For Immediate Release
December 6, 2024
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) says that the Fall session of the House of Assembly highlighted how the Liberal government focuses on their donors, friends, and businesses instead of on workers and people.
“The Fall session started with a $23 million spending announcement for the replacement for St. Clare’s. Land owned by H3 Developments that was not put out to tender and not appraised. However, government saw no problem paying an inflated cost for the land with public money.
“The biggest disappointment for the NDP Caucus was the failure of the Liberals and Conservatives to support our motion calling for the removal of the provincial portion of HST off of all forms of home heating. They voted against helping everyday people.
Ironically, when the Federal government, pushed by the Federal NDP, announced the GST holiday, the Liberals couldn’t wait to stand up and match it. We heard from the Conservatives how a better idea would have been to remove HST off of home heating. Why then wasn’t our motion supported? Both Liberals and Conservatives failed the people of this province by not supporting the removal of tax from home heating.
“We saw government refuse to act on key issues that would help the crisis we face in Housing. This government washes their hands clean of dealing with large REITs and landlords who continue to take advantage of tenants, especially seniors. We continue to push government to put in place essential rent control legislation that would protect tenants and their rights, even though housing advocates continue to talk about the need for strong rent control.
“Government delayed the regulations yet again for Pay Equity and Transparency by their own admission that they failed to consult – exactly the reason we didn’t support the legislation. While government touted spending 9% of the healthcare budget on mental health, reports showed they actually spend only 6%, which needs to be doubled to truly address the inaccessibility to mental health services.
“Government does not understand the burden faced by residents struggling to make ends meet. The Liberals and Conservatives don’t understand you. But the NDP does. Your fight is our fight, and we will continue to push for these important policies.”
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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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