NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh talks costs of living in Penticton, B.C. | 24CA News
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday to speak with group members in regards to the rising price of dwelling.
Singh believes the the 2 essential areas the place the price of dwelling is hurting individuals essentially the most is groceries and housing.
“With groceries, we know that people are going to buy groceries and every week it’s more and more expensive. But at the same time the grocery corporate chains that own basically all the grocery stores in Canada are posting record profits,” mentioned Singh.
“There’s a disconnect there and that’s where government has to step in and stop these corporations from gouging. We’re exploiting the crisis and making money off the pain of people.”
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Global News spoke to a number of residents about their considerations with the price of dwelling. Some agree that groceries and housing are high of thoughts.
“Housing affordability, obviously groceries. When you see all the homelessness on the street you realize you have to do some more to get them in houses, living and to get them to eat — those are my main concerns,” mentioned Penticton resident Jason Skafel. “We are renting right now; that is quite expensive and in the grocery department.”
“Yeah, it seems like when you go to the grocery store it’s like double the price now in the last couple years,” added Penticton resident Melanda Danenhower
“Affording childcare, it’s basically impossible to get in and if you don’t you quit your job and you can’t afford to live,” mentioned Penticton resident Jamiee Remond.
“In the last couple months, feeding a child, formula costs, diaper costs — it all adds up.”
According to Singh, step one in direction of fixing this problem is an inquiry into meals costs.
Last month, Members of Parliament summoned the CEOs of Canada’s largest grocery retailer chains to reply for rising meals costs.
“They’re going to be coming to the House of Commons because we forced them to come and we’re going to challenge them and say, ‘Why is it that you’re making these huge profits while people can’t afford groceries? Why are you increasing your prices well beyond any increased costs associated with maybe the war in Ukraine or increased fuel costs,” mentioned Singh.
“Once we identify exactly the problem, which we think is corporate greed, then we can actually bring in some changes in terms of better competition laws and we can force the government to put in place the wealth tax that we’re talking about, but we need to identify the problem.”
Meanwhile, from the rental market to the housing provide, Singh says there’s points throughout the board relating to inexpensive housing.
“If you’ve got a good job, and even if you’ve got two income-earning folks in your family, if you’re a couple, they cannot find a place that’s in their budget. And forget buying a home, people can’t even afford to rent a home,” mentioned Singh.
“And what we’re seeing is throughout the nation, hire goes up. The price of housing hasn’t come down in a approach that made it extra inexpensive. The Liberals and Conservatives have arrange the present market. They’ve been those in energy and have set in place, in movement, a housing market that it’s uncontrolled that’s exhausting for individuals to seek out one thing they will afford.
“And we’ve got to change that.”
The provincial authorities has promised a $400 renter’s rebate, however that’s practically 1 / 4 of the common worth for a one-bedroom house in Kelowna.
Last yr, the federal authorities additionally supplied a one-time renter’s rebate, although Singh says that’s not sufficient.
“The BC NDP has done some really great things. I think some really meaningful things are going to help out people, but B.C. needs a federal partner that’s also going to step up. We fought hard and made the federal government do a rental relief of $500. We made that happen last year. And that was a part of our agreement. So that’s some relief for people,” he added.
“We need to do a lot more. So we’re going continue to push for help for renters, push for real investments in housing, push a real building of more affordable homes that are actually in people’s budgets.”
Singh went on to say that there’s additionally a rising want for non-market housing that’s not going to repeatedly rise in price yr after yr.
“Seeing those huge increases in rent which we saw in Kelowna, we’re seeing in Penticton we’re seeing across Canada, so we really need to take housing seriously,” he mentioned.
“New Democrats believe in that. I’m focused on that and we’re going fight hard to get people help.”
Singh completed his time within the South Okanagan with a roundtable dialogue about these considerations and attainable options.
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