For Immediate Release
March 4, 2025
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wrote to the Minister of Finance today, outlining key priorities for the upcoming budget to ease the cost-of-living crisis and counteract tariffs.
As the cost of living crisis continues to grow, Dinn says government must be doing more to help. Dinn is calling for the removal of HST on home heating and children’s essentials, measures that would provide immediate relief. The NDP pushed for this change in the fall, but government voted against it.
“The recent HST forgiveness initiated by the federal government made a huge difference to many thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Dinn wrote.
Dinn also included doubling the homebuyer’s program to make home ownership more attainable for young people and families, and called on government to sign on to the federal Pharmacare plan which would allow more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to afford the medications they need.
With tariffs continuing to add stress on people across the province, especially workers, Dinn urges the government to be creative, calling on them to discontinue any provincial EV rebates for Tesla-branded vehicles and redirect those funds to purchases of Canadian-made electric vehicles.
Dinn also suggests examining all contracts with U.S. based companies, especially those who collect and store data. He also mentions the need to examine inter-provincial trade barriers but cautions against lowering labour standards.
“While I support any measures that would make it easier for Newfoundland companies to supply goods to the rest of the country, it is important that we do not lower health, safety, and/or labour relations standards.”
A full copy of the letter is attached.
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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