OTTAWA—As parliament resumes this week and sparks pre-election positioning for Canada’s political parties, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has released its annual Alternative Federal Budget that could inform party platforms.
These include solutions for housing affordability, health care, and climate change—key concerns for most Canadians, according to Abacus Data polls.
In A platform for the future, from the ground up, the Alternative Federal Budget covers 26 issue areas—from food and income security to seniors’ care. As always, all proposals are fully costed and an extensive revenue chapter shows how programs could be paid for.
The Alternative Federal Budget recommends that parliament:
- Build one million new non-market and co-op housing units over the next decade by providing low-interest, long-term loans to non-market providers and taking an ownership stake in new buildings.
- Provide expedited employment insurance benefits for those affected by climate emergencies, like wildfire evacuations.
- End the health care human resources crisis by providing $3.2 billion over five years to the provinces and territories to hire 7,500 new family doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners.
- Fund a federal green infrastructure plan, including a $32 billion fund for improvements to the electricity grid and a $40 billion fund to implement climate change adaptation plans.
- Ensure there are sufficient affordable child care spaces by improving workers’ wages and rapidly building more centres.
- Implement a wealth tax on those with a net worth of over $10 million.
“Canadians continue to struggle with an affordability crisis, yet Canada is a wealthy country. The federal government can, and should, invest more of that wealth in greater public services, including affordable housing and universal dental care. With a federal election on the horizon, this Alternative Federal Budget is a roadmap that can shape the political discussion in the year to come,” says CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald.
A platform for the future, from the ground up is available here.
For more information and interviews please contact Amanda Klang, CCPA Senior Communications Specialist (Media & PR) at [email protected]
