and networks to increase the amount of food sold, processed, and consumed in local and regional markets.

New Democrats will also work together with farmers and food producers to develop a National Food Policy, making our food systems stronger all across the country – including food labelling and traceability, so Canadians can be confident in what they're purchasing to put on their family's plate. We'll also work to put in place a food waste strategy to reduce the huge amounts of food that currently go to waste in Canada.

Moreover, our government will support Indigenous food sovereignty, working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to expand access to healthy food, including traditional and country foods. Working together with northern communities, we're committed to reforming the Nutrition North program to improve food security for northern families.

Pension Protection

The number of defined benefits plans continues to decline, replaced by defined contribution and target benefit plans, which transfer risk to their retirees and place them in danger of an uncertain future.

14.     Question: What is your party’s plan for retirement income security for current and future seniors? How will you ensure that the pensions of employees and retirees are protected if their employer declares bankruptcy?

Click here to Open/Close the Responses from the Candidates
1Laura Gillanders - Green Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
  ● Review federal and provincial laws regulating the administration of pension plans, laws which now allow failure of pension trusts, and the loss of pension benefits which workers have earned, with the view to enacting legislation to protect the pension benefits and recommend that the provincial governments prohibit any business from taking possession of a pension trust fund which it administers, or the earnings thereof;
● Ensure corporate pension plans protect employee benefits as secured creditors in any bankruptcy proceedings;
● Explore risk-sharing for pension plans, including the CPP, to ensure sustainability;

https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/vision_green_-_2019_update_final.pdf
2James Hinton - People's Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 
3Wilson Miao - Liberal Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 The Liberals have always had seniors’ backs:
- We increased the Old Age Security pension by 10% for all seniors aged 75+, providing $766 over the first year to pensioners receiving the full benefit.
- We also increased the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) by 10% for individual seniors, improving the financial security of about 900,000 vulnerable seniors. Aiming for stronger protection for our seniors we created the Age Well at Home Initiative that will help low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors live in their homes for as long as possible.
- Created opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported, and active members of their communities by investing an additional $20 million a year in the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
- Worked together with provinces and territories to increase the Canada and Quebec Pension Plan’s maximum yearly benefit for future retirees by about 50%, meaningfully reducing the risk of not saving
To protect seniors in poverty, we will move forward with our plan to boost the OAS by 10% next year for seniors 75 and over. We will also increase the GIS by $500 for single seniors and $750 for couples, starting at age 65.
4Sandra Nixon - New Democratic Party ( Richmond Centre )
 This is a pressing issue. The NDP will ensure that in the event of bankruptcy, a company must ensure that unfunded pension liabilities are top priority for repayment. We will also stop companies from paying out bonuses and dividends when pensions are underfunded. The creation of a Pension Advisory Commission will also be tasked with developing a long-term plan to enhance Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
5Alice Wong - Conservative Party of Canada ( Richmond Centre )
 Thank you for your 14 questions. They are addressed in the Conservative Party's platform, which can be viewed at http://plan.alicewong.ca.
6Parm Bains - Liberal Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
7Kenny Chiu - Conservative Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
Workers should be able to rely on their pensions. Unfortunately, all too often, we have seen workers forced to take big cuts to their pensions when, due to bad management or changes in the economy, the company they work for goes bankrupt. It’s time for the government to better protect pensions. Kenny Chiu and Canada’s Conservatives will change legislation to ensure that pensioners have priority over corporate elites in bankruptcy or restructuring. We will also better protect pensions by preventing executives from paying themselves bonuses while managing a company going through restructuring if the pension plan is not fully funded, no longer force underfunded pension plans from being converted to annuities, and requiring companies to report the funding status of their pension plans more clearly.
8Françoise Raunet - Green Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
9Jennifer Singh - People's Party of Canada ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 
10Jack Trovato - New Democratic Party ( Steveston - Richmond East )
 Retirement should be a time of new opportunities and new experiences, not worry and stress. We all want to retire with security and maintain our standard of living. And we want to live our retired years with dignity and comfort.

But for more and more Canadians, the prospect of retirement is a cause for anxiety. As costs keep rising and wages don't keep up, people struggle to save for retirement during their working years. And many retirees, who paid to have a secure pension, have been let down by governments that protected investors, not pensioners, when big companies went bankrupt. Instead of strengthening support for Canadian workers and retirees, the Liberals have sided with wealthy corporations to undermine retirement benefits.

New Democrats believe that every Canadian should be able to count on a dignified, secure retirement – and we'll fight hard to protect pensions that workers have earned. To that end, we will ensure that pensioners are at the front of the line when a company goes bankrupt – making certain unfunded pension liabilities owed to workers, and employees' severance pay, are the top priority for repayment.

We'll stop companies from paying out dividends and bonuses when pensions are under-funded, and we'll create a mandatory, industry-financed pension insurance program to make sure that no worker is deprived of the retirement benefits they've earned through no fault of their own.

The federal government has a critical role to play in protecting defined benefit pensions across the country. The Liberal and Conservatives' openness to target benefit plans in the public sector, which don't guarantee stable benefits for retirees, puts defined benefits at risk for all Canadians – and we will immediately put a stop to this chipping away of retirement security.

We are committed to strengthening public pensions and improving retirement security for all Canadians, and providing a basic guaranteed livable income for seniors. A New Democrat government will create a Pension Advisory Commission to develop a long-term plan to enhance Old Age Security, boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement to lift all seniors out of poverty, and strengthen the Canada Pension Plan. We'll also make automatic enrollment in OAS and GIS retroactive, so no retiree misses out on benefits they should be receiving, and support efforts to ensure Canadians have good retirement financial literacy.

 

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