Vote 2025: The New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) platform

In their platform, the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) proposes dealing with Trump’s tariff war by taxing the extremely wealthy to build up the federal government’s war chest, some $94.5-billion in new revenue over four years. It’s from this amount that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh would then have tens of billions for new spending, as much as tax cuts for working Canadians. Some of this money would also be dedicated to bolstering healthcare in Canada.

The source of the NDP’s new federal revenue is a graduated wealth tax on the super wealthy: 1% on net worths between $10- and $50-million, 2% for those worth between $50 and $100-million, and 3% for those over $100-million. Singh also proposes closing tax loopholes could raise another $25-billion, and that another $8-billion could be raised by eliminating the federal government’s use of external consultants.

The NDP wants to improve employment insurance by extending benefits to 50 weeks as well as ensuring a minimum $450 weekly benefit.

Healthcare is where Singh wants to focus new spending, with a pledge to commit over $46-billion to increase the Canada Health Transfer and train more physicians. The NDP also wants a national and universal pharmacare program, estimated to cost $29.2-billion over four years, and to increase federal spending on mental health by $7-billion over four years, and this news is certainly welcome. The drugs crisis is fundamentally a mental health crisis, not a matter of criminality.

On the housing front, the NDP is proposing a permanent $16-billion national housing strategy that incentivizes communities to build new housing quickly (particularly townhomes, apartments, and new housing near transit), while also incentivizing provinces to develop the infrastructure needed for new housing development (such as water connections, sewage, roads, etc). The NDP is also proposing regulations to strengthen tenants’ rights and rent controls, and an initiative to prevent people from falling into homelessness.

On the affordability front, the NDP is proposing to stop price gouging by the supermarket monopolies by introducing price caps on basic food items, eliminating the GST from essential foods, and a home retrofit plan for heat pumps, insulation, and other energy saving renovations.

Singh also says he would prioritize building a national electrical grid, which is what environmentalists are arguing would be a much faster way to achieve energy security than building more pipelines. ■

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The 2025 federal election is happening on Monday, April 28. For more, visit the Elections Canada website.

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