Jagmeet Singh is the first party leader to visit the Kenora riding during the federal election.
About 100 people showed up at the Kenora Airport to greet the NDP leader Thursday.
During his address, Singh talked about improving the lives of indigenous people.
“I believe very deeply in justice,” says Singh.
“It’s something my mom taught me, the fact we’re all connected, we’re all one, and that when we see people around us suffering, we’re also suffering. We cannot build a just country unless the first people of this country get justice. I believe that in my heart and I’m committed to that.”
He also promised to help out businesses hurt by the pandemic, including tourist operators.
“We know that not just the tourism, but also the service sector…restaurants…are not at full capacity. People aren’t able to go back to the way things were. So we have to continue to look at ways to provide additional supports.”
Singh was accompanied by Kenora NDP candidate Janine Seymour, Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa, and the Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew.
Singh went on to spend the day in Thunder Bay on Friday revealing the NDP pharmacare plan.
Singh says implementing universal pharmacare would save an average Canadian family hundreds of dollars a year.
The press conference was held in the courtyard of the Valhalla Inn, and Singh was joined by local NDP candidates Yuk-Sem Won (Thunder Bay-Rainy River) and Chantelle Bryson (Thunder Bay-Superior North).
Acadia News sat down with Singh after his announcement, and discussed some issues on the minds of voters in Northwestern Ontario.
There is no doubt there is an opioid crisis in the Northwest, with Superior North EMS often responding to multiple overdose calls a day in Thunder Bay alone.
Singh is vowing for swift action if the NDP is elected.
“We would immediately declare a public health emergency, and when a national public health emergency is declared it opens up more funding and more ways to respond,” explains Singh. “We also would take a hard look at what’s worked and what’s not working. We know that the previous approach that we’ve taken has simply not worked, it has not saved lives, and it doesn’t make communities safer.”
Singh says his experience as a lawyer has showed him the current system, which puts addicts and drug users through the justice system, is ineffective. The NDP Leader goes on to mention these are often individuals dealing with mental health or poverty issues, and need health care, rehabilitation, and other similar supports.
The conversation turned to support for isolated Indigenous communities after the recent tragedy in Wunnumin Lake First Nation. The community lost three members in a 36-hour period, and are now pleading for federal support.
“I’ve read the recent report,” said Singh. “So many deaths in such a short period of time. Suicide is a real scary and growing epidemic, it’s a real problem. Mental health supports have to be ongoing, they can’t just be a one-off thing, they have to be an ongoing commitment to getting at the root causes.”
Singh concluded by saying he believes Northern Ontario often feels forgotten by the federal government, but this would not be something that would occur under NDP leadership.
“I’ve been out to Thunder Bay a number of times before elections, and I’ve been out here because I care deeply,” stressed Singh. “We’ll never let issues in the north be forgotten. While the Liberals take people for granted, we fight for them. Anytime you see a New Democrat, you’ll know that they’re going to continue to raise concerns, they’re going to continue to push Ottawa for more, and that’s the difference. Often we’ve seen other parties take northerners for granted. New Democrats always fight for you.”
Also touched on during the discussion was the forest fires, Singh stating as he has before during his campaign that an NDP government would put their efforts into battling climate change, experts citing this as the reasoning for such a severe fire season.
(With files from Vasilios Bellos)
