WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS – As part of the Wellington Advertiser’s coverage of the 2025 federal election, the newspaper offered all local candidates a chance to participate in a Q&A feature leading up to the April 28 election.
Scroll down to read each candidate’s answers.
How will your party respond to tariffs introduced by the U.S. and what will it do to help Canadian workers/industries impacted by them?
Our best response includes supporting Canadians who lose jobs through enhanced Employment Insurance benefits and for an extended duration. We must also explore retraining opportunities in other sectors and find ways to access new markets for our natural resources. Additionally, we should strive to become leaders in consumer markets, emphasizing new technologies and sustainable energy.
What is the best way to address housing affordability, notably for first-time buyers?
We need to reassess our mortgage qualification processes and structures, advocating for fixed-rate, true 30-year term mortgages. In my role within the home building sector, I see the necessity of diversifying the types of homes we build, focusing on smaller and modular homes that require less construction time. Our plan includes implementing national rental controls, ending price fixing and renovictions, creating a $5-billion National Land Trust to secure land for non-market housing, and investing in prefab housing to reduce costs and accelerate construction with a target of building 3 million homes.
What changes can be made at the federal level to improve access to health care for Canadians?
Increase transfers to provinces by 1% above current projected increases as an incentive. Collaborate with the provinces on a new framework that streamlines certifications for all members of the health care field (doctors, nurses, PSWs, other specialists) and bringing foreign trained workers into the field in a shorter period of time. Fund 1,000 additional residency positions each year for qualified, internationally trained doctors already living in Canada. Fight against the privatization of the system as whole. Health care must remain universal and freely accessible to all Canadians.
How will your party respond to recent geopolitical developments (annexation threats from the U.S., renewed Russian imperialism, etc.), particularly in regards to defence spending and to Arctic sovereignty?
We will assert our rights as a free and democratic nation while reminding our fellow Canadians of the things that make us who we are. We must increase our overall spending on our defence, insure our veterans are treated with the respect that sacrifice demands. We will work with friendly nation states (NATO) and continue to remind Americans of our shared history and friendship as we look towards a future beyond Trump.
What can the federal government do going forward to help lower the cost of living?
We’ll scrap the consumer carbon tax for good, keep the industrial carbon price, eliminate oil and gas subsidies, and reinvest billions into a national retrofit plan, cut taxes and permanently remove the GST from daily essentials. Under Jagmeet Singh’s leadership, the NDP delivered the biggest expansion of Medicare in a generation: dental care for millions and the first steps toward universal pharma care. Shut down tax havens and make the richest pay their share by ending tax deals with havens like Bermuda, requiring corporations to justify offshore accounts, and launching a full review to close loopholes once and for all.
There have been over 50,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada since 2016. How would your party respond to the drug toxicity crisis in Canada? What can be done locally?
Strengthen our health care to provide resources for those facing the drug toxicity crisis, going after the producers of these drugs with stronger jail sentences and harsher parole eligibility and working with the provinces and local communities directly to help address the needs of each community. Locally we must recognize that this crisis is best handled by organizations in each community so we will support those organizations with funding and other available government programs for non-profits to help in this fight.
How will your party respond to tariffs introduced by the U.S. and what will it do to help Canadian workers/industries impacted by them?
We’ll respond by keeping our elbows down, by not imposing reciprocity and by negotiating skillfully. This includes removing all the Canadian tariffs. The Trump administration’s tariff agenda didn’t cause our housing crisis, our deficit spending, our excessive immigration policies or our pathetic inability to build pipeline infrastructure. We did this to ourselves. We need to look at our relationship with the U.S. as if our closest friend and ally decided to abandon us. We need to develop our own markets for our resources with due respect for our environment. Workers in temporarily affected sectors will immediately receive EI as warranted.
What is the best way to address housing affordability, notably for first-time buyers?
Government intervention is always inflationary and consistently lacks meaningful deliveries. Canadians are over taxed and housing development riddled with expensive red tape, the cost of which always gets passed on to consumers. Vocal activists push the gatekeeper bureaucrats to pile up on superfluous costly studies in veiled attempts to slow growth while simultaneously promoting mass migration. It’s time to review how mortgage interest can be a tax deduction for first-time new or renovated home buyers, leaving them with more of their cash to service the mortgage on their home. Foreign and institutional ownership of single dwellings should be restricted.
What changes can be made at the federal level to improve access to health care for Canadians?
Canadian health care is persistently underfunded, always dependent upon a saviour seeking re-election. Successive governments of every stripe have failed to address this lack of funding in any meaningful way. While maintaining the untouchable universality of our health care, we must look at ways for health care to be funded independently from the political establishment. Our government, in consultation with provinces, would develop a strategy to permanently fund health care without the necessity for the provinces to repeatedly return asking for more funding. Our approach would see a substantial reduction in business for U.S. border town hospitals and clinics by Canadians.
How will your party respond to recent geopolitical developments (annexation threats from the U.S., renewed Russian imperialism, etc.), particularly in regards to defence spending and to Arctic sovereignty?
Canada’s defense spending should better align with what the U.S. is spending. It will inevitably be part of a Trump administration trade deal. The Trump annexation threats are nothing more than a poke at a weak PM in Justin Trudeau and now Mark Carney that was given momentum by a scandal-obsessed partisan media. The “elbows up”, “Canada Strong” and “Canada is not for sale” sloganeering are just distractions by unserious leaders. The alarming CCP influence in Canada, as recently reported by retired RCMP officers, is far more problematic than any Russian imperialism could ever be.
What can the federal government do going forward to help lower the cost of living?
Scrapping the entire carbon tax scheme will cool inflation immediately and permanently. Indexing and raising the federal basic personal exemption from $15,705 to $25,000 will save the lowest income bracket Canadians hundreds every year in income tax. Halting immigration until such time as we can adequately house those already here. Balanced budgets are an integral part of affordable living and as such, our party leader has committed to balancing the budget within the first year of being elected. No service cuts necessary, just plain old common sense to cut wasteful spending and focusing on helping Canadians first.
There have been over 50,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada since 2016. How would your party respond to the drug toxicity crisis in Canada? What can be done locally?
The Liberal Party is considering decriminalizing simple possession of all drugs in Canada. This liberal attitude towards drugs inevitably taints how this Liberal government funds or directs the RCMP in its enforcement programs. Do not tell this retired RCMP officer that the government of the day doesn’t exercise self-serving political influence over the RCMP. A better response begins with a change of government closely followed by a de-politicization of the RCMP. CBSA, provincial and local police alike all need to join forces with the RCMP at the local levels to eradicate this public health threat in a meaningful way.
How will your party respond to tariffs introduced by the U.S. and what will it do to help Canadian workers/industries impacted by them?
A Liberal government will fight U.S. tariffs, protect workers/industries, and build a new Canadian economy. We will inject $5 billion into a new Trade Diversification Corridor Fund, build one economy by breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers and enhancing worker mobility, and diversify our trading partners. We will cover apprenticeship training costs up to $8,000 and create more training opportunities in the skilled trades by doubling the Union Training and Innovation Program to $50 million. We will support our agricultural sector by permanently doubling the Agristability Program to $6 million, investing in domestic food production capacity, and doubling the loan guarantee limit.
What is the best way to address housing affordability, notably for first-time buyers?
The Liberal Build Canada Homes plan will double the pace of house construction to 500,000 homes per year for 10 years, while partnering with workers and industry. A Liberal government would provide $25 billion in financing to innovative prefabricated home builders in Canada and provide $10 billion in low-cost financing and capital to affordable home builders. We will work with municipalities to cut multi-unit development charges in half, while keeping municipalities whole and build on the success of the Housing Accelerator Fund. Plus cutting the GST on homes under $1 million for first-time home buyers, saving them up to $50,000.
What changes can be made at the federal level to improve access to health care for Canadians?
It is important that health care be accessible to all Canadians. A Mark Carney-led Liberal government will expand the dental care program to those between 18 and 64 and maintain the new pharmacare plan. He would also protect the Canadian Health Transfer to the provinces and territories. Mark Carney has announced improved access to doctors, and mental health services for military families. To make our communities safer, the government would increase funding for mental health support for first responders, CBSA and Parliamentary Protection Officers. We look forward to sharing more details about our plan to improve access to health care soon.
How will your party respond to recent geopolitical developments (annexation threats from the U.S., renewed Russian imperialism, etc.), particularly in regards to defence spending and to Arctic sovereignty?
A Liberal government will meet or surpass our NATO commitment to 2% of GDP before 2030, by equipping our Navy with new subs and heavy icebreakers, expanding our fleet of aerial and underwater drones, and purchasing equipment for our Army and Air Force. We will modernize and accelerate the recruiting process and increase pay for members of our Canadian Forces. We would overhaul defence procurement to meet these urgent needs, by creating a new Defence Procurement Agency and by buying and building in Canada when able. We will boost Canada’s domestic defence industries by advancing our involvement with ReArm Europe.
What can the federal government do going forward to help lower the cost of living?
Our Liberal plan will cut taxes for the middle class, create higher paying jobs, and build the fastest growing economy in the G7. The consumer carbon tax has been abolished, saving 18 cents per litre on average at the pumps. Our middle-class tax cut will save up to $825 per year for two-income households. The Build Canada Homes housing plan will create more affordable housing, and the first-time new homebuyer GST rebate will save up to $50,000. Expanded dental care coverage will give access to 4.5 million Canadians, saving them roughly $800.
There have been over 50,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada since 2016. How would your party respond to the drug toxicity crisis in Canada? What can be done locally?
A Mark Carney-led government will find and stop drugs at our borders and prosecute the organized crime behind the illicit drugs. We would increase RCMP personnel by 1,000 officers to tackle drug and human trafficking, and train 1,000 new CBSA officers to crack down on drugs. We will integrate the Coast Guard into our efforts to keep our borders secure. We must attack the cause with the same vigour: a compassionate approach to mental health and addiction. Safe consumption sites are also one piece of the puzzle that helps people get through the door to primary services that save lives.
How will your party respond to tariffs introduced by the U.S. and what will it do to help Canadian workers/industries impacted by them?
These tariffs are unjustified. Our immediate response will be to impose reciprocal tariffs and to launch a “Keep Canadians Working Fund” to support workers and businesses directly affected. We will remove inter-provincial trade barriers to unlock east-west trade and get pipelines built to diversify trade and make Canada less reliant on the U.S. Finally, Conservatives believe Canada should immediately begin renegotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). During the negotiations, Conservatives believe the following are off the table: our sovereignty, our land, our fresh water, our dollar, our culture and our official languages. These are non-negotiable and we will protect them.
What is the best way to address housing affordability, notably for first-time buyers?
Housing has become a full-blown crisis, with many unable to afford a place to buy or rent. Under the Liberal government, housing has doubled in cost (source: Parliamentary Budget Officer report, February 17, 2022). Tent cities and homelessness have popped up in many places as a result. Conservatives will eliminate the GST on new homes below $1.3 million, saving homebuyers up to $65,000 on the purchase of an average home, and saving them roughly $3,000 every year in mortgage payments. We’ll also incentivize municipalities to reduce their development charges to reduce the cost of a home.
What changes can be made at the federal level to improve access to health care for Canadians?
The health care system is in crisis. An estimated 6.5 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor (source: Canadian Medical Association). Only 41% of doctors with foreign credentials work as doctors and only 37% of nurses with foreign credentials work as nurses. Conservatives will establish a “Blue Seal” national testing standard to get a license in regulated trades, starting with doctors and nurses, and continuing until all regulated professions are covered. Provinces would have the freedom to join or keep their own systems. This will cut the gatekeeping and offer better health care services to Canadians.
How will your party respond to recent geopolitical developments (annexation threats from the U.S., renewed Russian imperialism, etc.), particularly in regards to defence spending and to Arctic sovereignty?
The current government has neglected Canada’s national defence and national security. As a result, the Canadian Armed Forces are woefully under-strength and under-equipped. This has left Canada vulnerable in a world of annexation threats, Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s sabre-rattling in the Indo-Pacific. Conservatives will rebuild our military to meet our 2% NATO commitment. We will double the size of the Canadian Ranger force in the Arctic, acquire new armed heavy icebreakers and build a new, permanent base in Iqaluit in the Arctic, the first permanent base since the end of the Cold War.
What can the federal government do going forward to help lower the cost of living?
I’ve heard from thousands of people in Wellington County that their top concern is the economy. Canada’s economy is declining. According to National Bank (Arseneau & Ducharme, October 2024), Canada’s per capita GDP has fallen about 4% cumulatively since 2022 – unprecedented outside of a recession. As a result, many people are unable to afford gas and groceries. Taxes are too high, leaving less money for life’s essentials. Conservatives will cut taxes for middle class families and seniors, by cutting the first income tax bracket from 15 to 12.75%, reducing taxes for a typical two-income family by $1,800 annually.
There have been over 50,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada since 2016. How would your party respond to the drug toxicity crisis in Canada? What can be done locally?
This is yet another crisis in Canada. Over 50,000 Canadians have died in the last decade (source: Health Canada, December 22, 2024), more than died in the Second World War. Conservatives will fund drug treatment and recovery for 50,000 people to help them get off drugs for good. This will be funded in part by overhauling the current government’s failed approach and by suing opioid pharmaceutical manufacturers responsible for this crisis. Conservatives will also strengthen penalties against fentanyl traffickers, purchase additional container scanners at ports, hire 2,000 new border agents and increase border patrols using new technologies.
How will your party respond to tariffs introduced by the U.S. and what will it do to help Canadian workers/industries impacted by them?
Similar to other parties, we will continue to impose retaliatory tariffs as this trade war is not justified. We will improve inter-provincial trade by removing barriers and increase exports to Mexico and Europe. One major difference the Green Party proposes in addition to others, is to establish a national reserve of key resources (i.e. lumber, rare minerals, etc.), enabling costs to remain more stable regardless of what America throws at us. We will also no longer ship out raw materials, and instead refine and add value to these products, increasing jobs as well as value to Canadian exports.
What is the best way to address housing affordability, notably for first-time buyers?
The future in creating affordable housing is to shift to a prefabricated model of housing development. By establishing prefabricated housing plants, where houses can be prefabricated en masse, it will cut down on development costs while creating jobs. We will also aim to triple Canada’s Social housing market over the next seven years, bringing the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation back to its roots of financing and building non-market houses directly. We will also seek a permanent ban on foreign ownership of residential real estate.
What changes can be made at the federal level to improve access to health care for Canadians?
Of the funding that comes from the federal level, it will be provided under the exception that it directly relates to an increased number of family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners. Specifically, over the next five years we would seek to hire 7,500 of these professionals. We would also train and certify 50,000 personal support workers (PSWs) and establish a minimum wage of $25/hour for PSWs and long-term care workers. Furthermore, a universal pharmacare program would be established to remove the costs of prescribed medications and mental health would be fully covered under the Canada Health Act.
How will your party respond to recent geopolitical developments (annexation threats from the U.S., renewed Russian imperialism, etc.), particularly in regards to defence spending and to Arctic sovereignty?
We will revise Canada’s Defense Doctrine, to address modern threats, including hybrid warfare, cyber threats and the risk of direct U.S. aggression. For the Arctic, we will expand coastal security patrols, upgrading surveillance, monitoring and defence equipment to protect Canada’s northern and maritime sovereignty. We will expand naval and coast guard capacity in the Arctic to protect Canada’s northern borders. Lastly, we will end Canada’s reliance on U.S.-owned defence, digital, and IT systems by investing in sovereign infrastructure and partnerships with like-minded democracies to strengthen cyber defence and national security.
What can the federal government do going forward to help lower the cost of living?
First and foremost, we need to cut corporate greed. Over one third of Canadians should not be struggling to afford basic necessities, while corporations responsible for essential goods see record profits. These companies would be taxed with stronger restrictions placed on revenue, and loopholes for avoiding taxes would be addressed to ensure they are paying their fair share. The money obtained from these increased restrictions (on large corporations) would go directly to our most at-risk citizens. For those that earn under $40,000/year, federal income tax would be completely removed, giving back up to $3,600 annually.
There have been over 50,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada since 2016. How would your party respond to the drug toxicity crisis in Canada? What can be done locally?
This is a three-fold question. There are individuals already addicted to opioids, and other individuals that may turn to drugs as a result of our mental health crisis. We need to improve the Canada Health Act to better support mental health to keep our citizens safe. At the same time, those already struggling with addiction need areas of safe supervision while they work through overcoming their challenges. Lastly, we need physicians to stop resorting to pharmacy interventions as it increases the number of opioids used in the community.
