As members of the House of Assembly prepare to head back into the legislature next week for the Fall session, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says that the focus must be on addressing the increasing affordability crisis that continues to impact people across the province.
While the Wakeham PC government made lower taxes a key pillar of its election campaign, people in this province have yet to see a real difference in their wallets. Dinn says that slogans don’t put food on the table or pay the bills, and all elected members need to push for real relief for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
“The reality is that people on low or fixed incomes, as well as middle-class families who once lived comfortably, are now struggling to keep their heads above water. Outside of healthcare, I would say the cost of living is top of mind for the vast majority of people in this province,” said Dinn.
“Whether it’s heating your home, putting food on the table, buying essentials for your family, affording medication, or keeping up with rising rents, the costs keep adding up,” said Dinn. “People are desperate for government to act, and I’m not sure the current government truly understands just how dire the situation has become. It’s something the NDP will continue to push for action on, because people can’t wait anymore.”
On November 18, the NDP will bring forward their Private Members Motion calling on government to form an all-party committee to study the skyrocketing cost of groceries, with a focus on exploring a number of solutions that can help bring down the cost of feeding your family.
“Our motion calls on government to explore ideas and develop a report outlining a plan to address food insecurity across the province,” said Dinn. “That means looking at the potential benefits of public grocery stores in areas most in need, finding ways to invest in local food production, and providing more support to our farmers and food producers. We’re also concerned about the rise in AI-powered surveillance pricing in grocery stores, where data is used to set different prices for different consumers. People deserve fair prices and access to affordable food, not more barriers.”
The NL NDP is conducting a survey on residents’ top three issues facing the province ahead of the HOA opening. The survey can be found here: https://act.nl.ndp.ca/survey/what-are-your-top-issues/