NDP: Those who made billions off the pandemic should pay for the recovery, not families

OTTAWA – Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced that his party will use their opposition day to call on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to make those who profited billions off the pandemic pay for the recovery. Families who are struggling to make ends meet shouldn’t pay for the pandemic and for the recovery. Those who profited off of it should.

“Successive Liberal and Conservative governments have historically made families pay the price by cutting the services they rely on,” said Singh. “While families struggled, the super-rich and biggest corporations have made billions off the pandemic. In fact, while people struggled to pay their bills, Canadian billionaires are $37 billion richer since March’s COVID-19 lockdown. They’re not struggling, they’ve profited off this crisis. They should pay for the recovery, not Canadians struggling to pay their bills.”

Now, as we are seeing some of the highest COVID-19 numbers across the country, the Liberal government is talking about going back to a time of Paul Martin cuts. Canadians deserve a government that will look out for them, not take away the services they depend on.

The NPD is calling on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to put in place a new one percent tax on wealth over $20 million and an excess profit tax on big corporations that have profiteered from the pandemic. This would allow the government to re-invest the billions of dollars gained from these measures to meet the needs of people in our country.

“Canadians who are worried about paying the bills shouldn’t be the ones who pay for the pandemic,” said Singh. “Justin Trudeau’s Liberals must make the wealthiest pay their fair share and reinvest the billions gained in social programs like a guaranteed livable income, expanding health care, including putting in place dental care, and build new affordable housing to ensure everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.”