Affordability is at the top of the agenda for federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's three-day tour of Northern Ontario.
Singh kicked off his trip today (July 22) in Timmins and is meeting with people across the region to talk about housing, cost of living, child welfare and Jordan's Principle, and is going underground at a Kirkland Lake mine.
"What I know from already speaking with folks here in the North,I know that it's incredibly difficult. Cost of living hurts everybody across the country, but it's hitting people even harder in the north, where you've already faced a lot of pressures, the cost of groceries have always been higher in the north. And now with the cost of groceries skyrocketing, it's even worse," said Singh today at a news conference with Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus.
Singh wants to change the rules to benefit everyday people.
One of the plans he talked about was forcing grocery stores to lower the price of essential items, which was voted down in Parliament.
"Everyday items like bread, like milk, butter. The essentials that you need. France has done it. Other countries have done it. We can do it here," he said.
With a federal election on the way — the latest it will be held is Oct. 20, 2025 — they also took questions about the future of the NDP in the area.
In the 2022 provincial election, the Conservatives ended a 32-year run for the NDP in the riding.
Angus has already announced that he won't be running for re-election and is retiring from politics.
SEE: 'Perfect time to pass the baton': Charlie Angus not seeking re-election
"Well, I know people have seen the impact of having a Conservative and they know that Doug Ford has done what Conservatives always do, cut and gut the services that people need," said Singh.
"New Democrats have been committed to fighting for people and we've gotten stuff done. In this past couple of years, we've been able to bring in dental care, we need to bring in PharmaCare, we're gonna make a difference in people's lives. Those two concrete things that are already improving people's lives. And we're gonna keep on fighting for more."
On this tour of the North, Angus says that Singh will spend more time here than the handful of times that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been in the area.
"He hasn't bothered ever to meet with any First Nation communities in our region. Imagine that. He hasn't gone underground in the mines. He hasn't met with municipal leaders. Because he doesn't care. He doesn't want to hear the facts. So he shows up, stands outside, announces a billboard attacking me personally, that gets on the plane and buggers off and go someplace else," said Angus.
"We've won this riding seven times in a row. Wait for number eight. It's because we're committed here. We've got roots here. Jagmeet is meeting people and we're building a team because we don't take this area for granted. Not like Pierre Poilievre."
With Angus off the next federal ballot, the next NDP candidate for the new riding of Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk. It starts in the Kirkland Lake area, capturing communities along Highway 11 North and extends up to Peawanuck. It has a population of 93,948.
Gaetan Malette was named as the Conservative candidate for the riding in October 2023.
Poilievre is also in the north in the coming weeks.
He has Common Sense rallies slated in Wawa, Hearst and Kirkland Lake next week.
