op ed: Visioning for the future

›› Laurel Collins, Member of Parliament for Victoria

As the MP for Victoria, my role involves both bringing the voices of my constituents to Ottawa, but also working for a vision of Canada where people don’t have to struggle to pay their rent or mortgage, or just to put food on the table; where people can access the health care they need when they need it; where seniors aren’t working hard their entire life only to find they can barely make ends meet—where people get the support and the respect they deserve. This is a vision of Canada where there is justice for Indigenous people, where every community has access to clean drinking water, and where Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit folk no longer face an ongoing genocide. A Canada that builds resilient infrastructure in the face of hurricanes, extreme flooding, forest fires, heat domes, and takes action that matches the scale and urgency of the crises we face.

Unfortunately, that’s not Canada we live in—people in our community and across the country are struggling and they’re scared about the future. And in the face of these immense challenges, we have a government that chooses to hand out billions of dollars to oil and gas companies, that refuses to address how corporate greed is fueling the cost of living, and that has failed to deliver the health care funding that provinces need to keep our public health system strong.

My New Democrat colleagues and I will keep working for a vision of Canada where people can afford their bills, a good home, and savings for the future. A Canada where people can access universal public health care - including universal pharmacare, dental care, mental health care. A country where billionaires pay their fair share; where we meet our climate targets; invest in clean, sustainable jobs; where there’s justice for Indigenous people; and where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.

If you’d like to share your thoughts, please feel free to reach out to my team at laurel.collins@parl.gc.ca. I look forward to hearing from you!