For these northern Ontario voters the rising cost of living is a top election issue

Mary Ann Beaulieu says the cost of living will be one of her top issues when she casts her vote in the northern Ontario riding of Sudbury in the federal election on April 28.

"I'm on ODSP [Ontario Disability Support Program] and I'm barely scraping by with groceries, rent and everything else," she said.

Beaulieu said it would make a big difference for her life if Canada's next government can either lower the cost of groceries or ensure people in her situation have more money left over after they pay for essentials every month.

Dwight Ledzwa, also of Sudbury, said it's been difficult living on a fixed income with rising inflation since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Everything's going up," he said. "My pension's staying the same, not enough money. Bills. Thank God my house is paid for."

Ledzwa said he plans to vote for the the New Democrats because his family has a long history of supporting that party.

Yogi Johansen said he has trouble understanding why prices for essentials such as groceries and housing have increased so much since he first started working in Sudbury in the early 1990s.

He said that back then it was possible for many families to get by on a single income, but now two incomes are needed to cover the basics and often don't even do that. 

"I don't understand, in a country where we've got everything, all the resources… the whole world needs, that we're still paying exorbitant amounts of prices for everything," he said.

Campaign promises

McMaster University economist Colin Mang said that after Canada's relationship with the United States, the cost of living is expected to be the most important issue for voters across the country.

Mang said Canada's three major parties – the Liberals, Conservatives and NDP – all have campaign promises to address high costs.

The Liberals are promising to reduce the lowest income tax bracket to 14 per cent, saving the average person up to $400 per year.

While the Conservatives are countering with a pledge to drop the lowest income tax bracket to 12.75 per cent, resulting in savings of up to $900 per year. 

The NDP has promised to raise the amount of untaxed income from $16,129 to $19,500. The party said it would also cap the prices on certain grocery items, but hasn't offered too many more specifics. 

"I don't think that's a very good idea because price caps just lead to shortages," Mang said.

On the housing crisis, Mang said the three parties differ in their approaches, but all want to get more homes built.

The Liberals would invest $25 billion to start a standalone entity responsible for financing home building.

The Conservatives would eliminate some planning restrictions and cut the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million.

"Part of the problem with that, though, is that the private sector is lacking funds. They need access to more investment money," Mang said.

The NDP said it would set aside more federal land for housing and would invest $1 billion over five years to build more rent-controlled homes.