For Immediate Release
19 December, 2023
The Leader of Newfoundland and Labrador’s NDP, Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre), is calling on the provincial government to invest federal equalization payments in ways that address the crises in housing, affordability, and health.
“Government has been given a blank cheque from Ottawa and it should be a no-brainer that they prioritize addressing the crises in housing, affordability, and health first and foremost,” said Dinn. “This cannot be another repeat of the Oil and Gas Industry Recovery Assistance Fund that was meant for workers and instead the government chose to hand it over to profitable international corporations.”
Dinn suggests prioritizing in investing in non-market housing, removing the tax from all forms of home heating, addressing the social worker vacancies, and retention of healthcare workers across the province.
“Government needs to spend this money and bring relief to people,” said Dinn. “We’ve suggested they remove the tax off of home heating, address the workplace issues that are causing the vacancies we’re seeing in social work and nursing, and implement a balanced housing plan that expands non-market community-based housing. We’ll see if they have the political will.” said Dinn.
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For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca