Issues

The people who have been running Canada promised to put jobs first. They didn't. While they stand by, good jobs are disappearing, and many of our jobs are being shipped overseas.

Thousands of hard-working Canadians are struggling to pay the bills and support their families because they are forced to rely on a succession of insecure, low-wage jobs.

We can do better. Every worker deserves a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, respect in the workplace, and a secure pension. [more]

The people who have been running Ottawa have long promised to reduce the waiting times for health care. They didn't. And today, five million Canadians do not have a family doctor. One million patients are on waiting lists for care.

In some parts of Canada, private for-profit corporations are allowed to undermine our public health care system. It's time for a change on health care. We must improve health care so no-one is left behind. We must be innovative. And you and your family must not be forced to wait because someone with more money is jumping the queue.

Jack Layton and the New Democrats will improve health care to give you timely access to primary care health professionals. We will reduce wait times by training and hiring more nurses and doctors. We will invest in innovation, and share best practices. We will make prescription drugs more affordable for you and your family.

We will expand home care so seniors and people with disabilities can live in dignity in their own homes. We will ensure that you and your family can get the care you need. [more]

The people who have been running Ottawa promised to tackle climate change and protect our environment. They didn't. For our children and grandchildren, we must change the way things are done in Ottawa. We must act now so we don't leave them a vastly degraded Canada, and a very inhospitable world.

Jack Layton and the New Democrats will tackle the challenge of climate change – not with Mr. Harper's idle words or by taxing you and your family – but with tough laws that force polluters to clean up the mess they've made.

We will stop the tax giveaways that reward corporate polluters. We will seize the opportunity to build a new energy economy – new industries, new jobs for Canadians, new environmental solutions.

We will protect our air, water, land, fish and wildlife. [more]

Immigration

We opposed the arbitrary, secretive and restrictive measures of the legislation and continue to do so. This legislation means increased exploitation of ‘guest workers’, more delays and restrictions for family reunification, less effective strategic planning for labour market needs, and more secretive and arbitrary decisions by cabinet ministers. [more]

Jack Layton and the New Democrats – with a caucus team that is 40 percent female, the highest of any party in Parliament -are helping to lead the struggle for equality for women at home, at work and in society.

The NDP will work to empower Status of Women Canada and other appropriate federal agencies to work to implement the recommendations of the report on Canada by the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. [more]