Stiles’ NDP will help Ottawa families fight rising costs

OTTAWA - Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles spoke with Ottawa families about how the NDP will fight the rising cost of living at her campaign stop at Lansdowne Farmers' Market today. She was joined by candidates from the NDP’s strong Ottawa team: Catherine McKenney (Ottawa Centre), Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West–Nepean), Myriam Djilane (Ottawa-Vanier), Max Blair (Nepean), Sherin Faili (Carleton), Dave Belcher (Kanata-Carleton), Ryder Finlay (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) and Matthew Sivigny (Orleans).

“Families in Ottawa need a government on their side. After seven long years of Doug Ford, the cost of rent has skyrocketed, your weekly food bill is sky high, and over 150,000 people lack a family doctor.

Ottawa deserves much better.

As Premier, I will fight against rising costs to help families get ahead. Our Monthly Grocery Rebate will help put food on the table. Our Family Health Guarantee will see more doctors hired for Ottawa so we can end hallway healthcare once and for all.”

The Ontario NDP’s platform will help fight rising costs in Ottawa:

• Monthly Grocery Rebate that is based on how much the cost of essential groceries like milk, bread and vegetables have increased under Ford.
• Bringing in real rent control that closes loopholes and helps people stay in their homes.
• Funding OC Transpo with 50% of operating costs, to make it more reliable, convenient and affordable.
• Hiring more family doctors: 150,585 people in Ottawa need one.
• Expand the Queensway Carleton Hospital so it can serve more people.
• Fixing Ottawa schools. $460 million repair backlog across all four school boards.

After Ottawa, Stiles heads to campaign stops in Peterborough and Durham Region.

Background: Ford left Ottawa behind

• There are 150,585 people without access to a doctor in Ottawa
• 78,724 people using food banks in Ottawa, up to 45% are children
• 75 people treated in hallways at The Ottawa Hospital daily, on average; 18 people treated in hallways at Queensway Carleton Hospital daily, on average
• Rent has gone up more than 40% in Ottawa under Ford (since 2018)
• Ottawa’s schools have a $460 million repair backlog