Anita Vandenbeld

Defend supply management

The other end of this axis: Liberalize supply management

Introduced bill to support dairy farmers.

Finally, on May 15, we introduced Bill C-16 to support our dairy farmers. Our government introduced four bills in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency in Canada.

Faster fossil phase-down

The other end of this axis: Slower phase-down, production first

Supports pricing pollution and cap and trade to reduce carbon.

By stepping back from climate action, Doug Ford’s lack of leadership would add 30 million more tonnes of carbon pollution, risking a dirty future for our children and grandchildren. We can’t let Conservative politicians try to take us back in time, and take money out of the pockets of Ontarians.

Higher taxes and public spending

The other end of this axis: Lower taxes and tighter spending

Budget focuses on investments rather than cuts or austerity.

By focusing our budget on growing the economy rather than on cuts or austerity, we would ensure that they all have their chance to build their dreams. Every dollar we invest in Canadians would come back to us over and over again in the future.

Expand public coverage

The other end of this axis: More private delivery

Supports increases to Canada health transfer, home care and mental health.

We have invested $5 billion in mental health and $6 billion in home care, on top of a $1.4-billion increase in the Canada health transfer, and this budget adds $20 million for autism. We are supporting seniors with the increase to the GIS of $967 a year for the poorest seniors and a new $20-million fund for dementia caregivers, and we are enhancing the Canada pension plan so that in the future the maximum benefit is going to increase from $13,600 a year to $21,000 a year.

Public supply and demand controls

The other end of this axis: Market supply and deregulation

Excerpts back affordable units and federal housing affordability measures.

We are also helping to make life cost less through our ambitious housing plan. We have committed to building more homes faster, increasing housing affordability, growing the community housing sector and making it easier to rent or buy a home.

Higher permanent intake

The other end of this axis: Lower intake

Supports speeding up spousal applications and reducing backlogs for family class.

This is why our government has committed to restoring the funding to ensure we deal with those backlogs and decrease the processing times, particularly for family class immigrants. Keeping families apart, especially mothers and fathers with children, is even more difficult if they have been apart for a number of years.

Stronger unions and standards

The other end of this axis: More flexibility for employers

Supports pay equity through unions and mechanisms for non-unionized workers.

It is also very important to recognize that this needs to apply to non-unionized workplaces as well. Pay equity needs to be across the board.

Prevention and restraint

The other end of this axis: Enforcement and sentencing

Mentions national crime prevention strategy.

In terms of the national crime prevention strategy, you said it's not uniquely gender focused. If I look at the national youth strategy, a lot of this is about preventing youth from becoming perpetrators of violence, but not specifically about youth victims of violence.