Canada’s three main party leaders made announcements in Ontario on Day 11 of the election campaign on Wednesday.
The NDP released a plan to lower cell phones and internet bills and save the average family $1,000.
Leader Jagmeet Singh committed to working with the CRTC to force telecom giants to reduce prices on plans and cap fees.
“Most Canadians are paying hundreds of dollars a month for barebone cellular and internet plans — often with terrible service. That’s wrong,” said Singh.
“The pandemic showed us just how important affordable access to these services are for Canadians when it comes to work, school or even connecting with loved ones.”
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole unveiled his party’s mental health action plan, which includes more mental health funding for provinces.
O’Toole committed to helping an additional million Canadians to receive mental health treatment every year and creating a national three-digit suicide prevention hotline.
The Tories are also promising a tax credit for employers who add mental health coverage to the employee benefit plans or boost their coverage.
“As a country, we need to recognize that mental health is health,” said O’Toole. “We have tremendous work to do to end the stigma and build more integrated mental health care systems across the country.”
The Liberals are promising to raise taxes on the country’s largest banks and insurance companies.
Leader Justin Trudeau said his party would raise the corporate income tax from 15 to 18 per cent on earnings over $1 billion.
If re-elected, Trudeau said the Liberals would also establish what he called the “Canada Recovery Dividend.”
“Big banks and insurance companies have been doing very well over these past many months,” he said. “Because you sacrificed, because you saved, big banks got a windfall.”
Voters will head to the polls on Sept. 20.
