TODAY: Niki Ashton answers your questions on her candidacy for NDP Leader
Federal MP for Churchill and NDP Leadership candidate Niki Ashton will be dropping by babble today, March 5, at 12:00 p.m. PST/ 3:00 p.m. EST to answer your questions as she seeks to lead the NDP to Sussex Drive.
Interview questions have already been submitted here, and a list of those submissions has been assembled by the editorial staff of rabble.ca. Each selected question will be posed by a moderator (i.e. me) and then Niki will offer her response. Once Niki has responded to the initial question, babblers are welcome to offer comments and follow-up questions in this thread; although, Niki may not be able to get to them all.
For an idea of how this session will run, see one of our previous Q&As with Nathan, Brian, Paul or Peggy.
Unlike other threads on babble, abusive posts will be deleted immediately. In the interest of tidyness and readability, superfluous or digressive posts may be removed as well.
Come back at 12 PST/3 EST to read what Niki has to say!
We're just a few minutes from welcoming Niki Ashton to babble for an hour-long Q&A.
Welcome, Niki!!
Alright! Niki is here and it brings me great pleasure to welcome her to babble!
Really pleased to be here with you!
Hi Niki. We're ready to get started. Our first question comes from mark_alfred:
Great Performance in the debate yesterday - How should we, as NDPers, balance our focus between keeping the Conservatives honest and supporting our party candidates during this time until the new leader is selected?
I would review the tax system with the goal of making it more progressive and shifting the burden of taxation from low-income and middle-class families who are struggling to make ends meet to those who can afford to pay. I would appoint a tax reform commission. One of the fundamental mandates of the tax reform commission would be to treat all forms of income more equally as part of a more progressive tax system. The primary goal of the commission would be to modernize our tax system and inparticular review all aspects of our tax system to make sure they are equitable and progressive. The mandate would be for the commission to make recommendations to the Government for implementation beginning in 2016.
The commission would also look at tax expenditures. We need to examine the burden facing Canadian families, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet. We need to look at raising the basic personal exemption to allow low-income families to earn more money before payinig taxes. We need to increase the child tax benefit in recognition of the cost of raising children. We need to look at boutique tax cuts for things like public transit passes or participation in sports and cultural activities. We need to make improvements to the Canada Pensions Plan and ensure that seniors are able to live in security and comfort.
The party proposed inheritance taxes in the past, then dropped that. Is it really good strategy to say nothing about tax reform for the next 4 years while a commission studies the issue?
I would roll back Stephen Harper`s tax cuts for big corporations. I would ensure that corporate tax structures promote innovation, job creation and a more green economy.
Its about calling for a fundamental reform of the tax system. Ive talked about the basic principles but it is important to remember that the next leader of the party is going to be potentially leader of the next government. I`m talking about the principles that would guide us. The commission is aimed at how we would immediately act on those principles.
Thanks Niki. Our next question is on foreign policy:
Ok, got it - thank you!
On January 25th, I announced my plan to renew Canada's purpose in the world based on the values of peace, diplomacy and global solidarity. I have made clear that I would make the NDP Minister of Foreign Affairs specifically responsible for the promotion of peace. And I described a much different role for Canada's military.
On January 25th, I announced my plan to renew Canada's purpose in the world based on the values of peace, diplomacy and global solidarity. I have made clear that I would make the NDP Minister of Foreign Affairs specifically responsible for the promotion of peace. And I described a much different role for Canada's military.
Jack Layton and the NDP fought for years to support Canadian troops by bringing them back home from Afghanistan. We must keep them home, and give them the respect and new opportunities they deserve. Moreover, we owe our veterans and their families ongoing support to deal with all injuries incurred overseas, including and especially PTSD.
Our Armed Forces should focus on defending Canada and providing humanitarian assistance to people facing catastrophic emergencies - from earthquakes to floods to forest fires - throughout Canada and internationally. Furthermore, the militarization of the Arctic is not the priority of Canadians living in the Arctic, nor does it reflect Canada's interest in international cooperation and the rule of law.
We must speak out as a force for peace in the Middle East, including supporting Palestinian statehood as part of a two state solution as well as opposing illegal settlements and the killing of civilians.
I opposed the extension of the mission in Libya. And I have been alarmed by Stephen Harper's war-mongering in terms of Iran. We must counter Stephen Harper's rhetoric such as when he said the greatest threat to Canada's security is "Islamicism". That is unacceptable and dangerous rhetoric and we can't afford to be silent about it as a party.
Thank you for the props Tariq! I believe that we can do both! Yesterday I talked not only about my debate amongst candidates but also about the prime importance of challenging Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. It was powerful to be back in Montreal! I was energized by the reception at the debate and at our after-debate gathering!
Great. Our next question is about technology and information policy:
Technology has the potential to be the great equalizer, providing opportunities and access to information for people living in every part of the country, no matter how remote. But it can be a double-edged sword. For people on the wrong side of the digital divide, it can actually contribute to greater inequality. It can be fatal to someone's chances to taking a job for which they might otherwise be eminently qualified. And this is particularly the case in rural and northern Canada; there are still communities in my riding in Northern Manitoba, for example, that don't have full access to high-speed Internet.
Specific programs like "a tablet for every child" probably fall under provincial jurisdiction. But the federal government can show leadership in closing the digital divide. We must provide funding to upgrade infrastructure in remote regions of the country. We can work with First Nations communities, which fall under Ottawa's jurisdiction to provide a higher quality of education to children attending First Nations schools, including access to the latest technological tools. And we can make life more affordable to put these kind of essentials in easier reach of all Canadian families.
Our fourth question is from Fidel, who, fittingly enough, is worried about foreign takeovers of Canadian companies:
One of the key issues i have raised in this campaign is the degree to which foreign takeovers are hollowing out our economy and devastating workers and their communities. Workers at US Steel in Hamilton, Caterpillar in London, Rio Tinto in Alma, in Northern Ontario and in my own riding in Northern Manitoba, have all seen the impact of predatory takeovers.
As MP for Churchill, I saw how the Conservatives allowed Vale, a Brazilian company to take over Inco. They then gave them a billion dollar low interest loan to shut the smelter and refinery in my home community of Thompson.In Hamilton, US Steel promised jobs and investment- then cut 1500 jobs. The Conservatives took them to court but have now reached a settlement that is nothing short of a sell out.
It is time we stand up for our Canada. In this campaign, I 've called for tougher regulations including a lower dollar value for screening, greater guarantees for jobs and investment and clear recognition of the need to protect strategic industries.
I believe that as Canadians we need to review our involvement in our economy, particularly in the resource sector. It is ironic that an increasing number of foreign takeovers are being made by state-owned entities from other countries. I would not rule out greater public involvement in our resource and other strategic sectors.
During the campaign, I have specifically identified that Canada should be looking at establishing a crown corporation for the production of generic drugs. Drug costs are one of the biggest cost drivers in health care, and generic drug manufacturers charge a huge mark-up on medications. We must look at innovative ways of strengthening our public universal healthcare system.
May I suggest looking at a public provider of internet, television, and telephone service - something arguably within federal jurisdiction?
ETA: By "provider" I mean of course like Rogers, Bell, Telus - not CBC.
Thanks Niki. The next question comes from, well me--at the risk of being greedy. It's on Canada's relationship with its First Nations, something you have a lot of experience speaking about:
Ending the Third World conditions in Aboriginal communities across Canada will be one of my top priorities if I am elected Leader and Prime Minister.
There is no excuse in a country as wealthy as Canada to see the poverty in which Aboriginal people live and the violence, discrimination and oppression that Aboriginal women and men deal with on a daily basis.
We need to work with First Nations leaders to repeal the Indian Act and replace it with a legislative framework that respects the nation to nation relationship. Such a framework must also respect First Nations treaty rights and facilitate their inherent right to self-government.
We need to establish an independent Land Claims Resolution process that has the resources necessary to negotiate dozens of agreements at the same time, the necessary authority to reach binding agreements and targets and deadlines by which land claims need to be resolved.
We need to recognize that the duty to consult and accommodate First Nations people when it comes to resource development projects is binding on the federal government as well as on provincial governments; that means, for example, respecting the right of First Nations communities to participate in environmental reviews.
We must make immediate investments in education, health, and housing. We must remove the 2% cap on First Nations education, including the Post-Secondary Student Support Program. This cap has for many years put Aboriginal young people at a disadvantage. We must see increased investment in health services and immediate action to resolve the housing crisis in Aboriginal communities. And we need to work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to ensure that they have the opportunity to participate in our economy at every level.
Hello Unionist! Interesting idea!
Welcome to babble. I know questions were pre-submitted but if you have time...If you become leader, how would you go about reforming Canada's voting system?