THE CANDIDATES
From political dynasties to activists and colourful characters, these are the candidates vying for Canada’s top job on Oct. 21.
THE WHO
Justin Trudeau, Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
THE RESUME
• BA in English (1994) from Mcgill University • Education degree (1998) from the University of British Columbia • Taught high school French and math in Vancouver • Former chairman of the board of directors of Katimavik (2002–06), the national youth volunteer organization established by his father in 1977 • Elected to the House of Commons in 2008 in the Montreal riding of Papineau, re-elected in 2011 and 2015 • Won the Liberal party leadership in 2013 • Elected prime minister in 2015 after the Liberal’s landslide win in the federal election (the Liberals won 184 seats)
THE PROMISES AFFORDABLE CARE:
The goal is to create more affordable services for before and after-school care for children. If re-elected, Trudeau’s Liberals would work to establish guaranteed paid family leave within the first year of its mandate.
PARENTAL LEAVE:
Liberals have a plan to make maternity and parental benefits tax-free, and a 15-week leave for adoptive parents to allow them the same benefits as non-adoptive parents.
SENIORS BENEFITS:
At their annual policy convention in 2018, the Liberal Party of Canada introduced a resolution to “strongly urge the Government of Canada to create a Minister of Seniors. If re-elected, the Liberals will increase Old Age Security by an extra 10 per cent when a senior turns 75. It would also boost the Canada Pension Plan survivor’s benefit by 25 per cent. He said these increases would put up to $729 more in the pockets of seniors annually. The Liberals also committed to “give up to $2,080 in additional benefits, every year, to those who’ve lost a loved one, by increasing the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) survivor’s benefit by 25 per cent.”
THE WHO
Andrew Scheer, Leader, Conservative Party of Canada
THE RESUME
• Worked in the correspondence unit for former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day • Elected Conservative MP for Regina-qu’appelle in 2004 • Voted against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005 • Became assistant deputy speaker of House of Commons in 2006 • Named deputy speaker of the House in 2008 • Re-elected MP and named speaker of the House in 2011 — the youngest person to ever hold that post • Re-elected MP in 2015 • Elected leader of the Conservative Party of Canada with 50.95 per cent of the vote in May 2017
THE PROMISES ENVIRONMENT:
The Conservative Party proposes several measures on the environment. Among them is a $900-million per year “Green Homes” tax credit; a two year-plan to encourage Canadians to try new energy-saving products and technologies by providing a 20 percent refundable credit on their income tax for green improvements to their homes, up to $20,000. The Conservatives say they also want to make it easier for contractors to build green homes.
TAXES AND FAMILIES:
The Conservatives propose to help Canadian families by introducing new tax measures. A Children’s Fitness Tax Credit would allow parents to claim up to $1,000 per child for expenses related to fitness or sports activities. A Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit would allow parents to claim up to $500 per child for expenses related to art and educational activities. The Conservatives also say they would support young families by making EI maternity and parental benefits tax-free.
THE WHO
Jagmeet Singh, Leader, New Democratic Party
THE RESUME
• Bachelor of science from Western University • Law degree from Osgood Law School, Toronto • Criminal defense lawyer in Brampton • Served as NDP member in the Ontario legislature 2011-14 • Elected leader of the federal NDP party in October 2018, winning on the first ballot with 53.8 per cent of the votes • Elected MP for Burnaby South in a Feb. 25, 2019, by-election
THE PROMISES TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
Singh wants to make phone bills cheaper for Canadians and claims telecom companies are “ripping Canadians off.” In an interview with CTV News, he said Canadians need access to affordable data. His party’s plan would see a price cap until the communications industry becomes more competitive.
ENERGY AND EMPLOYMENT:
In a 2017 interview with the National Observer, Singh said some sectors that won’t be able to create long-lasting jobs. He said producing oil from the tar sands of Alberta is costly, making it harder for those companies to compete with other oil-producing nations. He said Canada has to invest in electricity. Electricity is one of the solutions in the climate change plan spelled out in the NDP party platform. The NDP proposes a plan to see Canada powered with net carbon-free electricity by 2030 and moving to 100 per cent non-emitting electricity by 2050.
ENVIRONMENT:
“To drive ... progress, we will establish a new Canadian climate bank … (to) help boost investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low carbon technology across the country.” The NDP says the climate bank will also support made-in-canada manufacturing of renewable energy components and technologies and help scale up Canada’s clean energy industry.
THE WHO
Elizabeth May, Leader, Green Party of Canada
THE RESUME
• 1980 stood as a candidate for the Small Party – a precursor to the Green Party – in Nova Scotia. • 1983 law degree from Dalhousie University • 1986-88 senior policy advisor to Tom Mcmillan, environment minister in the PC government of Brian Mulroney • 1993-2006 executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada • 2001 stages a 17-day hunger strike to draw attention to the Syndey Tar Ponds • 2008 elected leader of the Green Party • 2011 becomes the first Green Party member to win a seat in the House of Commons, as MP for Saanich-gulf Islands, B.C. • 2015 named honorary doctor of divinity, Atlantic School of Theology
THE PROMISES
The The Green Party agenda is heavy on environmental issues and climate change concerns. May has a bold plan for switching Canada from a fossil fuel economy, to one based on green energy. It’s a plan that includes money for retraining workers who have depended on carbon-reliant industries, with a proposal to set aside millions from the federal budget to retrofit buildings and pull them away from fossil-fueled heating systems.
EMISSIONS:
The Green party plan has a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050 — and an idea on how to transition workers from the oil industry to new jobs in a clean energy economy. To transition to a carbon-free economy, the party proposes a national building retrofit plan that will create “millions of new, well-paying jobs in the trades.” To transition of workers from the fossil fuel industry, May says her party will invest in retraining and apprenticeship programs.
EDUCATION and TUITION:
The Green Party platform proposes to support post-secondary education with a budget plan that would put $10-billion toward making college and university tuition-free for all Canadians and forgive the portion of existing student debt that is held by the federal government.
THE WHO
Maxime Bernier, Leader, Peoples Party of Canada
THE RESUME •
Pre-political career in business and finance • Named executive vice-president of the Montreal Economic Institute in 2005 • Elected Conservative member of Parliament for Beauce on Jan. 23, 2006, with the largest majority outside Alberta • Appointed to the Stephen Harper’s cabinet Feb. 6, 2006, as minister of Industry • Served as minister of Foreign Affairs Aug. 14, 2007, to May 26, 2008. • Re-elected to represent Beauce Oct. 14, 2008 • Re-elected on May 2, 2011, and appointed Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism. • Re-elected November 2015 • Left the Conservative Party of Canada on Aug. 23, 2018, to sit as an independent MP and announced the launch of new party
THE PROMISES
The People’s Party Platform for 2019 will not appeal to those worried about climate change and welcoming immigrants to Canada.
ENVIRONMENT:
The People’s Party of Canada holds a right-wing view on climate change. Under Bernier, Canada would pull out of the Paris Accord and “abandon unrealistic greenhouse gas emission targets” and abolish subsidies for green technology.
MUTLTICULTURALISM AND IMMIGRATION:
The party spells it out bluntly in its platform, saying it would lower the total number of immigrants from 350,000 annually to just 100,000-150,000 each year. Bernier would also limit the number of immigrants under the family reunification program — and abolish the program for parents and grandparents. Decisions on which immigrants would be allowed in would be based on the immigrants’ skill sets, Bernier says. A People’s Party government would also “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.”