As Carney courts CEOs, New Democrats wrap caucus meetings focused on working people

TORONTO —Canada’s New Democrats wrapped up three days of caucus meetings in Toronto on Thursday, united behind a plan to tackle the affordability crisis, defend Canada’s economic independence and put people before wealthy investors and corporations.

NDP Leader Avi Lewis and NDP MPs discussed the challenges facing people across the country and the party’s priorities for the upcoming session of Parliament.

“This is a scary time for Canadians. We are under economic attack by the United States, and this trade war is colliding with an already existing cost-of-living crisis,” said Avi Lewis. “But this is also a moment to decide what kind of Canada we want to build. Our party’s answer is clear: we can’t save Canada by selling it off.”
Lewis said the NDP will enter the fall parliamentary session focused on solutions to lower the costs of food and housing, strengthen public services, create good jobs, invest in Canadian industries, and rebuild our economic independence.

As part of the caucus meetings, Lewis and MPs sat down with more than a dozen Toronto-based unions and community organizations working on the frontlines of the affordability crisis, including workers, food banks, tenant organizers, housing and shelter advocates, drug policy advocates and community organizations.

The meetings came as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepared to host international investors, including CEOs of private multibillion dollar companies, in Toronto. Lewis said the contrast reflects two very different visions for Canada’s future.

“Mark Carney’s answer is to invite Wall Street banks and private equity firms into the room and offer them a bigger piece of Canada,” said Lewis. “Our answer is different. We want to use Canada’s resources to rebuild our independence, create good jobs and make life better for the people who actually live and work here. Making Canada strong isn’t just about creating more wealth -- it’s about making sure that wealth actually improves working people’s lives.”

The caucus meetings concluded Thursday afternoon, with MPs returning to their constituencies for a week of outreach before the fall sitting of Parliament.