Mathyssen says Liberals need to make good on housing promises in federal budget
While the federal NDP said it has not decided whether it will support the Liberals’ federal budget tabled last week, London Fanshawe New Democrat MP Lindsay Mathyssen said the party needs to see more.
Mathyssen told CTV News London Saturday that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has been meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in hopes of conveying what the party needs to see.
“We’re certainly happy with some aspects of it,” said Mathyssen. “There’s money for pharmacare in there, there’s money for dental care, there are the things that we’ve been pushing that will help Canadians with a lot of the costs that they’re facing, but we need to see more.”
The federal government unveiled its 2024 budget on April 16, which included major plans to boost new housing stock.
According to the budget, the government wants to build 3.9 million new homes by 2031, using a string of measures with spending spread out over the next several years.
Mathyssen issued a note of caution when speaking about future housing commitments, including that a Pierre Poilievre Conservative government would not be willing to support such measures.
“I too am worried about what might happen after the next election,” said Mathyssen. “There are parties that don’t believe that housing needs to be a government issue. They’d rather leave it to the market, but that cannot be the case.”
The Liberals also announced dollar amounts for their long-promised Canada Disability Benefit: $6.1 billion over six years and $1.4 billion ongoing.
Mathyssen said the NDP has made it clear to the Liberal government that they expect the disability benefit to be increased “because no one should be living in poverty, and we know that people who live with disabilities are really significantly impacted.”
The New Democrats have an agreement in place to support the Liberal government on confidence and budgetary votes in exchange for movement on key policy priorities.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.