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It’s become political cliché to say that people trust the Conservatives on the economy. But Peggy Nash believes she can convince Canadians that when it comes to their wallets, they should vote NDP.
Running on a message of New Democratic economic stewardship, Nash argues that she has a resume that can back up her words. She’s worked as a labour negotiator, community activist, party president and, until she decided to run for the leadership, the opposition finance critic.
“We’re seeing a dramatic decline in the number of good-quality jobs,” said Nash, arguing that this can’t be fought with Harper’s hands-off approach.
“They leave it to the market and [what] the market decides…and where that has gotten us is the highest level of inequality in Canada since the 1920s.”
If elected NDP leader, Nash argues that she would give Canadians a real choice when it comes to the economy.
“I believe that government has to work with the private sector, with labour, with communities, in order to ensure that we’re creating jobs.”
Nash argues that Canada needs to emulate countries like South Korea, Germany, Brazil and Finland, which she argues have not allowed global corporations to dictate policy.
As a former labour negotiator for the Canadian Auto Workers’ union, Nash emphasized that she’s faced off against top CEOs and wouldn’t have a problem doing it again from the prime minister’s office.
Like most of the other leadership candidates, Nash decries the fact that Canada simply exports raw materials instead of processing them at home.
She also places a strong emphasis on the need to move to a green economy.
“We’re behind many other countries in the world at transforming our infrastructure and transforming our production to renewable energy and better energy efficiency,” she said.
“Nobody’s going to turn off the tap on oil and gas production. They’re going to be part of energy strategy for the foreseeable future, but we can massively reduce our dependence…rather than just digging stuff or pumping stuff as quick as we can, and exporting it anywhere we can, as quickly as we can. It’s not a good strategy.”
Nash argues that the Harper government has a shoddy record when it comes to post-secondary education.
“I think that’s a disgrace in a country that purports to be a modern democracy, that we’re not ensuring that post-secondary education is affordable,” she said. “We need to increase the transfers from the federal government to the provinces with strings attached to ensure that the money is used to lower tuition fees.”
She went on to say that “for somebody to apply to university, and then hope that they’re going to get a loan or grant, and some will and some won’t, I don’t think is right.”
According to Nash, she’s a candidate that truly represents NDP values.
“What they get with me is someone who’s connected with the grassroots of the party,” she said. “If we’re going to grow, if we’re going to build, if we’re going to inspire people to work with us, we’ve got to stay connected with the grassroots.
“Those aren’t just words to me. It’s my life’s work.”
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