With less than a week before election day, which is held on September 20, federal political party leaders are in a final sprint to convince voters to trust them.
TVA Nouvelles spoke with New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh on Wednesday.
Long-term care: no interference
The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, denounced the interference of the NDP in provincial jurisdictions with his plan for long-term care.
But for Jagmeet Singh, it is more a question of aid than of interference.
“For us, it’s not a question of interfering, it’s a question of working together,” he says.
“When we have seen negative impacts, when we have seen problems, when we see people suffering, my values say that I must help, I cannot keep my arms folded,” he adds.
For the leader of the NDP, even though health is a provincial jurisdiction, the federal level can help the provinces.
It’s not a question of expertise, it’s a question of solving a problem, ”he says.
The NDP wants to eliminate for-profit long-term care facilities in order to create centers that are non-profit and avoid future problems like the ones the country experienced in these facilities at the start of the pandemic.
Triggering of elections
Jagmeet Singh reiterates that the timing was wrong for Justin Trudeau to call an election.
“People are still frustrated with the fourth wave of COVID-19, with the climate crises, the forest fires with all the problems with the crisis in Afghanistan, it was clearly not the right time to have an election”, he believes.
For the leader of the NDP, “we cannot afford another four years of Mr. Trudeau when he gives big promises, nice words, but his boots do not follow his lips and it is not enough for people. “.
No discrimination against Quebec
Asked about his position on whether the consortium that organized the leaders’ debate in English should apologize for the controversial question put to Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh replied that systemic racism exists across the country.
“I think the idea that there is only one province where there is systemic racism is not true because it exists across the country,” he argues.
Mr. Singh also assures that the Twitter publication of his candidate Matthew Green, in which he supported the words of Professor Amir Attaran accusing Quebecers of being racist, “was a mistake”.
“It was a mistake. For me, it’s important that we correct mistakes and move forward. All of our NDP members believe deeply that we must face systemic discrimination, ”said the leader of the NDP.
He also adds that he is “against Quebec bashing” because he “is against all forms of discrimination”.
Environment
Jagmeet Singh notes that the environment is a key issue for Quebecers.
“Our party defends the interests of workers and wants to face the climate crisis,” he promises before adding that the Liberals’ environmental record is a failure.
If he is elected Prime Minister, the leader of the NDP intends to “analyze” the Transmountain file and “make a decision for the people” since he is against this project.
What future for young people?
For young people who might be worried about their financial future, especially because of the country’s debt, Jagmeet Singh touts his plan to increase income.
“We are the only party that has a plan to increase revenues. The other parties have promised a lot, but they will either cut aid to people or put pressure on the shoulders of people who have sacrificed a lot, ”he said.
He intends to achieve this by further taxing the ultra rich.
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