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The clearest outcome of this historic federal election was an overwhelming call from Canadians for a change in government, and a change in direction for our country. The Liberals have been tasked with delivering progressive change.
But achieving real, lasting change is never easy – and it cannot start and stop at a ballot box.
If we want to see real change, we are going to need to hold the Liberals to account for their promises. And we’re going to need to rely on the NDP to not just hold the Liberals responsible, but to also offer their ideas for change, which will enrich and deepen the change we are able to accomplish.
Both the Liberals and NDP have positioned themselves as agents for progressive change. Now they need to work together to deliver effective and meaningful change.
Justin Trudeau and the Liberals made important commitments during the election campaign, ones that will need to be fulfilled in order to create the change Canadians are so clearly craving. Importantly, the Liberals and NDP agree on many of the key components of an action plan, including:
- A commitment to expanding the Canadian Pension Plan, to address the huge gaps in pension funding for many Canadians;
- Major investments in public infrastructure (including transportation, energy, affordable housing, and the environment) to stimulate job-creation now, and boost productivity and sustainability for the future;
- Progressive changes to the tax and transfer system to make it fairer, including cancelling the Harper government’s unfair and ineffective income-splitting and Tax Free Savings Accounts measures, and allocating the resulting savings to equality-enhancing programs;
- Maintaining funding for Canada’s medicare system, and negotiating a new Health Accord with the provinces – including badly needed innovations to help deal with new health challenges (such as the cost of prescription drugs and the urgent need for high quality home care);
- Negotiating new federal-provincial initiatives to support the provision of quality, affordable child care;
- Implementing meaningful commitments, working with the provinces, to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and start to develop a sustainable energy system;
- Targeted support for key industries that will be essential to rebuilding Canada’s status as a world-class exporter and manufacturer;
- Revoking the Harper government’s mean-spirited and likely unconstitutional attacks on trade unions, labour rights, and non-governmental organizations, and restoring free collective bargaining between the government and its own employees;
- Sponsoring a full public inquiry into the tragedy of murdered and missing Aboriginal women, and showing federal leadership to address this and other systemic injustices faced by Aboriginal people in Canada.
That’s an ambitious to-do list. Getting it done will need the involvement and vigilance of the NDP.
I’m not naïve. As a labour leader, I know how difficult it can be to cooperate with adversaries. But I also know that as a leader it is my responsibility to find solutions, to act in the best interests of my members – and quite often that requires me to find a way of working with adversaries.
Surely there is not just an opportunity for the Liberals and NDP to work together, there is a responsibility for Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair to act in the interests of Canadians – and that means working together.
For the millions of people looking for decent work, for the young people concerned about their future, for the seniors worried about their access to healthcare, for the parents of young children struggling to find good, affordable childcare, for the Aboriginal peoples who continue to be impacted by systemic racism, for the mourning families of the thousands of missing and murdered Aboriginal women, for the Canadians who can’t afford their medicine, for the Canadians who want Canada to be a force of justice and peace in the world – the NDP and Liberals must work together to take back our country.
This election should remind us that Canadians want a country characterized by prosperity, equality and respect. And the election results should be a call to action to our progressive political leaders to seize this moment of optimism and determination.
Our progressive political leaders, and all progressive Canadians must take advantage of the momentum created by this election campaign to take back our country and to start the rebuilding – together.
