WRIT DROP
With a writ drop on Sunday
I'm taking a moment of your time to remind you we are still working on our Candidacies for NDP for Winnipeg South Center. A membership meeting is impending and if you are receiving this list, you are a voting member. Joseph Estabrooks and I have made an effort to let YOU decide who the candidate is and we now have to do it on the liberal’s timeline - so be it!
WE WANT YOUR HELP!
I’d like to take a moment to ask for your attention. Yes this election is VERY important, YES it is the moment to get rid of Pierre Polievre and YES we need your support. However we also need to lift a new generation of new democrats. A new generation of fighters who will have to continue this quest for equanimity we have all chosen to participate in as NDP members. More importantly this will be their Canada soon enough we have to leave it ready for them. For those of us with children and grandchildren this election is also about our legacy.
I will take a moment to list my most important policy proposals at the tail end of this message, but I wanted to center on the most important issue in this election for our community, Winnipeg South Centre.
Almost 50% of the electorate in our community DID NOT VOTE in the last election. Ben Carr Got elected by just 25% of the electorate. A large swath of those non-voting folks are young people disillusioned with the system, holding the very valid belief that the system is not designed for them. They can’t afford to enter the housing market and build wealth the way previous generations have and they are living in an age of disinformation.
This is bad. Our democracy is at stake, but also the legacy of our generations. The democratic world we, our parents and grandparents built is fading away. Democratic institutions are being eroded slowly and we are watching our neighbours to the south dismantle and cannibalize their democracy. We can’t let it happen here.
This election has to be about engagement. Rekindling the democratic spark in all of us, educating people around us and most importantly combat disinformation. A good chunk of that 25% Ben got last time were NDP supporters( many with signs in their lawns) who were voting strategically. Imagine what we could do if we took a large bite out of Ben's ( and royden’s) support AND we engaged new voters. Now we are cooking with fire!
All of the issues we as the NDP care about point to the same thing, an unfair system that prioritizes the wealthy and punishes the poor. And as we all know young, racialized, indigenous, queer folks and seniors are more often than not in the lower stratas of our society. It is particularly those folks who are disappointed with the system - go figure. However they are also folks who would benefit most from participating.
A great deal of the issues candidates are pointing at nationally come from one single source:
Poverty.
We have a crime problem because we have a poverty problem.
We have an education problem because we have a poverty problem.
We have an addictions problem because we have a poverty problem.
I see poverty as a form of oppression ( a very intentional form) and as such I see poverty as a solvable issue.
I see poverty as an ethical Issue, one that anyone from any religion, creed or spirituality should be doing something to stop. This is what the federal and provincial NDP chapters are dedicated to achieve.
I NEED YOUR HELP!
I keep being reminded that Winnipeg South Centre is a non-win race for the NDP - but people aren’t doing the math! I have spent many hours looking at the voting numbers and sharing them with you. I know, even with a (Terrible) short election we CAN make a difference.
Experts are now predicting a liberal majority with the most right of center liberal leader in my lifetime. They are also predicting between 1 and13 NDP seats nationally. This is alarming! This means the future of the NDP is riding in this election. We need to cease the moment and actively participate, invite and entice folks to join us. PLEASE, whether i’m your candidate or not; The battle must be fought for the NDP to survive as an option. The future of the left (even the center left) is at stake. If you believe we are all equal in Canada it is time to fight, if you believe gender equality, racial equality labour rights and human rights matter it's time to fight.
I’ll add one more thought here. I have taken very little time to talk about Royden, the conservative Candidate.
That’s because of one very important thing - Their party is in trouble.There is no Pierre Polievre without Justin Trudeau.Conservativesa have made a good effort to make themselves irrelevant. His whole campaign has been built in un-kindness. Conservatives are a party of bullies with un-comedic zingers and comedic (cruel) views. I honestly think we need to laugh them off. Also they supported Trump and would relish the thought of annexation. We have all watched them wear maga hats in public and toe the line around issues like trans rights, racism, gender equality and human rights. They are the trump party of Canada whatever their current messaging is.
OK, here are some of my leading views.
On Poverty - Poverty is a form of oppression and we ethically as a society cannot let it grow, we MUST work on every strategy we can. From Guaranteed social income to basic basket of goods to transportation to national rent control. Solving poverty will largely solve crime.
Indigenous identity and reconciliation - we need a federal government who understands and practices the truth and reconciliation commission’s 94 calls to action. - No discussion, no debate. We need to do that.
Education - Conservatives will continue to defund education and liberals will sit on their hands about it.
Civics, economics, anthropology and arts are needed at the highschool level. We need to produce humans that are ready to take over the world and solve the issues we will leave them with.
Automation- this is a HUGE issue. Automation is very close to becoming a real part of our society and if we don’t legislate it now we will create an even deeper gap between the rich and the poor. We need to protect ourselves from private interests who may want to automate YOUR job, your children’s jobs. We need to create an automation tax.
Guaranteed Livable Basic Income - my friend Leah Gazan has done great work in this file. I believe in everything she has worked on. GLBI can help solve poverty. I’ll only add that Automation can be a path for funding a GLBI
Crime and policing - Our current system, the “penal system” is designed to PUNISH crime. And as such it can only punish crimes that have already happened. The penal system cannot “prevent” crime. Any more than they can travel in time. Everyone from beat-cops to the supreme court lacks the tools to create a safer society.
I’m not saying crime punishment isn’t necessary, it is very necessary. We need to punish criminals but we don’t need to make any more. We are currently minting new criminals daily by letting poverty run free. There is only one real way to be TOUGH ON CRIME - that way is to be TOUGH ON POVERTY. Poverty prevention is the only crime prevention that works.
Anti-Racism- NEEDS to be a priority of the Canadian government and every provincial government. We cannot dance the American ( and conservative) dance against diversity and inclusion policies. It’s just not who we are. A part of this is reshaping the “multiculturalism” strategy of previous governments (which has delivered some important victories) and creating an inclusion strategy one that acknowledges intersectionalities and identities and is led by racialized, indigenous and queer communities.
Immigrant inclusion - Millions of immigrants effectively subsidize the Canadian economy with cheap labour and they are getting a bad deal. Here is the thing: the Canadian economy cannot survive without us. Immigrants are the largest source of growth in Canada which drives GDP growth and insures our future, it's how our pensions are funded. Migro-phobia has been a cornerstone of Conservative politics and it needs to be eradicated.
Palestine - I do not want my taxes to fund the death of children anywhere in the world, including palestine. A Human rights government must uphold human rights with every item in the budget. The international court of Justice has been clear in their rulings calling for an end to the occupation. I will add here that Ben Carr was one of three Liberal MP’s to vote AGAINST a Ceasefire resolution after the UN resolution vote in 2024. Yes he voted AGAINST a Ceasefire resolution for Gaza.
Budget - Every ideological and policy driven idea must be a part of the budget. There is no “socially-liberal/fiscal-conservative” position. If you believe in human rights, equanimity, social justice. All of those things need to be in the budget. Having a good society costs money. We should not have a balancing act of values.
Labour - The only thing that creates wealth is labour. Labout movements have been instrumental in the creation of the democracy we enjoy we must keep labour at the center of all econoic conversations. Especially in the face of automation
The Economy - The economy is a thinking tool of human behaviour, not religion, not a deity. We need an economy that serves society. We should not be here at its behest. Conservatives are religiously fervent in their belief that money makes the world. I believe people are more important than money. I want to fight for that belief.
I’m asking for your support to become your candidate for Winnipeg South Centre but furthermore I’m asking for your support to win this race and get an NDP candidate in that seat. Yes We are the underdog. But underdogs win!
Please help me bring some punk rock into parliament.
Why Proportional Representation is the Change We Need (and why we are never gonna get it from the other guys).
A couple days ago I was forwarded an email coming from hereditary incumbent Ben Carr warning his membership about the big bad NDP wolf “Splitting the left”. I’m normally not so cheeky on this blog, but… let’s go for it.
“Splitting the left” is a gift you are currently receiving from both Liberal and Conservative governments. It keeps those of us left of center out of their comfort zone. There are many reasons why this is terrible for democracy but maintaining the status quo is one of them. I'd venture to say their foot dragging on making this change is intentional; it unfairly benefits both “major” parties and keeps their incumbents in. (even the hereditary ones)
Trudeau campaigned on electoral reform, he promised to abolish “first past the post” in his first term and then he never had time in a decade to get back to it. I don’t see Mark Carney getting into it and I very much doubt Ben Carr would support it. I’ll take license to repeat myself here “splitting the left” is a Liberal and conservative legacy. So let’s not get baited into voting for a more conservative Canada - Both with the reds and the blues - and get people who will push for electoral reform into government. I’ll advance one more thought on what Ben is calling “The Left” Mark Carney is the most conservative liberal I can think of and that leaves a LOT of left for the NDP to take. Don’t get me wrong I shiver at the thought of a conservative majority dealing with Trump (barf) in 2025 Canada. But I know we have a lot of room to grow, here is why.
About FPTP
Imagine a Canada where a party wins a "majority" government with only 39 percent of the vote… Actually you don’t have to imagine it—this has happened multiple times. Under our current first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, a party can govern with complete control even when the majority of Canadians did not vote for them.
The consequences are significant. Millions of votes do not count. Strategic voting dominates elections, forcing people to choose between the "lesser evil" rather than a candidate or party they truly believe in. “Smaller” parties with substantial public support are shut out, and diverse voices—especially from underrepresented communities—are drowned out in Parliament. This is not a good democracy.
In a winner-takes-all system where the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins the seat—even if they only got 30 percent of the vote. The remaining 70 percent of voters are left unrepresented. This leads to several fundamental problems. False majorities are common, where parties frequently win majority governments without securing a majority of the popular vote. In 2015, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals won 100 percent of the power with only 39.5 percent of the vote. Yes, keeping conservatives out and while that is really good, millions of votes are wasted, having no impact on the final election results. If a voter supports a candidate who does not win in their riding, their vote essentially disappears. This is why strategic voting becomes the regrettable norm, with many Canadians feeling pressured to vote against the party they fear the most ( the cons) rather than supporting the candidate or party they believe in( the NDP ;) ). The system also exaggerates regional divisions, making it seem like entire provinces support only one party when, in reality, there is significant political diversity.
Canada’s elections should be about representation, not about which party can manipulate the system to win the most seats with the least votes. In Winnipeg South Centre we are a good example of this. The total electorate in Winnipeg South Centre is 70,484 people—about 75% of the population living in the riding. Yet, in the last election, only 25,858 people voted. (Meaning roughly 43000 people DIDN’T) OFF COURSE Ben is never going to vote against FPTP because he is planning to stay there until retirement.
Ben Carr won with 14,278 votes, meaning that only 21% of eligible voters actually supported him. If we consider the entire population of our riding, only 14% of the people who live here voted for Ben Carr. Twice as many people in Winnipeg South Centre didn’t vote than voted for Ben Carr - This is where our NDP can make gains without being scared of the big “split the left boogie man”
Anyone reading about this for 5 minutes knows proportional representation offers a fairer alternative. It is based on a simple yet powerful principle: the percentage of seats a party wins should reflect the percentage of votes it receives. If a party gets 30 percent of the vote, they should get 30 percent of the seats in Parliament. There are different models of PR used worldwide and they have pros and cons but the core principle remains the same—every vote counts, and every voter is represented fairly. We need to push for this, do the work and fin d the system that represents Canada the best.
Counted amongst the reasons Not to vote many young people express that they feel their votes don’t matter - and they are kind of right. We need to build a better democracy for them. A voting system they can believe in.
POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR POLICY
In the Mixed-Member Proportional system, used in Germany and New Zealand, voters elect both local MPs and regional representatives to ensure proportional outcomes. The Single Transferable Vote , used in Ireland and parts of Australia, allows voters to rank candidates, reducing wasted votes and ensuring broader representation.
Countries that use PR tend to have higher voter turnout because people feel their votes actually matter. PR countries often see participation rates 7 to 10 percent higher than FPTP countries. The system results in better representation, giving women, minorities, and smaller parties a fairer chance of winning seats, leading to more diverse legislatures that reflect society. PR also encourages stronger policies, as coalition governments must work together rather than engage in the toxic winner-takes-all approach of FPTP. It eliminates the need for strategic voting, allowing voters to support the parties they truly believe in rather than voting out of fear.
Critics of PR often claim it leads to unstable governments but, PR countries often have more stable policies because coalition governments encourage long-term collaboration. Canada has had more snap elections under FPTP than many PR-using countries. Others argue that PR is too complicated - but Canadians already use ranked ballots in party leadership races and municipal elections. A canada-designed PR system can be simple and easy to understand. There is also concern that PR will allow extremist parties to gain power, but in practice, PR does not give extremists more influence—it simply reflects voter preferences. Many PR systems include a minimum threshold to prevent fringe parties from dominating. The only real way to curb extremism is to fund education. Another policy we need to prioritize.
Canadians deserve a democracy where every vote matters. The current system is broken, and proportional representation is the best solution. Electoral reform is necessary to ensure that our government truly reflects the will of the people. To push for change, Canadians must engage in the conversation, demand action, and support initiatives like those led by Fair Vote Canada. A voting system that works for everyone—not just the political elite—is a fundamental part of a healthy democracy.
References
Fair Vote Canada. "What is Proportional Representation?" fairvote.ca
Fair Vote Canada. "A Look at the Evidence." fairvote.ca
Franson, Gayvin. Brief to the Special Committee on Electoral Reform. Government of Canada. ourcommons.ca
Hawkins, Howie. "Escaping the Left’s Electoral Impasse: Ranked Choice Voting and Proportional Representation." howiehawkins.us
Courtney, John C. "Implications of Proportional Representation (PR) in Canada." Policy Options, IRPP, November 2017.policyoptions.irpp.org
The cost of living crisis: Seniors affordability. We need to take action NOW.
The Economic Challenges Facing Canadian Seniors: A Call to Action
Seniors in Canada are facing an affordability crisis, and it’s getting harder for them to keep up. Rent, groceries, and basic necessities are more expensive than ever, and for those on fixed incomes, there’s not a lot of room to adjust. But this isn’t just about money—it’s about dignity, independence, and the kind of community we want to live in.
Lets start with housing
Housing is one of the biggest concerns. In 2021, 38.8% of senior renters were spending more than 30% of their income on housing. That’s a massive financial strain, especially when you factor in rising costs for everything else. And it’s not just about affordability—many seniors are getting priced out of their communities as rental rates climb. From 2021 to 2023, the cost of a one-bedroom apartment in major cities jumped by over 20%, pushing more seniors toward precarious housing situations.
This financial pressure isn’t just inconvenient; it’s affecting seniors’ health. Stress over housing costs has been linked to increased anxiety and depression, and for many, it means having to make impossible choices. Do you pay rent or buy healthy food? Cover the bills or get the medication you need? Food inflation has been brutal in the past few years, with prices rising by 22% since 2020. Fresh produce, dairy, and protein-rich foods are getting more expensive, leaving many seniors with cheaper, less nutritious alternatives. And that has real consequences, more hospital visits, and a lower quality of life.
This means trouble at home
Here in Winnipeg South Centre, a big segment of our population is over the age of 65, making affordability a local issue we can’t ignore. If we don’t take steps to ensure seniors have stable, affordable housing and access to essential services, we risk leaving them behind. We’re not talking about charity—we’re talking about making sure the people who built this country aren’t struggling just to get by.
This conversation isn’t just about policy—it’s about how we value seniors in our society. Too often, they’re treated as an afterthought, rather than as the architects of the world we live in today. They built the institutions, businesses, and communities we rely on, and now, they’re facing economic conditions that threaten their independence. We must respect their contributions and ensure they can live with dignity.
Affordability solutions are URGENT
So, what’s the solution? We need real action on affordable housing, with policies that regulate rent increases and expand options for seniors. We need dedicated seniors' centers that provide a range of services to help combat isolation and support aging in place. And we need to strengthen programs that ensure healthcare, transportation, and financial assistance are keeping up with rising costs.
Other countries, for example, have tackled this issue head-on with dedicated seniors' centers—community spaces designed specifically for older adults. In places like Japan and parts of Europe, these centers offer affordable meal programs, social activities, fitness classes, and healthcare support all in one place. In Canada, we have community centers with some senior programming, but nothing as comprehensive as the hubs seen elsewhere. If we’re serious about supporting older adults, we should be seriously looking at these models and bringing them here.
Seniors deserve better, and addressing these challenges isn’t just about fixing today’s problems—it’s about setting the stage for how we care for future generations. The affordability crisis isn’t going away, and if we don’t act now, more and more Canadians will face these struggles as they age. It’s time to step up, push for change, and build a future where growing older doesn’t mean struggling to survive.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7799385/
https://www.manitobahumanrights.ca/education/pdf/guidelines/guideline_housing.pdf
https://corealberta.ca/news/high-inflation-putting-extra-strain-on-seniors-advocacy-group
Cost Of Living Crisis: Time for a National Rent Control Policy.
Across Canada, rents are soaring while wages stagnate, pushing low-wage workers, seniors, and young people into increasingly precarious living situations. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) reports that in Winnipeg, the rental wage—the hourly wage required to afford a two-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30% of one’s income—now sits at $27.32/hr Meanwhile, Manitoba’s minimum wage lags far behind at $15.30. For minimum-wage earners, this means the first 116 hours of work every month—nearly three weeks of full-time labor—go straight to rent. This isn’t just an economic crisis. It’s a moral one.
Despite overwhelming evidence that rent control helps keep housing affordable, we constantly hear the same tired argument: that regulating rent discourages investment in new housing construction. The problem with this claim is that it prioritizes investor profits over national housing needs. When analysts argue against rent control, they aren’t focused on whether families can afford a safe place to live—they are focused on whether landlords and real estate developers find the market profitable enough to invest in. But housing shouldn’t be treated solely as a financial asset. It is a basic human necessity, and public policy must reflect that. We should never put investor profits over people's needs.
PRIVATE INVESTORS OWN 20% OF THE AVAILABLE UNITS. ( and growing)
Read that twice if you need to. I know I had to.
One of the biggest culprits behind rising rents is private equity firms. Unlike individual landlords or small property owners, private equity investors purchase large portfolios of rental units and aggressively push up rents to maximize returns for their shareholders. A recent report highlights that when private equity firms acquire rental properties, they often implement sharp rent hikes, reduce maintenance spending, and exploit weak tenant protections. This strategy increases profits at the expense of affordability, pushing long-term tenants out of their homes and making entire neighborhoods unaffordable for working-class people. The decision (or inaction) by lawmakers to allow rental housing to be commodified and treated as just another asset —bought, flipped, and traded like stocks— has fueled this crisis, making housing less about shelter and more about extracting from renters who have nowhere else to turn. Commodifying rent is commodifying people.
More affordable rental units means less inflation AND more homeowners.
Rental inflation is a growing problem. In Canada, rent has become one of the biggest drivers of overall inflation, meaning that as rents rise, the cost of living skyrockets. With housing costs making up a large portion of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), it is nearly impossible to fight inflation while allowing rents to spiral out of control. The Bank of Canada continues to raise interest rates in an effort to slow inflation, yet these rate hikes also push more people into the rental market by making homeownership unattainable. This, in turn, drives rents even higher. Without policies to cap rental price increases, this cycle will continue to squeeze working-class Canadians, seniors and young people. In many cities, these bubbles are bursting, pushing out people who grew up in and love these communities. Gentrification makes thriving neighborhoods into unlivable ones, turning once-diverse areas into exclusive enclaves where only the wealthy can afford to stay.
In many provinces, annual rent increases have outpaced wage growth for over a decade, leaving workers in a perpetual struggle to keep up. For young people entering the workforce, saving for a home is just an impossible dream, and for seniors on fixed incomes, rent hikes can mean the difference between financial stability and homelessness.
Affordable Rent Makes Better Communities.
A National Rent Control policy would change this by setting universal guidelines for rental price increases, ensuring that landlords cannot raise rents arbitrarily or at rates far exceeding income growth. It would establish a fair balance between tenant protections and landlord rights while recognizing that housing is a fundamental need, not just an investment vehicle. Effective rent control doesn’t mean preventing landlords from making a profit—it means ensuring that those profits don’t come at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our society. Higher rents cause more poverty which also means more crime. If Conservatives want to be tough on crime they also should be tough on rent.
We need a framework that prioritizes affordability, security, and social well-being. The argument that rent control is bad for housing supply ignores the fact that corporate interests should not dictate national policy. Investors may look elsewhere if rental housing is no longer the cash cow they expect it to be, but the alternative—unchecked rent increases that displace families, seniors, and young workers—is far worse.
The federal government has recently approved enough incentives to keep construction moving, and they have a responsibility to act. Housing is a right, not a luxury, and it’s time to stop treating it as a speculative market. A National Rent Control policy isn’t just about capping rent increases; it’s about ensuring that every Canadian has access to stable, affordable housing. Without it, we are leaving the future of our communities in the hands of profit-driven corporations, rather than standing up for the people who live and work in them.
If we believe in a Canada where workers, seniors, and young people can afford a place to live, then we need a bold, unified solution. That solution is rent control—before it’s too late.
Sources:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) - Rental Wages in Canada 2024 (policyalternatives.ca)
Government of Manitoba - Rent Regulation Report (gov.mb.ca)
Desjardins Economic Studies - Rent Inflation in Canada (desjardins.com)
Kelowna Real Estate Blog - The Need for Rent Control in Canada (kelownarealestate.com)
Real Estate Institute of Canada - Private Equity's Role in Rental Inflation (reic.ca)
Financial Post - Rent Control Debate in Canada (financialpost.com)
Money in Politics: Who Really Decides Our Future?
I have to tell you—this discovery rocked me.
In the 2023 Winnipeg South Centre by-election, the financial disparity between candidates was staggering. According to Elections Canada, Liberal candidate Ben Carr’s campaign spent $83,693.35, while Conservative candidate Damir Stipanovic spent $81,041.38. Compare that to our NDP candidate, Julia Riddell, who spent just $16,456.57.
Wait—are we saying both the Liberals and Conservatives outspent us by 600%? Yes. Yes, we are.
The ability to massively outspend an opponent is a huge advantage, especially in an election where visibility and outreach can make or break a campaign. But what does this really mean for our democracy?
Big Money Drowns Out Real Voices
This isn’t just about the NDP being at a strategic disadvantage—it’s about who gets to decide policy in Canada. The wealthiest donors in our riding, and across the country, are shaping our elections in ways that silence everyday people.
We know that a small fraction of donors contribute the majority of political donations. Research from Democracy Watch shows that donors who contribute $1,000 or more—just 3.25% of all donors—account for 23% of all money raised. That’s an outsized influence from a tiny, wealthy minority.
These aren’t just numbers. When a handful of people fund campaigns, they expect influence in return. They’re not donating out of goodwill—they’re protecting their interests. And that’s why we end up with a government that talks about affordability but won’t touch corporate greed. That’s why grocery prices skyrocket while CEOs rake in record profits. That’s why climate action stalls while oil and gas companies make record-breaking revenue.
This isn’t democracy. This is a system where money, not people, calls the shots.
As we say in the music Business. If you have to pay to be popular you aren’t popular at all.
The Real Battle: Engagement, Not Ben Carr
Here’s something even more shocking: The total electorate in Winnipeg South Centre is 70,484 people—about 75% of the population living in the riding. Yet, in the last election, only 25,858 people voted.
Ben Carr won with 14,278 votes, meaning that only 21% of eligible voters actually supported him. If we consider the entire population of our riding, only 14% of the people who live here voted for Ben Carr.
This means our biggest challenge isn’t Ben Carr—it’s engagement.
Conservatives received 6,100 votes, which, frankly, is far too many for the cruelest party in Canada, but still nowhere near a majority. This is a riding where progressive voices vastly outnumber the right-wing vote—the issue is mobilizing them.
But Here’s the Truth: We Can Win Without Big Money
Ben Carr didn’t win because of an overwhelming grassroots movement—he won because his campaign flooded mailboxes, plastered ads everywhere, and repeated his name until people assumed their neighbors must support him.
We don’t need to outspend them. We just need to outwork them.
Thousands of people in this riding didn’t vote—especially young and lower-income residents. Carr’s 55.1% support shrinks to just 20.3% when compared to all eligible voters. That means just one in five people decided this election. If we engage those who have the most to gain from an NDP government, we can change the game.
This Campaign is About People, Not cash
Our opponents rely on name recognition and deep pockets. We rely on real people. That means you.
Every donation, no matter how small, helps us fight back against the flood of Liberal and Conservative money. Canvassing, organizing neighborhood meetings, and putting up lawn signs can do more than any ad ever could. Talking about money in politics with your friends helps break the cycle.
The media will amplify the voices of the well-funded. We need to amplify ourselves.
If you believe in a kinder, fairer, and more democratic future, let’s build it—together.
Donate. Volunteer. Share this message. Because when a movement is powered by people, not dollars, it’s unstoppable.
Sources:
Democracy Watch: Key Facts About Big Money in Canadian Politics
Global News: Winnipeg is a Hot Spot for Canadian Political Donations
The Cost of Living Crisis: Government Should Use the Tools It Already Has to Help.
The economy is a tool to serve us. We do not live to serve it. let’s fight for that.
If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you know something isn’t right. Prices have skyrocketed, wages have struggled to keep up, and everyday essentials are becoming luxuries. I did the numbers using Stats Canada’s own CPI data(Consumer Price Index). Canadians now pay 22.88 percent more for food at the grocery store. Thi, when compared to wages and using what economists call the “real wage,” makes it clear our purchasing power has decreased enormously.
But here’s the thing—our government has the data and the tools to tackle this crisis. They’re just choosing not to use them. Why? We’ll get there.
What is a Basic Basket?
The concept of a basic basket isn’t complicated. It refers to a set of essential goods and services—things like food, housing, transportation, and other necessities—that an average household needs to get by. Statistics Canada tracks this information. Every month, they collect and analyze data on the cost of 700 essential goods and services, allowing us to measure how inflation impacts Canadians. This data feeds into the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which governments use to understand economic trends and set policy. Its important to note than in Canada and the US these numbers are used by investors to comodify our consumption habits whereas in most of the world they are used to protect consumers.
How This Data Could Be Used to Reduce Inflation
Governments have the ability to intervene when inflation threatens people’s ability to afford basic goods. Countries around the world have taken proactive steps to keep prices under control by establishing price controls or windfall taxes. Some governments have temporarily limited price increases on essential goods or taxed corporations based on their record profits during inflationary periods and use the money to subsidize basic goods.
The CPI can also be a great tool to crack down on corporate price gouging. When companies take advantage of inflation as an excuse to raise prices beyond what’s necessary, governments have the tools to investigate and regulate these practices and legislate limits that help keep inflation down. However, we in Canada have failed to do that.
Other countries have used the public purse to create publicly owned distribution & grocery options. Several European countries have public grocery options that prevent price manipulation by private monopolies. Canada could do the same.
So, if we have the data and examples of effective policies, why hasn’t our government acted?
The answer is simple: Liberals and Conservatives are protecting their corporate friends. Both the Liberals and Conservatives have had the power to step in both nationally and provincially, yet neither has made meaningful moves to curb grocery price inflation or regulate monopolistic corporations in retail, transportation,energy and food distribution.
We know grocer billionaires fund their campaigns. We know that Galen Weston and his family have made large donations to both the Liberals and the Conservatives. They have close relationships with political leaders, attending fundraisers and influencing policy decisions to protect profits. We have even given both the Sobey family and the Westons tens of millions of dollars in subsidies. When it comes to food in the north, we gave the biggest grocery giants $131 million a year to make food cheaper in a program that delivered almost no results.
We also know that retail giants set the agenda. Canada’s biggest grocery chains are owned by a few billionaire families, and they control the market. With no competition, they raise prices at will—as they did in the pandemic—and neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have challenged them. Remember during the pandemic when they all got into a room and made their own “code of conduct” to prevent gouging? The first item in their “code” was: “To allow for a thriving industry.” Not exactly designed for your benefit.
There are also transportation and distribution monopolies. Big corporations controlling fuel distribution, trucking, food distribution, and storage have pushed for deregulation and price hikes, and they’ve been met with little resistance from the government. Transportation and warehousing make up 3.4% of our GDP, and it’s mostly concentrated among four large companies.
Wages vs. Grocery Prices: The Growing Gap
Food prices have risen by 22.88% since 2020, while average wages have increased at a much slower pace. Wage growth has barely kept pace with the rising cost of groceries, leaving most Canadians with a decrease in purchasing power. And it’s not just groceries—most services, car repairs, gas, and heating all cost more than wages have kept up with.
A study by the Broadbent Institute demonstrated record corporate profits were a large contributor to inflation and in Canada oil and gas profiteering accounted for nearly all of the cost hikes on gas prices affecting the cost of every good in the country. These are just s couple of examples where government needed to step in to protect us.
Corporate grocery chains post record profits while working families are struggling to make ends meet. This isn’t just inflation—it’s price gouging and corporate greed, made worse by a government that refuses to intervene.
It’s Time for Real Change
The cost of living crisis isn’t inevitable—it’s a policy choice. The government already collects the data to track inflation’s impact, but it refuses to act on it. Instead of protecting corporate profits, we need people in Ottawa who will fight for working people, renters, and families trying to afford basic necessities.
As your representative, I will push for a “Basic Basket Legislation” that will limit the power grocery giants have over your personal finances by creating price caps on all 700 basic goods and services across the country. I also want to push for public options for essential goods, including government-backed grocery alternatives, and most importantly, fair wage policies to ensure salaries keep up with the REAL cost of living.
We need action. We need voices that will push the government to work for people, not corporate lobbyists and wealthy donors.
Let’s make it happen together. Come join us!.