Nova Scotia NDP leader says party is election ready, announces housing plan
CTV
Nova Scotia's NDP leader announced a program aimed at easing the cost of housing during a rousing campaign-style speech before the party's annual convention in Halifax today.
Nova Scotia's NDP leader trained her sights on the next provincial election as she announced a program aimed at easing the cost of housing during a rousing campaign-style speech before the party's annual convention in Halifax.
Claudia Chender later told reporters on Saturday her proposal could be considered a major plank in her party's platform ahead of a general election, which can be held no later than July 15 of next year.
"Absolutely, I think we know housing is one of the largest issues that we are facing across this province," said Chender. "What you heard today was the backbone, along with other proposals we've made, of the way that an NDP government intends to tackle that."
The NDP's proposal would prioritize the use of prefabricated housing to expand public housing stock. It would also increase home down payment loan help from five to 10 per cent of a home's purchase price, while extending the repayment period from 10 to 25 years under an existing provincial assistance program.
The party would also establish rent control and provide a tax credit for renters from low and middle-income households.
"We can begin to address so many of the problems our province is facing by dealing with the housing crisis head-on," Chender told a cheering crowd of more than 200 party delegates at a downtown Halifax hotel.
Chender told the gathering that the New Democrats are ready for an election whenever it's called by the governing Progressive Conservatives.