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Since 1962 when the Party was founded by the CCF and Labour, the NDP's policies and platforms have been guided by the following principles of social democracy:
Fair distribution of wealth amongst all citizens; Democracy that enables citizens to control the decisions that affect their lives; Solidarity which encourages people to find cooperative solutions to problems; and Sustainability for the world we live in.
These principles are what distinguishes us from other political parties. The best example of these principles which we have in Canada today is the medicare system, which was founded by Tommy Douglas - also one of the founders of the NDP.
On March 7, 2009 the Ontario NDP elected Andrea Horwath as the new leader of our party. Find out more by clicking the links below.
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Ontario NDP News - Current Events
NDP Proposes opt-in Pensions for Ontario
From the Toronto Star - January 11, 2010
As it faces a pension crisis that has left six out of 10 people without a plan for retirement, Ontario should adopt a provincial plan that would allow everyone to save for their golden years, the New Democrats said Monday.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is suggesting a plan that would give retirees the security of a dependable level of income – and at least hold them over while the federal government ponders calls to expand the Canada Pension Plan.
"No matter where they work, all Ontarians should be able to retire with dignity, security and without worry," Horwath said.
"An Ontario Retirement Plan is a sensible idea that would allow people who want to save for their retirement the chance to do so."
The proposed plan would be publicly run and available to any working Ontario resident without a workplace pension, but it won't be mandatory.
Employees and employers would be expected to contribute every year, with rates phased in over a five-year period, although a longer phase-in might be considered for employers depending on economic circumstances.
The maximum benefit of the plan would be between $600 and $700 a month, and employees would be able to take their pensions with them when they change jobs.
The proposal is based on models like OMERS (the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), the Ontario Teachers' Pensions Plan and the Canada Pension Plan – all of which have continued to provide reliable income despite the economic downturn.
A similar system is already in place in New Zealand, and one is being considered in the United Kingdom, Horwath said.
Experts, labour groups and some of the provinces believe the recent financial crisis exposed weaknesses in the system, and the aging of the population will only exacerbate the pitfalls.
Susan Eng, vice-president of advocacy with retirees' lobby group CARP, said the NDP plan would offer a flexible, secure retirement savings option and a viable alternative to what she considers a current lack of political action.
"That kind of serial stalling is wearing thin, and while it may be possible in good times for politicians just to avoid a difficult situation in bad times they really need to show some bold political leadership, and that's what we're asking for here," said Eng.
Saving for retirement – or living on incomes that fall below the poverty line – has become "an absolute burden" for some people, she added.
"The choice becomes paying the rent or eating, and they just don't have any alternative whatsoever," Eng said.
"There's nobody else who's going to come and support them in any kind of way."
That kind of stress is unnecessary when successful retirement plans like OMERS exist, and could be extended to everyone through a proposal like Horwath's, said Eng.
Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced minor changes last month that will lay the groundwork for what he promises will be a major reform of the province's pension system – a problem the government has identified as a key priority that requires a national solution.
A few days later, Ottawa and the provinces agreed to take the first steps toward updating the country's retirement savings system after meetings in Whitehorse.
They said that after months of researching pensions and retirement income, they now had enough information to start negotiating on actual changes that would put the seniors of the future on a more stable financial footing.
They will then meet again in May in the hopes of making more concrete decisions about how the retirement system should change.
Liberals used to oppose reckless fire sale of public assets
From the Ontario NDP - December 16, 2009
QUEEN’S PARK – Today’s Globe and Mail reports Ontario has hired two banks to look at privatizing government assets. Selling off public assets at fire-sale prices in the midst of a recession is exactly the sort of policy that McGuinty Liberals used to denounce:
“You’re selling off Hydro One in a fire sale.”
Dalton McGuinty to then-Premier Ernie Eves, December 12, 2002
“Premier Eves plans to sell about $2 billion worth of essential public assets to balance the books this year. We’ve seen this movie before.
On May 5, 1999, the day the provincial election was called, the 407 was sold and the 407 users have been ripped off ever since. We are afraid that exactly the same thing is going to happen as you sell, once again, $2 billion worth of assets to balance your books… We want to know what you’re selling in this fire sale.”
Gerry Phillips, then Finance Critic, to Eves, December 4, 2002
“I simply want to know, on behalf of the people of Ontario, who have a right to an answer to this, how in the world is it that you and Mr Eves got the province into a position where the only way our books are going to be balanced is by a fire sale over the next four months of $2 billion worth of the province’s key assets?”
Gerry Phillips to Eves, December 4, 2002
“… this government has a fire sale every time it has a problem with money. During the last election they sold Highway 407 for $3 billion even though it was worth $10 billion, just so they could show a budgetary surplus for that election. We hear that they’re going to have to find something to sell to achieve the same thing before this election
Jim Bradley on the Harris Government, June 25, 2003
“We are also refusing to sell off the LCBO, Hydro One or private generators. We’re not having a fire sale of public assets. We’re going to do the responsible thing.”
John Wilkinson, November 11, 2003
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Prison Farms Town Hall with MP Malcolm Allen
As the Federal Government sets to close prison farm institutions across the country the local New Democrats are fighting to Save Our Farms
Thursday, Jan. 21st - 7PM
Chernoff Hall Rm. 117
Co-sponsored by the National Farmers Union, Kingston Cattleman's Association and local activist groups
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- NDP Proposes opt-in Pensions for Ontario
- NDP demands returns of KAIROS funding
- Liberals Used to Oppose fire sale of Public Assets
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