Solidarity
The Bloc has released no official statements concerning its policies on:
– mental health care
– addictions

Indigenous Peoples
The Bloc states that:
– it has always sought to maintain nation-to-nation relations with aboriginal communities; for decades making it clear that it is an ally of aboriginal peoples
– it will work in concert with indigenous nations on the federal scene to strengthen and guarantee their inherent rights
– together with indigenous nations, it will ensure that the federal government fully implements the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples
– it will work toward abolition of the Indian Act
– the right to internal self-determination, as well as the inherent right of Indigenous Nations to self-government, are the keys that will allow them full development

The Bloc advocates:
– accelerated implementation of the United Nations Declaration.  It proposes to renovate indigenous policy from top to bottom, both to take into account the Declaration, but also in the aim of creating an independent entity which would deal with indigenous needs and demands.
– co-management of resources with indigenous peoples
– to avoid instances of moneys allocated for indigenous peoples not being delivered directly to them, ensuring that the indigenous nations receive their due
– pressuring the federal government to ensure that communities have all the necessary resources to raise the veil on the historical reality of residential schools and to force churches to open their archives
– ensuring the availability, predictability and sustainability of funding for programs allowing the healing of victims residential schools such as the Support Program specially designed for this purpose

Immigrants & Newcomers
The Bloc states that it wants to make every new arrival in Quebec a success story.  To that end, it will:
– propose a package of measures to reduce unacceptable federal delays in processing permanent residency and immigration applications, in particular to speed up the processing of permanent residency applications from Quebec, which take four to five times longer to be processed by the federal government than in the rest of Canada
– demand that the temporary foreign worker program be transferred to Quebec, since Ottawa refuses to manage it properly, and to facilitate the hiring of these workers

– in order to promote harmonious integration of new arrivals and fight against racism, propose that the federal government set an example by using anonymous resumes within its public service in order to combat discrimination in hiring
– demand the repeal of the Safe Third Country Agreement to put an end once and for all to irregular crossings at the Canada-U.S. border, thus allowing a more orderly reception of migrants. Ending the Agreement will also put an end to the imbalance affecting Quebec and its borders, through which the overwhelming majority of asylum seekers enter Canada
– propose that Quebec be identified as a privileged host country for French-speaking refugees
– because the Canadian model of multiculturalism hinders the integration of newcomers into Quebec society, it will table a bill to exclude Quebec from the Multiculturalism Act and thereby enable Quebec to choose its own model

Solidarity
The party has released no official statement concerning its policies on:
– care for the disabled
– mental health care

Addictions
The party states that:
– marijuana is a gateway drug, impairs judgment and contributes to traffic fatalities
– pregnant mothers who use marijuana pass THC to their pre-born children

The party advocates:
– eliminating publicly-funded safe drug injection sites
– re-criminalizing the possession and sale of recreational marijuana

Indigenous Peoples
The party states that The Indian Act is outdated and must be replaced with legislation based on:
– recognition of prior occupancy by first peoples
– restitution, where and as appropriate
– reconciliation leading to full participation in Canadian society for all Canadians.

Rural & Agricultural Communities
The party states that a nation that cannot feed itself cannot survive.

The party advocates:
– development of a national food strategy
– making food production a high national priority
– support and encouragement for the institution of the Family Farm.

Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states that:
– the Canadian government MUST protect Canadian citizens.  Canada’s first responsibility is to citizen safety
– Canada’s border MUST be respected and entry must be restricted to those coming in legally through official ports of entry
– immigration is a privilege, not a right
– all immigrants must be thoroughly vetted and must declare and demonstrate their loyalty to Canada and to Canadian values
– ONLY Canadian citizens should be allowed to vote or hold office

Support for the Disabled
The party states that one in five Canadians lives with a disability and needs Canada’s support to live full lives and participate fully in society, including in the workforce

To break down the barriers faced by Canadians living with disabilities the party advocates:
– doubling the Disability Supplement in the Canada Workers Benefit from $713 to $1,500, on top of its proposed increase in the Canada Workers Benefit
– to ensure that going to work never costs a disabled person money, overhauling the complex array of disability supports and benefits to ensure that working always leaves someone further ahead, and working with the provinces to ensure that federal programs are designed to work with provincial programs to achieve this result
– providing an additional $80 million per year through the Enabling Accessibility Fund to provide additional incentives for small business and community projects to improve accessibility, grants and support for all types of accessibility equipment that disabled Canadians need to work, and enhancements to existing programs that will get more disabled Canadians into the workforce
– reducing the number of hours required to qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan from 14 to 10 hours per week, thereby saving a disabled person made eligible for the tax credit or their family an average of $2,100 per year and making it easier to qualify for the RDSP, which provides up to $3,500 per year in matching grants for Canadians with disabilities

Mental Health & Addictions
The party acknowledges that mental health and addiction were serious problems before COVID.  Pandemic lockdowns made them worse.  They are crises that government needs to address.

To address the mental health crisis, the party advocates introduction of a Canada Mental Health Action Plan comprising:
– proposing to the provinces that they partner with us by dedicating a significant portion of the stable, predictable health funding to mental health to ensure that an additional million Canadians can receive mental health treatment every year
– encouraging employers to add mental health coverage to their employee benefit plans, by offering a tax credit for 25% of the cost of additional mental health coverage for the first three year
– a pilot program to provide $150 million over three years in grants to non-profits and charities delivering mental health and wellness programming
– creating a nation-wide, three-digit suicide prevention hotline.

Addictions
The party states that the opioid epidemic should be addressed as the health issue that it is, and that law enforcement should focus on dealers and traffickers. The last thing that those suffering from addiction should have to worry about is being arrested. Any interaction the government has with them should focus on keeping them safe and helping them recover.

To promote recovery from addiction, the party advocates revising the federal government’s substance abuse policy framework to make recovery its overarching goal, including reorienting the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy towards ensuring that everyone suffering from addiction has the opportunity to recover and to lead a drug-free life, and that all policies that fall under the Strategy have the reduction of harm and promotion of recovery as their objectives.  To that end, it advocates:
– investing $325 million over the next three years to create 1,000 residential drug treatment beds and build 50 recovery community centres across the country, to provide spaces to those who suffering addiction, their families, and those who have recovered where they can get the help they need and support each other
– supporting innovative approaches to address mental health challenges and addiction, such as land-based treatment programs developed and managed by Indigenous communities as part of a plan to enhance the delivery of culturally appropriate addictions treatment and prevention services
– partnering with provinces to ensure that Naloxone kits are available for free across Canada

Indigenous Peoples
The party states that:
– Indigenous peoples and all Canadians should expect their government to recognize Indigenous and treaty rights and to work with Indigenous peoples as nation-to-nation partners to resolve long-standing challenges
– it is crucial that our efforts are focused on durable solutions that make a real and meaningful impact on the quality of life of Indigenous peoples
– recent reports have identified significant gaps in opportunity and outcome between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. All levels of government need to engage with Indigenous peoples to make meaningful progress in closing these gaps.
– it believes that building a true partnership to ensure a just and secure place for thriving, self-determining Indigenous nations starts with making the recognition of Indigenous rights a top priority

Regarding past injustices, the party states that Canadians were shocked at the revelation of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools; that we must act now to make amends for past injustices perpetrated by and on behalf of the Government of Canada.  To that end, it advocates:
– developing a comprehensive plan to implement TRC Calls to Action 71 through 76
– funding an investigation at all former residential schools in Canada where unmarked graves may exist, including the sites where children have already been discovered
– ensuring 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
– developing a detailed and thorough set of resources to educate Canadians of all ages on the tragic history of residential schools in Canada
– building a national monument in Ottawa that honours residential school survivors and all the children who were lost

Indigenous Prosperity
The party states that:
– recognition of Indigenous rights has been sought for decades, both in the courts and through treaty negotiations
– the journey is far from over; Indigenous people want a say in what happens on their traditional territories, and want to be true partners in the responsible development of those lands, including through equity opportunities and timely access to capital to support their involvement
– Canada’s natural resource industries have led the way in developing new ways to partner with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples, and are significant employers of Indigenous peoples.  In many regions, these industries provide the best chance for lifting rural, remote, and isolated communities out of poverty
– many First Nations and other Indigenous rights holders have pioneered world-leading benefit agreements and equity partnerships with private companies that have led to better projects and increased opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike
– the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has affirmed the right of Indigenous communities to pursue economic opportunities and benefit from the development of resources on their traditional territories

To respect and uphold the right of Indigenous communities to pursue such opportunities through resource development, the party advocates:
– working with Indigenous-led organizations, such as the First Nations Major Project Coalition, the Indigenous Resource Network, the Indian Resource Council, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers, the National Coalition of Chiefs, and First Nations LNG Alliance, to support communities that wish to become partners in good projects that meet high environmental standards
– creating a Canadian Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to support First Nations and Inuit organizations seeking to purchase an equity stake in major projects, based on rigorous market analysis to guarantee loans to Indigenous groups; and providing an initial $5 billion of capital for investment in projects across the country
– requiring future governments to consult with Indigenous Communities before cancelling approved projects when they have signed or are negotiating benefit agreements or partnerships
– implementing Article 18 of UNDRIP by working with First Nations to develop a transparent process that communities can use to identify who represents them in consultations if it is to be someone other than elected Chiefs
– creating a streamlined environmental review process for major projects that partner with First Nations during the environmental assessment phase
– supporting Indigenous Protected Areas that safeguard culturally significant areas without alienating future benefits that may accrue to the impacted Indigenous community if used in a way that maintains those safeguards

To help Indigenous businesses overcome barriers such as paternalistic legislation, geographic isolation and lack of infrastructure, and networking and capacity challenges, the party advocates:
– providing $4 million over three years in targeted funding for the hiring and training of local and regional economic development officers
– in collaboration with municipal and First Nations organizations, promoting mechanisms that foster relationships between municipalities and neighbouring First Nations
– utilizing the existing infrastructure of Indigenous national organizations (NACCA & CCAB), providing capacity building and business education to enhance and promote Indigenous business success and success storie
– developing an Indigenous Business Mentorship Program
– modernizing the First Nations Land Management Act to bring it more in line with the Framework Agreement
– committing $25 million to a national police support and community training program to reduce the incarceration rates of Canada’s Indigenous communities
– working with Indigenous community groups, establishing a national working group in the Canadian public service to encourage applications from Canada’s Indigenous communities
– improving opportunities for Indigenous businesses to receive government contracts by: setting active targets and accountability mechanisms for departmental procurement officers; ensuring procurement rules don’t unnecessarily exclude legitimate Indigenous businesses; and working with ISED to investigate new or enhanced s measures to increase Indigenous business involvement in the defence and security industries

The party advocates
– increasing Indigenous governance capacity by training young Indigenous leaders including through the Institute of Corporate Directors
– empowering the First Nations Finance Authority to monetize government funding, leveraging the market to supercharge First Nations infrastructure
– remaining open to exploration of innovative new models to fund and deliver social services and critical infrastructure
– developing, in collaboration with Indigenous groups, a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women and girls
– consulting with First Nations on overhauling current funding models, with the goal of making it easier for First Nations to escape Third-Party Management, reducing red tape, and providing a clearer path with better incentives for moving towards block funding

Drinking Water
The party states that the fact that many Indigenous communities still lack safe drinking water is a national shame.  To resolve the issue, the party advocates recognizing safe drinking water as a fundamental human right and ending long-term drinking water advisories, targeting high-risk water systems and working with Indigenous communities to find new approaches, such as regional or coalition-based governance

Mental Health
The party states that:
– Indigenous people die by suicide at much higher rates than non-Indigenous people, and that driven by a combination of intergenerational trauma, poverty and many other factors, this ongoing crisis in mental health was heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic
– addressing poverty and infrastructure gaps will help improve risk factors for mental health in the medium to long term, but help is needed now

To address these issues, the party advocates:
– providing $1 billion over five years to boost funding for Indigenous mental health and drug treatment programs
– supporting innovative approaches to address the crises of mental health and addiction, such as land-based treatment programs and programs delivered in Indigenous languages
– supporting the development of mental health and drug treatment programs by Indigenous people to develop capacity at the community level and allow for the delivery of culturally appropriate programs delivered in the appropriate Indigenous language
– introducing stability to urban indigenous assistance Canada’s Conservatives by negotiating longer-term funding contracts with urban indigenous organizations to provide stability and better planning opportunities

Employment & Skilled Trades
To overcome barriers that have caused underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in skilled trades, the party advocates:
– working with Indigenous groups, provinces, territories, and trade organizations to identify opportunities to increase access for Indigenous workers and youth to apprenticeship programs
– investment in jobs training programs designed in partnership with the private sector, Indigenous organizations, and provincial/territorial governments to maximize opportunities for employment

Broadband in Rural Indigenous Communities
To address a significant connectivity gap faced by Indigenous peoples, even compared to other Canadians living in rural and remote areas, the party advocates:
– supporting access to existing broadband programs, including streamlining application processes for Indigenous communities and provide more support and develop more flexible funding arrangements, along with technical support during the application process

Northern, Rural & Agricultural Communities
To empower and support northern Canadians, the party advocates:
– allowing the territories to set their borrowing limits instead of Ottawa arbitrarily setting limits
– ensuring that decisions about development in the north are made by northerners, not by Ottawa, including allowing northerners to decide on the level of development and the opportunities they want, such as responsibly unlocking Canadian oil and natural gas for export to European and Indo-Pacific markets
– giving each of the territories their fair share of federal training funds and reviving mine training in Nunavut, to increase employment of Inuit in mining
– working with the territories, local Indigenous communities, and Parks Canada to find opportunities to build the eco-tourism economy at our Northern parks
– working with governments and communities in Nunatsiavut, Nunavut, Nunavik, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to develop community-based marine fisheries, which will help create employment and fight local and regional food insecurity
– doubling the residency deduction, which has not increased since 2016, to recognize the rising cost of living in the north, including boosting the basic amount in the intermediate zone to match the northern zone, and add the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, new parts of northern Saskatchewan, and new parts of north-western B.C. to this zone
– implementing a Northern Housing Strategy, including stable and predictable funding, and working with Indigenous groups including the Inuit, and with resource companies investing in the north to ensure that housing gets built
– improving Nutrition North so that it achieves the goal of ensuring that northerners have access to affordable healthy food
– ensuring that the territories receive their fair share of infrastructure funding by reserving a funding envelope for them that accounts for the high construction cost in the north
– moving ahead with the Grays Bay Port and Road Project, connecting Nunavut and NWT, via a 230 km all-weather trunk road connecting a Port at Grays Bay to an existing ice road from Yellowknife via the Northwest Territories diamond mines; and the only deep-water port on the Northwest Passage to (seasonally) connect to the national highway system
– moving ahead with the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Line, an Inuit-led project that will deliver renewable energy and broadband service to underserved remote communities while enabling the region’s mining sector to flourish
– completing the Tuktoyaktuk road and port and pursuing an Arctic Gateway policy across the Canadian North
– a large-scale project to provide clean power to the Yukon, developed in partnership with the Government of the Yukon

Rural Areas
The party advocates action to create jobs across rural Canada, including:
– building digital infrastructure to connect all of Canada to High-Speed Internet by 2025, and speeding up the spectrum auction process to get more spectrum into use and apply use it or lose it provisions to ensure that spectrum (particularly in rural areas) is actually developed, with the auction revenues dedicated to the digital infrastructure plan, with a requirement that Huawei equipment not be used, to protect national security
– appointing a Minister of Rural Affairs to Cabinet
– setting aside a portion of federal infrastructure funds for projects in rural areas
– ensuring that the national tourism strategy supports rural tourism and encourages Canadians and visitors from around the world to explore remote parts of the country, including the hidden gems that are off the beaten path
– significantly reducing the amount of money the government spends on advertising with big foreign tech companies like Twitter and instead directing federal ad dollars to Canadian media, including regional media that keep rural communities connected
– to reduce rural crime, adding a sentencing consideration for courts based on evidence that an offence was “directed at a property or person that was vulnerable because of their remoteness from emergency services.”

Small Craft Harbours
The party states that:
-coastal communities rely on the Small Craft Harbours Program to maintain more than 10,000 commercial wharves in Canada, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
– it advocates provision of sustainable funding for small craft harbours by doubling annual funding.

Rural Crime
To address crime in rural areas, the party advocates:
– working with provinces to combat the increasing problem of rural crime and ensure that families living in small towns and rural areas feel safe in their homes and on their farms
– addition of a sentencing consideration for courts based on evidence that an offence was “directed at a property or person that was vulnerable because of their remoteness from emergency services”

Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states:
– that Canada remains a beacon of the best humanity has to offer, providing safety and opportunity to all, a country determined to measure success not on a person’s faith or family name but on the merit of their abilities, the promise they possess, and on their determination to succeed
– historically, it contributed to the end of racial discrimination in Canadian immigration, to the streamlining processes for refugees and persecuted minorities, and worked to ensure that those who arrive in Canada have the greatest chance to succeed

To address immigration backlogs, the party advocates:
– creating an efficiency mechanism, where those waiting for their application to be reviewed can pay a fee for expedited processing, including using all revenues from this expedited processing fee will be directed towards hiring additional people to streamline processing wait lines even more, so that even those unable to afford the expedited processing fee will benefit
-working to identify underutilized resources and ensure that our processing capacity is used to its full potential
– simplifying and streamlining application processes

Visitor Visas
In order to address the essential interconnectedness of a well-ordered asylum system focused on the most vulnerable, an effective immigration enforcement system, and the ability of Canadians to invite friends and family to visit for important occasions, the party advocates:
– increasing the capacity of the Immigration and Refugee Board to hear asylum claims without delay
– strengthening integrity and enforcement overall
– exploring mechanisms to pursue a more generous and fairer visa system for visitors by including more enforceable commitments to abide by the terms of their visitor visa

Immigration
To modernize and enhance the fairness of immigration processing, the party advocates:
– the technological infrastructure of immigration online and recording all interactions between immigration officers and applicants to help ensure oversight, fairness, and accountability
– introducing technology to speed application vetting by immigration officers
– increased cultural awareness training and using remote meeting technology to match applicants with immigration officers who best understand the cultural context of the applicant
– letting applicants correct simple and honest mistakes in an application within a set amount of time, rather than rejecting the application completely and requiring the application to re-submit
– developing new timely and appropriate credential recognition strategies, including credential pre-qualification to allow people in other countries to acquire Canadian-standard proficiency through accredited institutions overseas or distance learning with Canadian institutions
– to improve fairness in the process for reuniting families, scrapping the current lottery system and replacing it with a system combining a first-come, first served principle with weighting to prioritize applicants on criteria such as providing child care or family support, and language proficiency
– significant expansion of the super visa program, including allowing family members of Canadians to come and live in Canada for up to five years without permanent status, renewing their stay for additional time, where appropriate, provided that they purchase health insurance, and allowing those coming to Canada on a super visa to purchase health insurance from the government of their province or territory on a cost-recovery basis where the provincial or territorial government wishes to offer this option
– supporting programs to enable international students and temporary foreign workers, for example, to stay beyond their work or study term, including creating pathways to permanence for those already living and working in Canada, so long as they are prepared to work hard, contribute to the growth and productivity of Canada, and strengthen our democracy
– continuing to support settlement services for newcomers, especially for the most vulnerable

To support employers seeking to fill vital skill gaps and assist the public through the provision of essential public services, the party advocates:
– prioritizing and streamlining immigration that directly secures the health of Canadians as we work to strengthen our health system, including new measures to attract healthcare workers, especially in priority areas and regions
– reworking the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to better align it with domestic needs and to protect workers – both those already living in Canada and those wishing to come here to work
– reducing duplication and easing the application process through creation of a trusted employer system so that companies do not have to constantly re-apply to the program
– ensuring that those who enter Canada as low-skilled workers, as justified by concrete labour market data, are treated fairly, including by allowing employers to sponsor applications for permanent residency
– continuing to monitor the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to ensure that it achieves its intended results and is resistant to abuse
– recognizing that provincial and territorial governments have a better sense of their region’s needs, working with them to expand their influence over economic immigration to their region

Refugees
The party states that overwhelming evidence now proves that privately-sponsored refugees are more likely to succeed than publicly-sponsored ones, even after they have been in Canada for a long time. Government data proves that even a decade after privately sponsored refugees arrive, they earn more and depend less on the government than those who come through government sponsorship

The party advocates replacing public, government-assisted refugee places with more private and joint sponsorship places, so that all refugees arriving in Canada do so under private or joint sponsorship programs, with exceptions in cases of emergency or specific programs (such as the human rights defenders program discussed below)
– this would ensure that every refugee family arriving in Canada will do so with a group of dedicated and motivated Canadians, ready to make them feel welcome, while also ensuring that private sponsors will not always have to bear the full costs of sponsorship, allowing them to help more refugees
– in determining financial allocations for joint sponsorships, prioritizing the following categories: (i) support delivered to the most vulnerable; (ii) support delivered through sponsorship agreement holders with a demonstrable track record of successfully integrating refugees; (iii) support delivered through a new, specialized, “human rights defender” stream, welcoming human rights advocates such as notable Hong Kong protestors who are particularly vulnerable in their home country as a result of their willingness to stand up for the rights of others
– making the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Project a permanent government program, working with LGBTQ+ organizations in Canada to encourage and facilitate greater participation by these organizations in refugee sponsorship, and leading a global network of free countries to assist the world’s persecuted sexual minorities
– to assist internally displaced people, and those extremely vulnerable to ongoing persecution but who have not crossed a national border or fall outside the UNHCR definition, allowing private sponsorship of the most vulnerable victims of persecution directly from their country of origin and working with Canadian communities to create a specific program to allow direct private sponsorship of persecuted religious and sexual minorities

Border Control
To restore the integrity of our immigration system, the party advocates ending illegal border crossings and unofficial points of entry like Roxham Road, including:
– closing a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement that allows people can to make an asylum claim if they are coming from the US if they are not crossing at a legal port of entry
– working with the US to set up joint border patrols at and near high traffic points on the land border, modeled on the successful Canada-US “Shiprider” border patrols on the Great Lakes
– forward deployment of Immigration and Refugee Board judges to common arrival points to expedite asylum hearings in straightforward cases

Solidarity
The party states that:
– in the past, Canada was considered a place of diversity and inclusivity. Now is the time to decide whether Canada will in fact live up to the promise of a just society in the years to come
– it is the responsibility of political leadership to build cohesion within our society through seeking common ground, celebrating diverse identities, and discouraging polarisation.

Inclusion
The party advocates:
– establishing a high-level Office of Environmental Justice at Environment and Climate Change Canada
– supporting swift passage of the proposed National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Bill C-230)
– creating an independent, scientific, non-partisan, diverse Climate Council to advise the government, including creation of an independent, non-partisan council, composed of First Nations, Inuit and Métis representation, climate scientists and researchers, youth and representatives from communities that are the most affected by the climate emergency, to advise the government on the development and implementation of its climate change policies through a lens of environmental justice and eradicating environmental racism
– providing universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, ramping up programs to help all people in Canada benefit from nearby nature, especially racialized communities and others facing systemic barriers
– expanding funding for federal programs as well for partnerships with municipalities and local organizations to leverage networks and knowledge in reaching all communities and tackling discrimination and racism in green spaces

People with Disabilities
The party states that:
– it is time for every person in Canada with disabilities to be able to live with dignity
– Canadians with disabilities and their families have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic. There has been an erosion of mental health and confidence in public institutions for people with disabilities, leading to vaccine hesitancy
– even prior to the pandemic, people with disabilities lived with disproportionate levels of poverty and exclusion. As we observed during the pandemic, the introduction of basic income support can significantly improve peoples’ ability to sustain themselves
– a Guaranteed Livable Income would best provide the support that Canadians with disabilities desperately need. This program is a floor for the access to resources for people with disabilities; it is not a ceiling. With additional programs to break down barriers, people with disabilities will have every right to be full, equal partners in Canadian society

The party advocates:
– creation of a Canada Disabilities Act (CDA) to express Canadians’ vision of a more equitable society rather than the current confusion resulting from the multiplicity of acts, standards, policies, and programs that prevail
– support for a national equipment fund to provide equipment such as wheelchairs and accessibility tools to assist persons with disabilities with the tools needed to fully participate in work and community life (this can be a joint program with provinces – the concern is equal access and common standards)
– investment in social housing adapted as necessary to meet particular needs, with both rental and purchase options, including requiring that housing developments that receive federal funding must ensure that 30% of all units in each development must be deeply affordable and/or available to people with disabilities and special needs
– providing federal health transfer payments to provinces and territories directed to rehabilitation for those who have become disabled, e.g. loss of limbs etc.
– enforcing the Employment Equity Act to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunity to long-term employment and advancement. People with disabilities are generally the last to find employment and the first to be laid off
– instituting a Guaranteed Liveable Income for people living with disabilities so that none live in poverty
– converting the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to a refundable credit
– redesigning the Canada Pension Plan/Disability Benefit (CPP/D) test to incorporate the DTC definition of disability and permit employment

Support for the Homeless
To support the homeless community, the party advocates:
– providing expanded mental health services for the homeless community
– increased access to high-quality mental health service, to recognize the intersections between those experiencing homelessness and those experiencing mental health issues
– implementing programs that direct funds to municipalities providing support for people in the homeless community who use drugs
– supporting Housing First initiatives and other successful models of improving health outcomes

Support for those experiencing mental health issues
The party states that:
– every year, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health issue or illness.  Societal stigma, regional disparities, and a lack of affordability present great barriers to accessing mental health services
– the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems, with youth, racialized communities and LGBTQ+ individuals reporting highest rates of poor mental health
– Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world.  Suicide among Indigenous communities is a crisis, with suicide being the leading cause of death for First Nations under the age of 44, and the suicide rates for Inuit youth being 11 times the national average
– along with a reduced quality of life, the economic cost of mental health is $50 billion per year
– stakeholders report long wait times, lack of affordability for private care, lack of access to ongoing support, lack of access for folks living outside of urban settings, and lack of integration between mental health and substance use supports
– the decriminalization of simple possession of illicit drugs paired with the creation of a national safe government supply of drugs of choice and the creation of more affordable supportive housing will help to address the connection between substance use and mental health
– high-quality and accessible services must be provided equitably to everyone in Canada, with an understanding of the impact of mental health on youth, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and the LGBTQ+ community

The party advocates establishment of a National Mental, comprising an evidence-based and culturally appropriate suicide prevention strategy to address the alarming rates of suicide, particularly in Indigenous communities, in particular:
– negotiating a Canada Health Accord to prioritize expansion of mental health and rehabilitation services, and call for the inclusion of mental health services as medically necessary
– allocating increased direct federal investment in community-based mental health care
– establishing robust accountability mechanisms to ensure the delivery of mental health care on par with physical health
– increased investments in Indigenous-led mental health, including increased support for Indigenous-led, culturally safe, mental health programs and services, rooted in Indigenous healing practices, land-based healing and the principle of self-determination and ensuring all programming is guided by the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework, establishing permanent program funding for the delivery of land-based, trauma-informed, community addictions care for Indigenous peoples; increased  targeted investment in the mental health workforce serving Indigenous communities; doubling the current budget of the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative; and taking active steps to implement Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, specifically those related to mental health.
– supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit in (re)building traditional knowledge systems around healing and wellness, including formal inclusion of traditional healing within mental wellness and home and community care programs and ensuring that the process is led by First Nations, Métis Nation and Inuit organizations
– investing in youth mental health, including providing specific funding for early mental health interventions, including social and emotional learning programs, quality and accessible early childhood education, access to community-based mental health services for parents and caregivers, youth peer support programs, mobile youth mental health clinics, etc.; and launching a targeted strategy aimed at ensuring timely access to mental health services for young people and children
– providing  funding for prevention, treatment, and research related to youth mental health, to address the growing crisis of mental health issues among young people
– calling for a national study on the impact of phones and social media on mental health in adolescents
– because creation of housing stock alone will not necessarily meet the needs of those with severe and/or chronic mental health issues, providing access to supportive community housing including rental supplements/allowances, case management, counselling, assistance with medication, and life skills training

Indigenous Peoples 

Housing
To ensure access to housing for Indigenous peoples, the party advocates:
– under the guidance of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Nation, developing inclusive and culturally appropriate Urban Indigenous Housing Strategies – for Indigenous Peoples and by Indigenous Peoples – as proposed by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association’s Indigenous Caucus.

– changing legislation that prevents Indigenous organizations from accessing financing through CMHC to invest in self-determined housing needs
– allocating funding towards urban Indigenous housing providers
– developing and implementing Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy
– ensuring that all housing in Indigenous communities is built following principles laid out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
– leveraging federal lands and real property for transfer to off-reserve Indigenous organizations to create housing and economic development opportunities
– assisting urban and rural Indigenous people in identifying emergency accommodations and affordable housing options for youth, Elders, 2SLGBTQQIA+, and vulnerable populations
– establishing a “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” housing support program for all off-reserve and urban Indigenous communities, and including off-reserve Status and non-Status Indigenous Peoples

 Indigenous Health
To promote the health of Indigenous people, the party advocates:
– upholding Jordan’s Principle in full, ensuring Indigenous Peoples receive the health care they need without being delayed by bureaucratic disagreements over jurisdiction
– implementing Calls to Action 18-24 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
– supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit in (re)building traditional knowledge systems around healing and wellness, including the formal inclusion of traditional healing within mental wellness and home and community care programs. This process must be led by First Nations, Métis Nation and Inuit organizations
– ending all drinking water and boil water advisories, including investing in and upgrading critical infrastructure to ensure safe water access and end boil water advisories in every community, and supporting Indigenous-led processes to implement safe drinking water and wastewater management systems
– ensuring access to high-quality safe and affordable housing (see Housing)
– improving food security in northern communities, including consulting with residents on Arctic farming, working with non-profit groups to build greenhouses or hydroponic towers and funding education programs in nutrition and horticulture

Reconciliation & Restitution
The party states that:
– Canada has a profound legal and moral obligation to reconcile and provide restitution for the colonial relations – marked by violent expropriation, displacement, and forced assimilation – that have undermined the cultural, governance and economic foundations of the Indigenous Peoples of this land
– it recognizes the ongoing leadership, resistance and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in the face of systemic oppression and intergenerational trauma
– it will support all Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to emerge from the positions of disadvantage in which Canada has placed them, including support for cultural revitalization and healing
– it reaffirms its support for the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and is committed to implementing UNDRIP for those First Nations who support it
– it believes that every nation has a right to decide who will speak on its behalf, and the government of Canada must be led by Indigenous Peoples with respect to designing any UNDRIP legislation

The party advocates:
– providing sustainable funding for new and existing Indigenous Healing Centres to address the harms caused by residential schools, including increased funding to Friendship Centres across Canada providing critical social services off-reserve; honouring the original request from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for funding for the Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Project; calling on the Pope to apologise on behalf of the Catholic Church for its involvement in residential schools
– recognizing that Indigenous children in residential schools have been replaced by Indigenous children in foster care; Indigenous children account for 7.7 per cent of children in Canada, but 52.2 percent of children in care;
– not fighting the Canada’s Human Rights Tribunal orders requiring the government to compensate the child and family victims of Canada’s discrimination,

– ensuring that non-status First Nations’ children living off reserve have access to Jordan’s Principle
– respecting 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
– full implementation of treaties and other self-government agreements between Canada and Indigenous governments, including genuine nation-to-nation engagement with Indigenous Peoples that is truly grounded in the UNDRIP doctrine of free, prior and informed consent
– in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, working towards the creation of an Indigenous Lands and Treaties Tribunal Act to establish an independent body that will decide on specific claims, ensuring that treaty negotiations are conducted and financed fairly and that treaty negotiations and claims resolutions do not result in the extinguishment of aboriginal and treaty rights
– formal repudiation the doctrine of terra nullius, the doctrine of discovery, and other doctrines of superiority
– affirming the inherent right of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation to determine child and family services

Education
The party advocates:
– ensuring that every First Nations, Métis and Inuit child has access to quality educational opportunities based on the expressed cultural, political and social priorities of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments, following meaningful consultation
– supporting the development of Indigenous education curricula that are language and culture-specific
– increasing access to post-secondary education for Indigenous youth by removing the two per cent funding cap, as well as fully funding the program backlog
– supporting and sustain the transmission, proliferation, and regeneration of Indigenous cultural works and languages
– educating non-Indigenous Canadians on the histories, customs, traditions and cultures of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Turtle Island

Rural & Agricultural Communities
The party states that:
– twenty per cent of people in Canada live in rural and remote environments. In some regions that number rises to nearly 50 per cent. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, rural communities were struggling
– the prevalent economic model has undermined the social, economic, and cultural fabric of rural communities, and for many years, these communities have been deprived of the resources and investments necessary to strengthen their basic foundations
– challenges faced by rural communities include lack of sufficient support for localized economic development; lack of infrastructure and services – Municipalities are not permitted to run deficits, yet they own and are responsible for core infrastructure assets, with limited tax bases;  mean that rural municipalities struggle to generate sufficient revenue to upgrade ageing infrastructure and provide essential services, such as telecommunications, health care and public transport
– aging population – The rural population is aging faster than their urban counterparts. There are significant disparities between urban and rural health delivery for seniors and people with diverse abilities
– youth retention: limited services and lack of employment opportunities in rural communities, paired with greater access to learning and opportunities in cities have drawn young people away from rural communities. Once young people have left for urban centres, they often do not return: the population of youth aged 15 to 19 in rural Canada declined by 10 per cent between 2011 and 2016
– economic challenges: as a result of all the above factors, rural incomes tend to lag behind those of urban communities, and unemployment level tend to be higher
– strong rural communities are essential for economic, social, and cultural resilience, as engines for diversification, innovation, and progress toward a more just and equitable society

To ensure that rural and remote communities get their fair share of resources to help kick start their revitalization, the party advocates:
– addressing disparities in delivery, access, and funding for rural services
– establishing a parliamentary committee to collect information on place-based needs in rural and remote communities, including the state of funding for rural services in the context of the economic/social realities faced by those communities, and developing recommendations on how these gaps can be closed in ways that work at the local level
– making investments to expand transit services and infrastructure. This will create jobs, provide cleaner and safer alternatives to driving, lower rural Canada’s carbon footprint, and improve access to services for rural Canadians
– reevaluating the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) so that rural communities are covered with an equitable amount of funding to meet the needs of the community
– support the provinces in implementing innovative delivery models such as Telemedicine to improve health access in rural Canada
– expanding the mandate of Canada Post to include banking, high-speed internet hubs, and EV charging stations, and increasing the salaries of Canada Post employees operating in rural communities (who are predominantly women), and closing pay gaps between urban and rural services are closed
– improving rural connectivity, by building up broadband infrastructure in rural areas to help revitalize rural economies and give communities greater access to the services they need; continuing to support the Universal Broadband Fund with an additional $150 M annually over 4 years to reach communities at the lowest end of the eligibility spectrum; and breaking up telecom monopolies through changes to CRTC regulation to allow for more equitable treatment of rural consumers

Rural Infrastructure & Industry
To ensure long-term predictability for rural and northern communities, the party advocates supporting the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ request for at least $250 million annually in dedicated infrastructure funding starting in 2028-29

To make industries important to rural communities more sustainable, the party advocates:
– supporting localized investments in renewable energy and green manufacturing which will allow for job transition in communities dependent on the oil and gas sectors
– assisting farmers with transitioning away from the industrial model controlled by large agri-business and toward locally and regionally based food systems
– replacing one-third of Canada’s food imports with domestic production, bringing would bring $15 billion food dollars back into our economy to foster economic diversification and rural revitalization
– promoting the creation of land trusts to set-aside arable land across Canada to help control the price of land and protect it from being permanently removed as viable farmland
– funding new and innovative value-added forestry-based manufacturing facilities in rural Canada to create jobs and keep profits from our resources in Canada, and working with provinces, territories, and municipalities to make sure that timber, pulp, and paper manufacturing is environmentally and economically sustainable in rural Canada
– maintaining and improving policies that support owner-operation of inshore fisheries and conservation of fish stocks
– supporting aquaculture development in closed containment facilities to protect wild species and limit pollution and provide support to fish pen workers in the transition
– protecting the traditional fishing rights of Indigenous Peoples living in Canada, including the right to engage in fishing in pursuit of a moderate livelihood

Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states that:
– Canada prides itself in multiculturalism in our society and in projecting a welcoming image towards immigrants and refugees
– it believes that Canada has more work to do to achieve an equitable and just multiculturalism.  Over the past few years, there have been increasing calls to address systemic racism and colonialism within all branches of the government, from healthcare to employment, to housing, to transportation. Immigration and refugee policies and practices should not be left out of this conversation
– it aims to strengthen our communities and set an international example by bringing more skilled workers, better family reunification strategies and addressing current inequalities within the existing systems in Canada

To address systemic racism and discrimination in Immigration and Refugee services, the party advocates:
– updating the citizenship guidebook to include a more accurate history of Canada and Turtle Island that includes the harms of residential schools and the Indian Act
– addressing xenophobia in all aspects of settlement, including temporary visa liberalization, issuing of temporary permits (study, work, visit, etc.) and family reunification (including increasing capacity for family sponsorship and revision of adoption processes)
– terminating the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, which the Canadian Federal Court recently ruled violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of “the right to life, liberty and security of the person,” as it allows Canada to send refugee-claimants at the Canada–U.S. border back to the United States, despite the risk they will be detained and eventually returned to their countries of origin without their refugee claims being assessed
– revising all Canada Border Services Agency practices, including operation of immigration detention centres, family separation, and developing an oversight mechanism, including a Civilian Complaint and Review Commission

To address foreign skills recognition, the party advocates:
– reviewing and updating accreditation policies and licensing programs to better and more accurately reflect the current needs of our Canadian society
– collaborating with accreditation institutions in Canada to recognize foreign training and education
– allocating greater funding to provide training language skills, employment skills, and accreditation recognition for any newcomer legally eligible to work in Canada
– creating incentives for employers to hire newcomers and refugee claimants

With respect to permanent residency and citizenship, the party advocates:
– introducing exceptions for permanent residency and citizenship application costs based on household income (for many refugees, the $1,000 application fee for citizenship is unaffordable)
– in recognition of the role temporary foreign and frontline workers played in our healthcare and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing lower barrier, more accessible pathways to permanent residency for these workers
– improved conditions for refugees and asylum seekers by addressing the years-long processing time, unaffordable application fees and eliminating status-based service requirements
– developing safe strategies for temporary foreign workers and whistle blowers to report abusive employers without losing their status

With respect to family reunification, the party advocates:
– increased support for parent and grandparent sponsorship by IRCC, by increasing the number of accepted applications and decreasing processing times
– reviewing adoption bans from Muslim majority countries so that adoptive parents can remain together through their immigration process, as well as allowing adoption from these countries by Canadian citizens
– lowering barriers for convention refugees to reunite with their children and bring them to Canada by making the process more accessible
– removing visa requirements for most parents visiting their children – including international students, temporary workers, Canadian citizens and convention refugees

Disabilities

Financial Support
The party states that:
– persons with disabilities can face additional costs related to medical care, retrofits, and medical devices, and are almost twice as likely to be low-income as people without a disability
– since their creation in 2008 Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs) have supported the long-term financial security of people with disabilities who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, with total RDSP assets having grown to approximately $8.8 billion
– it has expanded access to RDSPs by allowing qualifying family members, such as parents, spouses, or common-law partners to open RDSPs and be the plan holder for an adult with mental disabilities whose ability to enter into an RDSP contract is in doubt, and who does not have a legal representative
– because the qualifying family member provision is set to expire, it intends to to extend it until December 31, 2026, and to extend the provision to include adult siblings of an RDSP beneficiary. These measures are expected to cost $13 million over five years
– because the Qualifying Family Member was originally intended as a stopgap for provinces and territories to develop more appropriate, long-term solutions to address RDSP legal representation issues for persons with disabilities, it continues to encourage provinces and territories that have not already done so to address issues surrounding guardianship for persons with disabilities

Inclusion
The party states that:
– following the October 2022 launch of the comprehensive, whole-of-government Disability Inclusion Action Plan, it needs to collect views from Canadians with disabilities in matters that affect them
– to that end, it proposes to provide $10 million over two year to Employment and Social Development Canada for investment in capacity building and the community-level work of Canada’s disability organizations
– it further proposes to provide $21.5 million in 2023-24 to Employment and Social Development Canada to continue work on the future delivery of the Canada Disability Benefit, including engagement with the disability community and provinces and territories on the regulatory process.
– to advance launch of a Canada Disability Benefit as part of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, investments set out in its current budget continue to lay the necessary groundwork for the Canada Disability Benefit

The party further states that during its current term in office the federal government has provided significant support to Canadians with disabilities, including:
– more than $1.6 billion per year to support persons with severe and prolonged mental and physical impairments through the Disability Tax Credit
– more than $1 billion per year through Canada Disability Savings Grants and Bonds, as well as exempting from tax investment income earned in Registered Disability Savings Plans, which supports the financial security of persons with disabilities
– $922 million to provinces and territories through the Workforce Development Agreements in 2023-24, approximately 30 per cent of which is targeted to help persons with disabilities get training, develop their skills, and gain work experience
– more than $650 million annually through more generous Canada Student Grants, interest-free Canada Student Loans, and easier-to-access repayment assistance—including loan forgiveness for those with severe permanent disabilities—to support persons with disabilities with the additional costs of post-secondary education, such as those that come with supportive services and devices
– $105 million in 2023-24 to support the implementation of an employment strategy for persons with disabilities through the Opportunities Fund. This included funding to the Ready, Willing and Able Program to support persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder or intellectual disabilties in finding employment
– more than $460 million per year through the Child Disability Benefit provided as a supplement to the Canada Child Benefit for parents of children with severe and prolonged disabilities, providing an average of approximately $2,700 in annual support

Mental Health & Addictions
The party states that during its term in office it has made it a priority to invest in mental health services for Canadians, and that key investments include:
– $5 billion over ten years to provinces and territories, starting in 2017-18, to improve and increase the availability of mental health and addiction services
– over $240 million since 2020-21 for the Wellness Together Canada portal, which provides Canadians with free tools and services to support their mental health and well-being
– $100 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including health care workers, frontline workers, youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, and racialized communities
– $25 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, and $5 million ongoing, to support a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service to provide people across Canada with access to bilingual 24/7 crisis support from trained responders
– more than $1.5 billion over six years, starting in 2021-22, to support trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, Indigenous-led services to improve mental wellness, including over $825 million through Budget 2021 and Budget 2022 to support distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis

Opioid Crisis
The party states that the overdose crisis and toxic illegal drug supplies take the lives of an average of 20 Canadians per day—many of whom are experiencing homelessness—resulting in immeasurable strain on our communities, health care systems, and local social services

The party reports that during its term in office it:
– has invested more than $800 million through the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy to restore harm reduction as an essential pillar of the strategy, and worked to support a compassionate and evidence-based response to the overdose crisis and the stigma associated with it
– has authorized safe consumption sites to provide a safe space for tens of thousands of Canadians dealing with substance use issues. Health care workers have been able to treat 42,000 overdoses, without a single death on site

The party proposes:
– among other improvements to health care services, new funding of $46.2 billion for provinces and territories to help provide access to timely, equitable mental health and substance use services
– to complement these investments, allocating a total of $359.2 million over five years, with $5.7 million ongoing and $1.3 million in remaining amortization, to support a renewed Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy including:
(1) $144 million over five years for the Substance Use and Addictions Program to fund community-based supports, including safer supply, supervised consumption sites, and other evidence-based health interventions
(2) $20.2 million over five years to the Public Health Agency of Canada for a new community-based program to prevent substance use among young people
(3) $73.9 million over five years, with $4.6 million ongoing, to Health Canada to streamline authorizations for supervised consumption sites and drug checking services, scale-up access to safer supply, and evaluate innovative approaches
(4) $50.8 million over five years, with $1.1 million ongoing and $1.3 million in remaining amortization, to Health Canada; and $16 million over five years, to the Public Health Agency of Canada to support vital data collection on substance-related harms and lab-based analysis of the illegal drug supply
(5) $4.6 million over five years, to Public Safety Canada to develop an overdose monitoring app for paramedics and other first responders
(6) $42 million over five years, to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; $6.2 million over five years to Public Services and Procurement Canada; and $1.6 million over five years, sourced from existing resources, to Global Affairs Canada to take further action to work with our partners to tackle drug trafficking and stem the global flow of these substances

Indigenous Peoples
The party states that:
– building a Canada that works for everyone requires a commitment to address past wrongs and to work to support a brighter future for all Canadians
– during its current term in office it has worked with Indigenous partners to advance meaningful reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Real progress has been made to improve the quality of life in Indigenous communities and close gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. But there is more work to do.
– among the most significant measures, the party includes investment of:
* $29 billion for child welfare services, including funding to implement An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, to maintain and enhance the First Nations Child and Family Services program, and to support ongoing negotiations towards additional program reforms
* nearly $6.4 billion to meet the needs of First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle
* $6.7 billion to support primary care and public health on reserve, distinctions-based mental health care, and non-insured health benefits. This also includes $1.2 billion in infrastructure funding, which has already supported 248 health-related projects in First Nations communities
* over $5.9 billion for elementary and secondary education to help First Nations children living on reserve receive high-quality schooling. This also includes $1.8 billion in infrastructure funding, which has already supported 261 school facility projects
* over $5.7 billion to address critical infrastructure gaps related to water and wastewater, and accelerate progress to end long-term and short-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities on reserve
* over $4 billion to support First Nations housing on reserve, and almost $2.5 billion to support community infrastructure on reserve
* nearly $2.5 billion in funding to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of First Nations families
* $991 million for First Nations and Inuit policing and police facilities to provide access to local and culturally sensitive police services that make communities safer
* $417 million targeted for First Nations post-secondary education

Inuit Priorities
In addition, the party states that key investments in Inuit priorities made during its current term in office include:
– $25 million to implement the Inuit Nunangat Policy, which was co-developed with Inuit and will guide the federal government in design, development, and delivery of new and renewed federal programming, policies, and initiatives
– over $1.3 billion to support housing in Inuit communities
– $5.1 billion to reduce tuberculosis, provide non-insured health benefits, and support distinctions-based mental health care
– more than $230 million for Inuit communities to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of Inuit families
– $70 million to support the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy
– more than $125 million targeted for Inuit post-secondary education

Métis Priorities
In addition, the party states that key investments in Métis priorities made during its current term in office include:
– more than $860 million for Métis communities to build an early learning and child care system that meets the needs of Métis families
– $690 million to support housing in Métis communities and more than $400 million towards Métis communities skills and employment training, economic development, and to support the startup and expansion of Métis small and medium-sized businesses
– $867 million to support distinctions-based mental health care and the monitoring and treatment of chronic diseases
– more than $360 million targeted for Métis post-secondary education

Self-Determination and Prosperity
The party states that:
– Indigenous self-determination is critical to Canada’s future. It strengthens nation-to-nation, government-to-government, and Inuit-Crown relationships
– Indigenous governments must be able to set and implement priorities respecting their communities, lands, and resources, and Indigenous Peoples, businesses, and communities must have the opportunity to fully participate in the economy, and build opportunities for themselves and future generations in the ways they see fit
– the party proposes investing in measures that will continue to advance service transfer to Indigenous governments and institutions, and unlock opportunities to advance economic reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

To provide resources to meet the needs of their communities and deliver needed services and programs, the party proposes to:
– provide $76.3 million in 2023-24 to Indigenous Services Canada to continue to support the administrative capacity of First Nations governments and tribal councils delivering critical programs and services to their members
– provide $19.4 million over five years to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada for the Northern Participant Funding Program to increase the participation of Indigenous Peoples and other Northerners in environmental and regulatory assessments of major projects, with an additional $1.6 million over two years to the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency for the Northern Projects Management Office to increase capacity for federal participation in environmental assessments and consultation with Indigenous communities on major projects in the territories

Tax Arrangements with Indigenous Governments
The party states that it remains committed to negotiating mutually beneficial tax agreements with interested Indigenous governments, including implementing the First Nations Goods and Services Tax within their settlement lands or reserves and, with interested self-governing Indigenous governments, to enable the implementation of personal income taxes within their settlement lands
– it is making progress with Indigenous communities and organizations on a voluntary fuel, alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco (FACT) sales tax framework. The FACT framework would provide a new, flexible option for interested Indigenous governments to exercise tax jurisdiction within their reserves or settlement lands. Since fall 2022, productive discussions have taken place with Indigenous partners, and Indigenous communities have expressed interest in moving forward collaboratively.
– it continues to encourage, and will help facilitate, taxation arrangements between interested provincial or territorial and Indigenous governments

Economic Proposals
To move forward toward prosperity and ensure removal of systemic barriers, the party proposes:
– to provide $5 million to Indigenous Services Canada to support the co-development of an Economic Reconciliation Framework with Indigenous partners that will increase economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and businesses
– building on foundations set in recent Indigenous-led initiatives, such as the National Indigenous Economic Strategy and the First Nations Financial Management Board’s RoadMap project

Infrastructure Projects
The party states that it is committed to further improving the quality and consistency of benefits that Indigenous communities derive from major projects in their territories, including through advancing opportunities for Indigenous communities to participate as partners in major projects. It proposes:
– providing $8.7 million to Natural Resources Canada to support deeper engagements with Indigenous partners, including Indigenous rights-holders, towards the development of the National Benefits-Sharing Framework, including sourcing of loans through the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s existing funding envelope

First Nations Lands
The party states that it is committed to supporting initiatives that return control and decision-making over the use of First Nations lands back to First Nations communities.  It proposes:
– providing $30 million over five years to Indigenous Services Canada to enhance the Reserve Land and Environment Management Program, ensuring First Nations can develop capacity to exercise increased responsibility over their lands, resources, and environment, including reaffirming its commitment to negotiate a renewed operating funding formula with the Lands Advisory Board to ensure the continued growth and success of First Nation Land Management
– providing $35.3 million over three years to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada to co-develop, with the Lands Advisory Board, a new First Nations-led National Land Registry that will provide communities in First Nation Land Management with more opportunities to realize the economic benefits arising from local control over their lands

Indigenous Health Priorities
The party states that to ensure that Indigenous Peoples have access to high-quality and culturally safe health care services, no matter where they live:
– it is working with Indigenous partners, provinces, and territories to co-develop distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation
– it proposes to invest $2 billion in new, additional funding over ten years for a distinctions-based Indigenous Health Equity Fund, in addition to new $810.6 million over five years to support medical travel and to maintain medically necessary services through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, including mental health services, dental and vision care
– $16.2 million over three years for interventions to reduce rates of tuberculosis in Inuit communities

Housing
The party states that:
– during its current term in office it has committed $6.7 billion to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis housing, including in self-governing and modern treaty communities
– this funding has supported over 13,000 housing-related projects and home improvement and repairs, and more than 4,600 new homes in Indigenous communities
– in addition, it provided $300 million to support housing in urban, rural, and northern Indigenous communities

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The party states that during its current term in office it has accelerated implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. In addition to $2.2 billion already allocated, the party proposes investments that acknowledge the leadership of families and survivors in this process, and the need to increase accountability and ensure that progress is made. It proposes allocating:
– $20 million over four years to support Indigenous-led projects for safer communities through the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative
– $95.8 million over five years and $20.4 million ongoing to help Indigenous families access information about their missing and murdered loved ones, and to enhance victim services to support their healing journeys, including renewal of existing programming and expansion to include support for families of 2SLGBTQI+ Indigenous victims who are men
– $2.6 million over three years to support the National Family and Survivors Circle in keeping families and survivors at the centre of the implementation of the National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway
– $2.2 million over five years to establish an oversight mechanism to monitor and report on the progress of implementation
– $1.6 million over two years to support the Ministerial Special Representative appointed to provide recommendations on the creation of an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson
– $2.5 million over five years to facilitate and coordinate work on advancing the National Action Plan by establishing a standing Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Indigenous table on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People

First Nations Children
The party states that:
– in order to ensure that First Nations children have the supports they need to flourish in accordance with Jordan’s Principle, including appropriate health, social, and educational supports, it continues to work with First Nations partners to advance long-term reforms to ensure that First Nations children will continue to receive timely, high-quality services
– it also continues to work with First Nations partners on long-term reforms for child welfare, and to support community-led solutions to reduce the number of children in care and keep children and youth connected to their families, their communities, and their culture
– it proposes to provide $171 million to Indigenous Services Canada to ensure First Nations children continue to receive the support through Jordan’s Principle, in addition to $444.2 million over three years to support Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and Louis Bull Tribe First Nation in Alberta to exercise jurisdiction over their child welfare systems and make decisions about what is best for their children and families

Band Class Settlement Agreement
The party states that to address harms that continue to affect First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and their families due to residential schools, it signed an agreement to compensate 325 bands that opted in to the Gottfriedson Band Class litigation, which provides $2.8 billion as part of the Band Class settlement, to establish a trust to support healing, wellness, education, heritage, language, and commemoration activities, and proposes legislative amendments to exclude the income and gains of the trust from taxation

Northern, Rural & Agricultural Communities
The party states that rural communities are a driver of economic growth, and home to a wide range of industries including agriculture, mining, and tourism.

In its mandate letter to the Ministers for of Rural Economic Development at the beginning of its present term in office, the party instructed the Minister that:
– the Ministry’s immediate priority would be to pursue and advance initiatives that recognize the unique realities and challenges faced by rural communities, including measures to support economic recovery, growth and resilience, and that key among those initiatives would be access to fast and reliable high-speed Internet, which is essential to ensuring that Canadians in rural and remote communities have equal access to services, supports, and economic and job opportunities
– in addition, the Ministry should work to ensure the services delivered by government reflect the needs of rural Canadians, such as rural transit solutions, mental health services and housing, and that these services are more visible and easily accessible, and to ensure that Canada Post better reaches Canadians in rural and remote areas

In its mandate letter to the Ministers for Northern Affairs and for Economic Development of Northern Ontario at the beginning of its present term in office, the party instructed the Minister:
– to prioritize the delegation of authority to local and regional governments
– prioritize the delivery of support to small and medium-sized businesses and support job creation in communities recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic

To support those living and working in rural and remote communities, the party proposes to allocate:
– $45.9 million to expand the reach of the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness program for eligible doctors and nurses who choose to practice in rural and remote communities
– $368.4 million to renew and update forest sector programs, which will support jobs in the forestry sector in rural and remote communities
– significant investment tax credits and funding for clean electricity to build Canada’s clean economy, which will support major projects that will create good jobs in rural and remote communities, and will help expand Canada’s electrical grid to more rural and remote communities
– $4 billion to implement a co-developed Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy
– $250 million for an Oral Health Access Fund, which will complement the Canadian Dental Care Plan by reducing barriers to accessing care, including in rural and remote communities
– $333 million over ten years to establish the Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund, which will help reduce the amount of solids non-fat that is sold for animal feed or disposed of, and ultimately increase revenues for dairy farmers
– $108 million over 3 years to the Regional Development Agencies for projects and local events to increase local tourism opportunities for businesses and communities
– $57.5 million over five years, with $5.6 million ongoing, to the CFIA to establish a Foot-and-Mouth disease Vaccine Bank to ensure early vaccination of livestock, reduce border closures and protect the livelihoods of livestock farmers in the event of an outbreak
– $34.1 million over three years for a top-up to the On-Farm Climate Action Fund to support Eastern Canadian farmers adopt nitrogen management practices that reduce fertilizer use and ultimately result in cost savings for these farmers
– $13 million in 2023-24 to increase the interest-free limit of loans under the Advance Payments Program to provide additional cash flow to farmers in need
– $10 million in 2023-24 to top up the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to strengthen food security in rural and Indigenous communities across Canada.

Atlantic Canada
The party states that:
– its Atlantic Growth Strategy was launched in 2016 to pave the way for a stronger economy in Atlantic Canada
– in July 2022, the federal and provincial governments reaffirmed their commitment to work together and build on the initiatives that are benefitting Atlantic Canadians through the Atlantic Growth Strategy. Renewed areas of focus will include infrastructure, trade and investment, broadband, innovation, labour and skills, and clean technology.

Northern, Indigenous, and Remote Food Infrastructure
The party states that through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund it is supporting community-led efforts to address food insecurity by helping invest in the infrastructure needed to produce, store, and deliver locally-sourced food in a sustainable manner. It proposes to provide $10 million in 2023-24 to top up the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to strengthen food security in Northern, rural, and Indigenous communities across Canada.

Refugees & Newcomers
The party states that:
– by 2025, Canada will welcome 500,000 new permanent residents each year, the majority of whom will be skilled workers who will help address the labour shortages that so many Canadian businesses are experiencing today
– as Canada welcomes record numbers of newcomers, a safe and efficient immigration system is essential. Applications for citizenship currently rely on name-based searches for screening, rather than biometric tools, such as fingerprints, that are used in visa and permanent residence applications. Name-based searches are slower and less accurate, and lead to increased processing times
– it proposes to provide $10 million over five years, starting in 2023-24, with $14.6 million in remaining amortization for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to implement biometrics, which will help expedite the processing of citizenship applications

By Mandate Letter to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship at the beginning of its current term in office, the party instructed the Minister that:
– the Ministry was to prioritize ongoing work to strengthen Canada’s immigration and refugee system, including bringing in more newcomers to all regions of Canada who will support Canada’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
– the Ministry was also to act with urgency to provide resettlement opportunities for people under threat, including Afghan citizens and human rights defenders
– as well, the Ministry was to continue to strengthen family reunification and reduce application processing times, especially those impacted by COVID-19.

Asylum Seekers
The party states that:
– access to legal representation, information, and advice ensures that Canada’s asylum process is fair for everyone, and makes the process more efficient. For asylum seekers who are unable to pay for legal support, the federal government helps fund legal aid services in partnership with provinces and territories
– to that end, it proposes to provide $43.5 million in 2023-24 to Justice Canada to maintain federal support for immigration and refugee legal aid services

The Marginalized & Vulnerable

Disabilities
The party states that:
– much more can be done to make Canada an inclusive and barrier-free place, starting with uphold the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and strengthening the Accessibility Act to cover all federal agencies equally, with the power to make and enforce accessibility standards in a timely manner
– to address the unacceptable rate of poverty among Canadians living with a disability and ensure that everyone has the chance to thrive and live in dignity, we will expand income security programs to ensure Canadians living with a disability have a guaranteed livable income
– to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at a good job that fits their unique abilities, the party advocates continued and expanded employment programs
– to assist those facing serious illness, it advocates extending Employment Insurance benefits to 50 weeks of coverage, and a pilot project to allow workers with episodic disabilities to access benefits as needed
– in addition to implementing a universal, publicly funded national pharmacare and dental care program, it advocates restoration of door-to-door mail delivery for those who lost it under previous governments, and creating affordable, accessible housing in communities across the country
– it advocates working with Autistic Canadians to develop and implement a national Autism strategy to coordinate research, ensure access to needs-based services, promote employment, and help expand housing options

Mental Health
The party states that:
– the Canada Health Act is supposed to fund all medically necessary services that Canadians might need. Many kinds of needed services are covered, however.
– more than one in five Canadians struggling with mental health challenges who have expressed a need for counselling weren’t able to get it
– mental health care should be available at no cost for people who need it.  As a first step, it advocates implementing mental health care for uninsured Canadians, and ensuring that pharmacare covers prescription medication
– mental health coverage should include a national perinatal mental health strategy to support growing families before and after birth

Opioid Crisis
The party states that:
– seventeen Canadians die every day from opioid-related causes. Tens of thousands of families have lost parents, partners, siblings, and children
– every part of the country has been impacted by these highly addictive and dangerous drugs, from the busiest downtown neighbourhoods to the most remote communities
– too often, impacts are even worse for the most vulnerable and marginalized people
– the federal government is lagging behind the urgent action being taken by provinces like British Columbia

The party advocates:
– declaring a public health emergency and working with all levels of government, health experts and Canadians to end the criminalization and stigma of drug addiction, so that people struggling with addiction can get help without fear of arrest, while getting tough on those who traffic in and profit from illegal drugs
– creating a safe supply of medically regulated alternatives to toxic street drugs, supporting overdose prevention sites and expand access to treatment on demand for people struggling with addiction
– an investigation into the role drug companies may have played in fueling the opioid crisis, and seeking meaningful financial for the public costs of this crisis

Indigenous Peoples

Rights & Self-Determination
The party states that:
– the government should not be able to pick and choose which Indigenous rights it will uphold, and which ones it will ignore.  The proper framework for reconciliation is set out in the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and 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
– it will fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, including ensuring that national laws, policies, and practices are consistent with human rights commitments – including cultural rights, land rights, and rights to self-determination and self-government, and establishment of a National Council for Reconciliation to provide oversight and accountability for this process, with regular reports to Parliament and the public
– replacing mere consultation with a standard of free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by government policies – including for all decisions affecting constitutionally protected land rights, like energy project reviews, with a good-faith, consent based engagement and negotiations consistent with the Tsilhqot’in decision
– recognizing and respecting treaties
– respecting Inuit self-determination by co-developing the federal government’s Arctic Policy Framework through shared governance within the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, including adoption of an Inuit Nunangat policy
– supporting economic and social self-reliance of Inuit 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

Residential Schools
The party states that:
– a vital part of reconciliation is fully acknowledging the horror and harm caused to Indigenous children, their families and communities by the residential school system. These institutions systemically removed children from their families and inflicted abuse, sickness and death
– the recent revelations of thousands of mass and unmarked graves at residential school sites across the country underlines the depth of horror that this genocidal policy inflicted for more than 160 years.  It’s time to find every child, and bring them home

The party advocates:
– fully funding a search for grave sites at former residential schools, as well as the maintenance, commemoration, reburial and protection of residential school cemeteries according to the wishes of Indigenous families, residential school Survivors and communities
– working with nations and Survivors to establish memorials to those lost to residential schools
– in pursuit of truth, accountability and justice, appointment of a special prosecutor to pursue those who inflicted great harm on Indigenous children in the residential school system, including require that churches and governments hand over any and all records that could be helpful in identifying buried in unmarked graves, or in finding individuals who were involved in their deaths
– recognizing the need for special supports to address the inter-generational impacts of colonialism and residential schools, supporting and fully funding community-driven solutions for healing, including projects similar to the former “Aboriginal Healing Foundation”

Indigenous Children
The party states that:
– despite apologies from political leaders for generations of colonialism and systemic racism, discrimination against Indigenous children continues today.  Indigenous children and young people have the right to culture, language and to be raised in their own communities – all of which are vital to overall well-being
– by implementing the United Nations Declaration, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, it will ensure that all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, young people and families are treated with justice, respect and care
– it will take immediate action to respect, support and resource Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare systems, and will back this commitment with long-term, predictable funding guaranteed in legislation so that Indigenous peoples can exercise their jurisdiction and authority over matters involving their own children and families
– it also commits to ending discrimination against Indigenous children, young people and families by fully implementing the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders which ordered the Canadian government to stop chronically underfunding child welfare services on reserve, and working with the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society to implement the Spirit Bear Plan
– it will put an immediate end to government litigation against Indigenous children, and will fully implement Jordan’s Principle, working with the provinces and territories to end the delays and ensure equitable access to health services and educational supports for Indigenous children, on and off-reserve
– it will create a Spirit Bear Day to promote awareness of Jordan’s Principle and of the challenges faced by First Nations children when accessing government services

Housing
The party states that:
– decades of colonialism perpetrated by the federal government has resulted in a devastating housing crisis for many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families
– communities face long waiting lists for housing, and overcrowded, dilapidated homes, including the mold crisis, which continues to harm people’s health
– chronic overcrowding is hurting Indigenous communities across the country
– it will address the Indigenous housing crisis and put an end to chronic overcrowding and long-wait lists by working with Indigenous communities to implement co-developed, fully funded Indigenous National Housing Strategy
– it advocates immediate steps to tackle the mold crisis affecting tens of thousands of homes,
– it will also ensure that Indigenous communities have the resources to make homes greener and more energy efficient, working to keep the benefits of good jobs, training and investment close to home

Education
The party states that:
– successive governments have failed to provide core funding for on-reserve education, to adequately support Indigenous post-secondary students, or to deliver a plan for bringing schools on reserve up to provincial standards, despite Parliament committing to this when they passed the Shannen’s Dream motion in 2012
– it will ensure that every child is provided a safe place to learn and an opportunity to succeed, whether on or off reserve, including implementation of Shannen’s Dream of equitable access to education
– recognizing that barriers to post-secondary education and training continue, it help Indigenous youth seeking post-secondary education through expanded financial assistance and increased educational opportunities for children who grew up in care, and distance education for rural and remote students
– to ensure that all Canadians are aware of the contributions and history of Indigenous peoples and understand the legacy of residential schools, it will work with provinces to establish Indigenous history education programs based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 62 and 63, and ensure that the development and implementation of these programs are led by Indigenous peoples.

Water & Community Services
The party states that:
– it is committed to making the full investments required to ensure clean water and lift all drinking water advisories immediately, and supporting Indigenous-led water management training programs and water system operations as an immediate priority, including funding for on-reserve emergency management and prevention, including firefighting training and equipment
– it advocates ensuring safe public transportation by resuming and expanding rural and remote bus routes and passenger rail service
– it advocates working with Indigenous communities to protect infrastructure from climate change and increase the use of renewable energy, including expansion of community-owned renewable energy projects and efforts to transition remote communities away from polluting diesel and harmful fumes, towards reliable and clean energy alternatives

Health Care
To close the health gap faced by Indigenous communities, the party advocates Indigenous health self-determination, including:
– applying Joyce’s Principle as the basis for a new approach to systemic racism in health care
– investments in Indigenous health care infrastructure, medical supplies and diagnostic equipment
– working with Indigenous communities to improve access to mental health and addiction treatment services both on and off reserve, including an evidence-based action plan to prevent suicide, backed by dedicated federal resources, fully implementing the New Democrat motion on suicide prevention passed by the House of Commons
– Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate home care and long-term care for Elders, in their home communities and languages
– Indigenous food sovereignty, and reform the Nutrition North program to improve families’ access to food, including country and traditional food and turning Nutrition North into a social program that benefits communities in the North directly, rather than simply subsidizing companies
– building a treatment centre for residents affected by long-term mercury exposure and compensating families affected by the inter-generational problem of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows

Employment and Economic Development
The party states that:
– for decades Indigenous peoples have sought a new fiscal relationship with the Crown that respects the existence of inherent title and rights, including secure funding to support programs and services and access to revenue streams to help close the socio-economic gap and support self-government
– to expand economic opportunities and create jobs in Indigenous communities, it advocates support for locally-driven economic development and creation of jobs through infrastructure and public service investments, and expanded access to broadband internet and cell service for rural and remote communities
– it commits to working with Indigenous entrepreneurs to find solutions for accessing capital and scaling up, investing in Indigenous social enterprise projects and entrepreneurship, and to ensure that the federal government prioritizes procurement from Indigenous companies where possible
– for smaller Indigenous communities, the party advocates dedicated regional economic development support to reflect local social and cultural values
– it supports creation of a Northern Infrastructure Fund to fast-track investment and focus on improving much-needed infrastructure like roads and broadband internet for communities in the north

National Inquiry on Missing & Murdered
The party states that:
– the mandate given to the National Inquiry on Missing & Murdered Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people is to limited to accomplish its proper purpose.  The Inquiry’s finding of a genocide against Indigenous women in Canada demands action from all Canadians
– to ensure that the report does not sit on a shelf, it advocates working in partnership with Indigenous women, the families of the missing and murdered, and communities to implement the Inquiry’s Calls for Justice and the calls to action brought forward by communities, including establishment of a comprehensive, plan to address violence, ensuring that all those fleeing violence have access to culturally appropriate programming, emergency shelters and transitional housing
– ensuring that Indigenous women and their children have equal status rights, including the right to pass on the ability to qualify for Indian status registration

Rural Communities
The party advocates:
– focusing on improved in-person services in Northern and rural communities
– in order to make rural and Northern communities safer and recognize the work of our volunteer emergency responders, expanding the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit and ensure that federal funding for rural and First Nations policing is made available in a fair, predictable and sustainable way
– because almost 1,200 rural communities in Canada have a post office but no financial services, working with Canada Post to develop a model of postal banking that  will provide more affordable, quality banking services for approximately 2 million people, where none are currently available
– to make travel to and from rural areas more affordable, working with the provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to create an affordable public transit service connecting rural areas, including restoring cancelled bus services, expanding into under-served areas , restarting the Ontario Northlander train, re-establishing vital regional air routes
– providing high-speed rural broadband internet services to all communities in Canada without delay, and ensuring that reliable cell phone service is expanded to every area of Canada, keeping rates affordable for families and businesses
– to support the approximately 1/3 of the Canadian economy driven by rural Canada, investing in regional economic development agencies and providing economic support for rural areas to invest in job creation in areas like tourism and community development
– to support growth of Northern, rural and remote communities, implementing a new tax credit for graduates to work in designated rural and Northern communities
– providing rural communities fair access to federal infrastructure and transit funds, and more help to prepare for and deal with the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, and increasing the amount of help the federal government provides to communities to adapt to climate change and rebuild after disasters, while ensuring that invested dollars create good local jobs

Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states that:
– the immigration system should be accountable to the public and rooted in the values of fairness, respect, and dignity
– to ensure that newcomers can rely on a fair process and find success when they arrive, without prolonged separation from loved ones, it will ensure that immigration policies and levels meet Canada’s labour force needs and recognize people’s experiences, contributions, and ties to Canada, by working with the provinces to address gaps in settlement services and improve foreign credentials recognition
– it advocates ending the unfair cap on applications to sponsor parents and grandparents, and addressing backlogs that keep families apart
– to protect newcomers from unscrupulous immigration consultants, it advocates regulation of the consultant industry
– it advocates treating caregivers brought to Canada with respect and dignity, providing them with status and allowing them to reunite with their families without delay
– to support people forced out of their homes by conflict, persecution and disasters, the party advocates eliminating the backlog in asylum applications

The party has published no official statement concerning its polices on:
–  outreach to the marginalized and vulnerable, including those living with disabilities or addictions

Indigenous Peoples
The party states that:
– the indigenous population of Canada is extremely diversified, and accounts for about 5% of Canada’s population and comprises First Nations, Inuit and Metis. There are more than 600 First Nations communities dispersed across the country. More than half of First Nations Canadians don’t live on reserves
– Indigenous issues are also very complex. Some communities are prosperous, others much poorer than the Canadian average. Many suffer from acute social problems, including crime, domestic violence, substance abuse and suicide. Many don’t have the basic services that we take for granted such as access to clean water
– additional issues facing Indigenous peoples include treaty negotiations, housing, and property rights on reserves, and residential schools
– it is not possible to address more than a few of these issues in the context of this election platform

The party advocates:
– prioritizing its response on the basis of its four key principles:

Respect
The party states that:
– many injustices were committed in the past by the Canadian government towards indigenous peoples. We cannot rewrite the past, but only seek the best way to live together harmoniously in the future. This relationship must be based on mutual respect and a balanced approach taking into account the needs of the Indigenous population and the interests of the Canadian population as a whole
– it advocates:
– exploring options to replace the paternalistic Indian Act, which keeps indigenous peoples in a state of dependency and allows the federal government to control most aspects of their lives, with a new legal framework that guarantees equal rights and responsibilities to Indigenous people as Canadians, and promotes the self-reliance of communities
– respecting our Constitution and treaties, reaffirming the federal government’s power to approve natural resources and infrastructure projects, after adequate consultations with affected indigenous groups, and in partnership with them to ensure they can benefit from these economic opportunities

Freedom
The party states that:
– lack of real private property on reserves is in part responsible for the poor state of housing and the social ills that derive from it, and is one of the greatest impediments to economic development.
– it advocates exploring further avenues to promote the establishment of individual property rights on reserves so as to empower their residents and give them increased control over their lives.

Fairness
The party states that:
– fairness demands that all Canadians benefit from roughly equivalent services wherever they live. It’s unacceptable that some Indigenous communities live in conditions that resemble those of third world countries. But the current model to solve these problems is based on top-down bureaucratic solutions imposed by Ottawa on dependent communities with no voice in the process.
– it advocates ensuring that Indigenous communities take more ownership of the services they receive in partnership with Ottawa and other levels of government.

Responsibility
The party states that:
– although federal spending on Indigenous programs has risen from $11.4 billion in 2015 to about $27 billion in budget 2022-23, there is little evidence that living conditions have been improving in indigenous communities. The federal government and Indigenous administrations have a responsibility to ensure that taxpayers’ money is well spent
– it advocates reviewing federal spending to ensure that programs are better targeted to benefit the Indigenous population, in particular the communities that have the greatest needs.

Immigrants & Newcomers
The party states that:
– the primary aim of Canada’s immigration policy should be to economically benefit Canadians and Canada as a whole, not to forcibly change the cultural character and social fabric of our country. And it should not put excessive financial burdens on the shoulders of Canadians in the pursuit of humanitarian goals
– In 2022, in addition to 437,000 immigrants (or permanent residents), there was a net increase in the number of non-permanent residents (temporary foreign workers, foreign students, and refugees) in Canada estimated at 608,000.  Both of these numbers represent the highest levels on record.  The UN’s Global Compact for Migration, which the current government signed in 2018, aims to normalize this kind of situation, and to make it easier for millions of people to move to Canada and other Western democracies at will
– high immigration in itself cannot solve the labour shortages that affect some sectors of the economy. Immigrants are not just workers but also consumers of goods and services, which creates demand for labour in other sectors and simply displaces the problem.  Moreover, only about one quarter of all newcomers to Canada every year are directly chosen because they have the right qualifications and work experience to fulfill our economic needs. The rest are dependents (spouses and children) of economic immigrants, or come through the family reunification program or as refugees. They either do not work, or do not have the skills that are most in need even if they find work
– mass immigration partly explains why wages and productivity have been stagnant in Canada, as cheaper immigrant labour is often favoured by employers over capital investment and automation
– although a large increase in the number of workers makes our economy larger, it also makes it less productive and impedes GDP growth per capita. What’s important is not to have a larger economy, but to be richer
– mass immigration increases pressure on our infrastructures, health care system, and social programs. It also inflates housing prices. More than 41% of all immigrants to Canada settle in and around Toronto and Vancouver, which have some of the least affordable housing among big cities in the world
– finally, demographic studies have shown that newcomers are a bit younger on average than Canadians, but not enough to have a noticeable impact on the rate of aging. This is exacerbated by increasing the number of parents and grand-parents accepted under the family reunification program
– mass immigration also inflates housing prices. More than 41% of all immigrants to Canada settle in and around Toronto and Vancouver, which have some of the least affordable housing among big cities in the world

The party advocates:
– benefiting Canadians by welcoming the right kind of immigrants, to prioritize Canada’s economic interests in a way that does not jeopardize Canadian values and the maintenance of our national identity
– substantially lowering the total number of immigrants and refugees Canada accept every year, from 500,000 to between 100,000and 150,000, depending on economic and other circumstances
– reforming the immigration point system and related programs to accept a larger proportion of economic immigrants with the right skills
– accepting fewer resettled refugees (see Refugees policy) and limiting the number of immigrants accepted under the family reunification program, including abolishing the program for parents and grand-parents
– limiting the number of temporary foreign workers and making sure that they fulfil temporary positions and do not compete unfairly with Canadian workers
– making birth tourism illegal
– ensure that every candidate for immigration undergoes a face-to-face interview and answers a series of specific questions to assess the extent to which they align with Canadian values and societal norms (see Canadian Identity policy)
– increasing resources for CSIS, the RCMP and Canadian Immigration and Citizenship to do interviews and thorough background checks on all classes of immigrants
– accepting fewer refugees and giving priority to those belonging to persecuted groups who have nowhere to go in neighbouring countries. For example: Christians, Yazidis, and members of other minority religions in majority Muslim countries; members of the Ahmadi community, and other Muslims in these countries who are persecuted because they reject political Islam and adhere to Western values; and members of sexual minorities
– relying on private sponsorships instead of having the government pay for all the costs of resettling refugees in Canada
– taking Canada out of the UN’s Global Compact for Migration.