Whether it’s sky-high rent and housing costs, gas pump gouging, or record-high grocery bills – working families are feeling the squeeze of inflation as big box stores and CEOs earn massive profits. At the NDP caucus retreat in Halifax last week, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh reiterated urgent calls for inflationary relief measures to address the affordability crisis.
New Democrats used their power in the minority parliament to get wins for everyday people, forcing the Liberals to finally agree to take action on a historic expansion of Canada’s healthcare system through the establishment of a dental care program for families earning less than $90,000 without insurance and an increase to the Canadian Housing Benefit – real measures that will help household budgets.
On July 20, NDP Immigration Critic Jenny Kwan organized a press conference in Toronto to decry the backlog of 44,000 permanent residency applications submitted by live-in caregivers that have yet to be processed. Accompanied by caregivers and migrant advocates, Kwan argued that the Liberal government's continued apathy when it comes to the plight of caregivers, many of whom have been separated from their families for years, is "inhumane and indefensible."
The federal NDP immigration critic along with the party's critic for public safety is calling on the Liberal government to intervene after learning that U.S. border officials revoked a Nexus card from a Canadian citizen with a "Muslim-sounding name" in the wake of the Trump administration's second partial travel ban.
Following a Global News investigation that revealed flaws with the way Canada evaluates immigration applications for persons with disabilities, community leaders, politicians and advocacy groups say it’s time the government changes its outdated and discriminatory immigration policies.
"East Vancouver NDP MP Jenny Kwan has been pressing the Liberal government for action. But when she asked Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen about funding for the society in Question Period, he responded with talking points about the government’s support for refugees."
The following is a statement from Jenny Kwan, NDP Critic for Immigration and Refugees: