By Ian Holmes

‘We can do better:’ NDP leader focuses on income inequality, healthcare during Nanaimo visit

Mar 7, 2018 | 11:02 AM

NANAIMO — Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh declared economic inequality his top priority during a visit to Nanaimo as part of a Vancouver Island tour.

Singh, who took control of the federal New Democrats last fall, attended a pair of events in Nanaimo Tuesday, including an evening meet-and-greet at a downtown cafe.

Singh said too much money from the rich is vanishing from the country, hurting the majority of Canadians. 

“In a time when millions of Canadians can’t afford the medication they need, you’ve got a government that’s allowing the wealthy and powerful to have loopholes where they’re not investing their fair share,” Singh told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He supported expanding universal health to include eye and dental care, along with implementing a national pharmacare program as ways to “build people up” and tackle what he said is a growing inequality problem in Canada.

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He referenced an Ipsos Reid poll which stated about half of Canadians are within $200 of not being able to pay their bills.

“$200 away where they will fall into a dire financial situation with their families. That’s a contrast and that’s what I’m here to talk about,” Singh said. “This isn’t as good as it gets, we can do better.”

Singh attended community engagement events in Port Alberni and Parksville earlier Tuesday.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes