NDP's Housing Commitment: New Limits on Corporate Landlords and Support for Non-Profits

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is wrapping up the first week of the election campaign with a strong promise: to ban corporate landlords from acquiring existing affordable rental properties. This pledge is part of his wider strategy to tackle rising housing costs in Canada.

Singh Stands for Working Class Over Wealthy

At a campaign event outside a Toronto apartment complex, Singh emphasized that his focus is on empowering 'working people' instead of catering to 'billionaires and millionaires.' He stated, "We will confront this issue directly by prohibiting large corporate landlords from engaging in the harmful practice of buying affordable homes."

Singh's proposal echoes a previous bill introduced by the NDP that sought to limit the sale of affordable properties to individuals, non-profits, municipalities, agencies, and cooperative housing organizations.

This week, Singh has made housing affordability a central theme. Earlier, he met with Erin Findley, a tenant whose building was purchased by Brookfield Asset Management. Singh highlighted that Liberal Leader Mark Carney was the chair of Brookfield until recently, raising questions about the influence of corporate interests in politics.

NDP's Comprehensive Housing Plan

On the sixth day of the campaign, Singh detailed several initiatives his government would pursue. These include the elimination of federal subsidies for corporate landlords that charge excessive rents. Singh underscored the need for more government support, stating, "An NDP government would provide additional funds to the Rental Protection Fund, which aids community housing projects."

This commitment is part of a broader agenda Singh first outlined in Montreal, focusing on utilizing federal land for constructing affordable housing. In Hamilton, he proposed increasing untaxed income thresholds by around 21 percent for individuals, which would allow workers to keep more of their earnings.

Campaign Adjustments After Tariff Announcements

The election campaign faced a shift after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of new tariffs on auto imports. In response, Singh adjusted his schedule to prioritize meetings in Windsor, a key area for Canada's auto industry. Here, he announced protective measures aimed at ensuring American companies do not diminish the capacity of local factories that received public funding.

However, Singh's campaign has struggled in popularity polls, where the NDP's support has waned, often landing in the single digits against the more dominant Liberal and Conservative parties. While Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have drawn larger crowds at events, Singh expressed his commitment to engaging directly with voters through smaller gatherings focused on vital issues such as affordability and worker protections.

"We're standing against companies that are purchasing affordable homes. Our mission is clear; we're here for you," Singh remarked, reaffirming his party's dedication to addressing housing issues. The NDP campaign is expected to return to Ottawa before heading to British Columbia for further engagements.

Housing, Politics, NDP