NDP housing promise includes new landlord limits, more help for non-profits
Singh says he's the only leader looking out for 'working people,' not 'billionaires and millionaires'
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is heading into the end of the first week of the campaign with a pledge to ban corporate landlords from buying existing affordable rental properties.
The running theme of the week has been Singh trying to differentiate the NDP from the Liberals and the Conservatives by saying he is the only leader looking out for "working people" and not "billionaires and millionaires."
Speaking at a campaign stop outside a Toronto apartment complex Friday, Singh said Canada needs to do more to help address rising housing costs.
"We're going to take this problem head on, and we are going to ban large corporate landlords from engaging in the predatory practice of buying up affordable homes," Singh said.
The plan is similar to a bill the NDP proposed last year that would have restricted such sales to individuals, non-profits, municipalities, agencies and co-ops.
This is Singh's second time talking about housing affordability in Toronto this week. He made a campaign stop Tuesday to meet with a woman named Erin Findley who said her building was purchased by Brookfield.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney was the chair of Brookfield until shortly before entering that party's leadership race in January.
Findley once again shared her story during Singh's announcement on Friday, and said she and other tenants fear the possibility of their building being torn down to make way for new condo towers.
Taking on housing affordability — twice
When asked about holding two similar events in the first week of the campaign, Singh said he wants to draw attention to how an NDP government would take on challenges like housing affordability.
"This is a policy that I'm proud of. I think it's something that's really going to change the landscape of our country," Singh said.
"And it speaks directly to who we are as a party and who I am as a leader. I want to take on the powerful that are ripping you off and exploiting you."
The NDP leader honed in on Carney's former business ties, demanding the Liberal leader disclose whether or not he still has holdings associated with Brookfield.
"How do we know he's not still invested in Brookfield Investments? How do we know that he's not still making money off of their predatory practices?" Singh rhetorically asked.
Carney has placed his assets in a blind trust, and has begun the disclosure process with the ethics commissioner.
That can take up to 60 days, so it is possible this work is not complete by the April 28 election.
Singh also said an NDP government would stop financial supports — such as low-interest federal loans and mortgage loan insurance — for corporate landlords who gouge tenants.
The NDP is also promising more money for the Rental Protection Fund — a federal program that supports community housing projects.
Singh made his first policy announcement in Montreal to use suitable federally owned land for affordable housing.
His affordability focus continued on to Hamilton where he pledged to increase the amount of untaxed income someone can earn by around 21 per cent.
Pivoting after Trump's tariff announcement
All campaigns were rocked Wednesday night, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on auto imports starting April 3. However, some Canadian vehicles may face a lower surcharge if they contain enough American-made content.
Singh cancelled campaign events in London, Ont., and made for Windsor, the heart of Canada's auto sector which is just across the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit.
There, he met with union workers and announced protections for the auto sector, including measures to prevent American companies from removing equipment from factories that received public funding.
On Friday, Singh said this could include new rules at the border to prevent affected equipment from being taken out of Canada.
However, Singh and the NDP continue to struggle in public opinion polls. Many pollsters are tracking a two-horse race between the Liberals and Conservatives, with NDP support down in the single digits in some cases.
Rallies to come later: Singh
Both Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have attracted crowds in the hundreds at rallies, while Singh has concluded most days at local campaign offices speaking to a few dozen people.
Singh said he's had large rallies before, and will do so again. He said that he's put his first week energy into talking about ideas on affordability and protecting workers from the affects of tariffs.
The NDP leader argued that only his party is looking out for regular people, while he said the Liberals and Conservatives are about enriching corporations.
"We're going to fight back against corporations that are buying up affordable homes. We're in it for you, and so we're going to make that case every day of this campaign," Singh said.
The NDP campaign is returning to Ottawa on Friday evening, and is expected to head to B.C. this weekend.
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