Let’s be honest, most of us are way too busy with work, family, and just general survival, that the implementation of yet another daunting task in our lives seems ludicrous rather than getting drunk, stoned, and binging our favourite TV series while smashing a bag of jalapeno Cheetos down our gullets. 

We often find it easier to pick a party and stick with them based on our parent’s influence or some co-worker’s apparent gleaming knowledge on politics rather than do the research for ourselves.  But the fact of the matter is, that co-worker is often influenced by someone else, be it their own parents, a partisan website, their snowflake sister-in-law, or their racist neighbour.  They just happen to be louder than you and oblivious to the fact that spewing off memorized talking points is not actually being informed. 

I have mentioned in past articles that I have no political party affiliations, which has made it increasingly difficult for me to determine who I will be voting for in this federal election.  Therefore, I have decided to do some research and share my findings with all of you, in an effort to cast an informed vote on the issues which matter to us most, rather than part-take in political tribalism.  

I have identified 6 issues which according to research Canadians say matter to us most:   

Immigration, Health Care, Climate Change, Education, Housing, Gun Violence.  To keep this concise we will tackle 2 topics at a time in 3 installments.  In today’s blog we look at the 4 main party’s platforms on Gun Violence and Housing.   

Gun Violence 

Liberals – prohibit semi-automatic assault rifles (restricted) allow municipalities to initiate handgun ban (semi-automatics are restricted/fully-automatics are prohibited).   

Conservatives – repeal and replace Bill C-71 with one that targets gang violence.  Opposes handgun ban but promotes life-time ban on those who have been convicted of violent crime or straw purchasing (Legal purchase of weapons and illegal resale on black market).   

NDP – handgun ban in the hands of the municipalities.  Target gun smuggling.  $100M/year to tackle gang violence. 

Green – handgun/assault rifle ban.  Institute a buy-back program.   

Gonzo:  Since gangs are not using legal guns to commit crimes, and legal handguns are already restricted/prohibited, the Conservatives win here.  Banning something that’s already prohibited doesn’t seem to be useful.  Redirecting resources and concentration on the problem which is gang violence and not what’s used in gang violence is the way to go in my opinion. 

Housing  

Liberals – $55B to build affordable housing (100,000 homes over 10 years).  First-time home-buyer subsidies of 10% on new home purchases and 5% on resale homes.  Interest-free loans of up to $40K to make homes resilient to extreme weather. 

Conservatives – Ease regulations to build new homes.  Raise mortgage amortization limit to 30 years.  Review to potentially get rid of mortgage stress test for first-time homebuyers.  20% green homes tax credit for up to 20K spent over 2 years to pay for energy-saving renovations. 

NDP – Construction of 500K affordable housing units over 10 years.  Rental subsidy.  Scrap GST/HST for new affordable housing developers.  Raise mortgage amortization limit to 30 years.  Low-interest loans for energy –conscious retrofits.   15% surtax on foreign buyers 

Green – Build 25K new affordable housing units and renovate 15K existing units for the next 10 years.  Legislate housing as a “legally protected human right.” 

Gonzo:  I’m going to have to give this win to the NDP.  While the Liberals first-time home-buyer subsidies are appealing, the NDP is just promising more.  Although I’m not thrilled with the idea of increasing the bank enslavement period, if it will bring down the monthly mortgage cost what’s five more years?  The Conservatives plan is not shabby, but it does not address renters at all.  If the Liberals’ interest-free loans of up to $40K to make homes resilient to extreme weather also includes energy –conscious retrofits then they potentially take the lead on this topic. 

I’m also concerned with what type of affordable housing these two parties are talking about.  Are we talking about more potentially crime-infested neighbourhoods?  Keep it simple stupid(s):  make purchasing a home and renting a home affordable by keeping the cost between 20-25% of an individual’s income.  The more money you put in people’s pockets the more they’ll spend thereby contributing to our economic growth.   

Return tomorrow for a look at health care and education.