Live Q&A with Niki Ashton Tuesday September 26, 8pm

Welcome Niki! I'm sorry for the tech difficulties too! I'm glad you are in now. Looking forward to seeing what babble has pulled together to ask you - and to your answers. 

Hello Unionist, thank you for your question. To your last point first, the race is for members to decide and we are seeing great momentum - nothing is a given at this point!

To your main question, I have denounced Freeland's pandering to Trump for some time. I have also opposed her hawkish stand and the increased military budget that she and Trudeau supported. I do not support the approach that the Trudeau government is taking on Venezuela, including the sanctions.

Hi Ken, 

I'm honoured to represent the part of the country I'm from and call home. It's a place of immense challenge as well as tremendous resilience and resistance. I have always committed to being a voice for our North and fighting alongside Indigenous and Northern people in the face of injustice. And in the last election which was hard fought, it was thanks to many Indigenous people and young people who felt that we were on their side that we won.

People at home know that the struggles we face on a daily basis like inadequate housing, education underfunding, the loss of value added jobs and climate change connect to the bigger picture and the role of the federal government. That's why it's important for me to make those connections, and be a voice for the issues we face at the national level.

Hi Niki

If you were running the country Niki how would handle the news that the US has effectiviely closed the market to the Bombardier CSeries  jet.  

Alan, 

Yes! Absolutely. I believe that housing is a right and it ought to be enshrined in an Act. I also believe that we can and must invest in housing in such a way that we are also tackling climate change.

That's why our campaign proposed to build affordable housing that is comfortable, safe and green, by targeting new investments in cooperative, social and co-housing to communities in core housing need, especially northern, Indigenous and dense urban communities. By building and retrofitting green homes in communities across the country, we can tackle our housing crisis, create jobs and cut emissions at the same time. An NDP government under my leadership would invest $10 billion annually to build 40,000 units of green public housing across the country, creating more than 150,000  homes in its first mandate.

Thanks for your question R.E Wood, 

 As someone who has family and friends in Alberta and who has spent a fair bit of time working with political activists and New Democrats over the years, I have a sense of how difficult things have become and how critical federal leadership is. I want to acknowledge the immense work of the Notley government throughout such a difficult time. As you point out what's needed is federal leadership and action.

As leader and as Prime Minister I would target investment to help grow and diversify the Alberta economy in new directions. 

It is clear that a key area of diversification is through investments in renewable energy and the green economy. Our vision is to create a Crown Corporation called Green Canada and a public investment bank that will work together to implement the transition away from fossil fuels and towards a diversified green economy. The bank will fund projects, while Green Canada will bring many to life. We must invest in green technology, in housing, in retooling the manufacturing sector, in public transit and more.

I also believe that this work must be guided by people on the ground and across the country through Green Canada Advisory Boards (GCAB). These boards will bring workers, Indigenous leaders, industry and climate change experts to the table together, much like labour groups like the AFL have proposed regarding other energy transitions - like coal fired power plants. 

These boards will bring workers, Indigenous leaders, industry and climate change experts to the table together. These advisory boards will be managed by the Green Canada corporation, with economic development investments funded through the public investment bank. By having all stakeholders working with the federal government and in partnership with provinces, territories, First Nation, Metis and Inuit communities we can implement good, just policy that supports workers and communities during industry transitions. It is Key that Albertans play a guiding role in deciding the way forward when it comes to diversifying the economy.

Hi Michael, 

Yes! I am proud of our platform for Tax Fairness. It's been called the most progressive in a generation. It's clear to me that working class and middle class Canadians are paying their fair share but it's millionaires and billionaires who are avoiding paying their fair share legally or otherwise. This needs to change. Our full platform can be found here: http://www.nikiashton2017.ca/fair-taxes-for-a

Among various points we have proposed a tax on wealth as well as closing other loopholes that benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else.

Our platform includes: 

Introduce a progressive wealth tax on millionaires and billionaires. This measure would put a tax of 1% on assets of those with a net worth of $1 million, progressively rising to 1.5% for those with a net worth of $10 million or more. The value of principal residences will be exempt to protect the working and middle class. This kind of tax has proven successful in France, Spain and Norway. Revenue generated: $3 billion.

Introduce an estate tax. Inheritances over $4 million will be taxed at 45%. When multi-millionaires can pass on their entire fortunes, inequality becomes entrenched. Canada is the only country in the G7 that does not have an estate tax. Revenue generated: $2 billion.

Cap TFSA and RRSP contributions. TFSA contributions will be capped at $2,500 annually (down from $5,000) and $50,000 over lifetime (those who exceed it when implemented will be allowed to keep the higher amount). RRSP contributions will be capped at $20,000 annually. These Harper-era tax breaks were portrayed as an incentive to save, but the reality is that these tax breaks only benefit who can afford maximum contributions. Revenue generated: $1 billion.

Introducing a “Robin Hood Tax” on Bay Street. Financial transactions are currently exempt from sales tax. It’s time to introduce a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) of 0.5% on purchases of stocks. This will reduce speculation, increase stability in financial markets and incentivize productive investment. Revenue generated: $3.5 billion.

Hi Pietro, 

I believe that if we're going to challenge the neoliberal status quo we must not only oppose privatization but also propose public ownership. 

Our campaign has proposed public ownership in three key sectors. 

The banking sector through the creation of a postal bank. 

The health sector through the creation of a crown corporation, a Canadian Drug Agency to get a better deal on life-saving medication from big pharma companies. This agency would be responsible for bulk buying and negotiating better prices for Canadians. 

The energy sector through the creation of a crown corporation that would direct federal funding in terms of the green transition. Our vision is to create a Crown Corporation called Green Canada and a public investment bank that will work together to implement the transition away from fossil fuels and towards a diversified green economy. The bank will fund projects, while Green Canada will bring many to life. We must invest in green technology, in housing, in retooling the manufacturing sector, in public transit and more.

I have also made it clear that what the Trudeau privatizes in his tenure, we must renationalize. Throughout the campaign I have talked about the infrastructure bank and how if Trudeau moves forward in privatizing our transportation assets we must take them back.

In terms of a publicly owned telecommunications provider for phone and internet service I know how valuable such a service was in our province. And I'm proud to have joined many in our province in the fight to keep our telephone provider public. I believe we ought to look at public ownership in this area once again. Internet service is now key in terms of communication and Canada is woefully inadequate in its provision of the service. While our campaign has not made a commitment on this front I believe it is an area we ought to look into as we move forward.

That was amazingly honest and forthright, Niki. Thank you for taking time to answer our questions - and personally, I liked your answers at the all-candidates' meeting in Montreal in January 2012 - and I like them even better today! Solidarity and success.

The Canadian NDP and the Libyan War: Niki Ashton is a Liar

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/08/29/asht-a29.html

"In 2011, Ashton twice voted with her NDP colleagues, including current leadership rival Charlie Angus, in voting to support NATO's bombing of Libya [led by RCAF Gen Charles Bouchard], which led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, the lynch mob murder of Muammar Gaddafi, and plunged the north African country into a brutal civil war that continues to this day..."