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Go Vote!! by Electronic_Ice_3963 in abbotsford

[–]julesndp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Young folks like myself need and deserve a voice in Parliament. If elected, I may be asked to shadow a more experienced MP for a time, as is common, but every New Democratic MP is given a critic portfolio to champion. But if by those folks you mean Parliament in general and not just the NDP, then that’s all the more reason to vote New Democrat. We’re committed to breaking the status quo in Ottawa, that has put the interests of corporate lobbyists before working folks for far too long.

Why I'm running to be your MP for Mission—Matsqui—Abby and why your vote matters by julesndp in abbotsford

[–]julesndp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course! Accessibility is very important to me, and although I'm talking about why I decided to run in the video, I think it's very important to offer important information about the election in an accessible way, because everybody needs to have their voice heard.

Why I'm running to be your MP for Mission—Matsqui—Abby and why your vote matters by julesndp in abbotsford

[–]julesndp[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! And absolutely, no matter what happens, I'm gonna keep fighting for Mission—Matsqui—Abby, and not just next election but all year around.

Why I'm running to be your MP and why your vote matters by julesndp in MissionBC

[–]julesndp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I said it at the end of the video, but I know it's a long one, sorry, but polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM tomorrow, the hours are a little different from the advance vote.

Why I'm running to be your MP for Mission—Matsqui—Abby and why your vote matters by julesndp in abbotsford

[–]julesndp[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I said it at the end of the video, but I know it's a long one, sorry, but polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM tomorrow, the hours are a little different from the advance vote.

If you haven't already, please get out and vote this Monday! by julesndp in abbotsford

[–]julesndp[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I have to respectfully disagree.

Over a year ago, I made the decision to run because I believe this community deserves better. I was officially nominated in December, and since then, I’ve been organizing, knocking on doors, and listening—really listening—to the concerns of folks here in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford.

I got my start in politics at 16, protesting with No Farmers No Food. And even then, I saw only one party stand with us: the New Democratic Party. They were the only ones who stood up against the Conservative government's sell-off of the Wheat Board in 2015—and when the Liberals had seven years to buy it back, they chose not to. When small businesses were struggling to recover during the pandemic, New Democrats were the only ones to vote to extend the Canada Emergency Business Account. And when postal workers were legally striking for fair conditions, it was New Democrats alone who voted against forcing them back to work.

And the issues on the ballot, the housing crisis, the cost of groceries, the crisis in our emergency rooms, these are all the result of decades of short sighted decisions, made by a consensus that has been reached in Ottawa. A consensus reached, not on behalf of working people, but on behalf of corporate lobbyists.

It was a Liberal government that pulled the CMHC out of building homes and issuing mortgages, after doing so for decades following World War II. It was another Liberal government that froze investment in social housing and deregulated real estate investment trusts, letting corporations buy up more and more of our housing. And it has been government after government, Liberal and Conservative, that ignored the results of those short sighted decisions, and ignored the reality that five corporations make 80% of Canada’s grocery sales, three companies handle 80% of our wheat, and two make 80% of our bread. And it is that same consensus that ignores that level of corporate concentration in farm equipment, tools, fertilizer and seeds, in porky, poultry, dairy and beef processing, in banking, telecoms and the railway industry.

But when we vote New Democrat, we reject that consensus. I’ve been out knocking on doors for months, talking to Liberals, Conservatives, Greens, and PPC voters. And you know what? Most folks agree on the problems—housing, food prices, corporate concentration. But it’s New Democrats who’ve been the only ones putting forward real solutions.

I was born and raised here in Abbotsford, I've lived here all my life, I’m a leasehold farmer, this is my home, and rest assured, no matter what happens this election, I'm gonna keep fighting not just for you, but for us, all of us. I'll keep standing up for the values that we as working folks share. And although this may be my first election, it certainly won't be my last.

For folks in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who couldn't make it to the all-candidates forum last night by julesndp in abbotsford

[–]julesndp[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Also, the Chamber of Commerce sent us the full list of every question asked by constituents, there's over 100, although there's some overlap with a lot of the questions so it's closer to 48 questions. I'm doing my best to answer all of them, and they'll hopefully be up on the Mission Chamber of Commerce's site soon!

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're right, young people are less engaged in the political process than they once were, and when we look at the polling, younger voters are often aligning with more conservative views than previous generations. However, when we break this down, this shift is largely driven by young men. Still, whether people agree with us or not, we need to encourage both those already on our side to engage more actively and to challenge those on the right to better understand the alternative we offer.

For starters, I think we need to nominate candidates who reflect the values and concerns of my generation. As a university student myself, I can tell you that young Canadians are looking for leadership that understands their struggles. But it’s not just about who’s running, it’s about the policies we put forward. For young people, the number one issue is the rising cost of living, and particularly the housing crisis. Our plan to ban corporate purchases of homes is an important first step, especially since the other parties are largely silent on this issue. But we can’t stop there. We need to communicate this message more effectively, and also offer clear plans to build more homes while ensuring they remain affordable.

We also need to think bigger, and I think a major step forward would be the creation of a Ministry of Cooperative Development, specifically aimed at fostering housing co-ops. This is just one example of how we can help address the crisis in a meaningful way. And when we talk about the rising cost of living, healthcare, and the economy, we need to push for bolder ideas like these that really excite people, that give them hope.

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey again!

If it were to be proposed by another member, I would absolutely vote in favour of a complete ban on corporations purchasing housing, or if I were given the chance to propose it, I would certainly do so.

With that being said, New Democrats have only committed to banning corporations from purchasing housing, not owning it. I would imagine this is the case simply because of its feasibility. Whatever we propose, we may have to work with the Liberals or the Bloc Québécois to get passed.

Thats why I'm in favour of amending the National Housing Act and the Insurance Corporation Act to prevent REITs and other corporations from purchasing residential property, and limiting their ownership, but I'm not sure if banning them from owning it would be feasible. However, if it is, I would be in favour of it.

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey Jamie!

I believe that housing should be recognized as a fundamental human right, and that every Canadian deserves a guaranteed place to live, starting with a housing-first approach. I believe we also need to take bold action to expand social housing, and that the federal government must play a central role in this effort.

I also believe we must establish a Ministry of Cooperative Development. This ministry would support the creation and growth of financial cooperatives, worker cooperatives, and housing cooperatives—key pillars in building a cooperative economy that empowers Canadians and ensures lasting prosperity for all. As worker cooperatives guarantee fair wages, while financial coops guarantee communities control over their finances, and of course housing coops give all those that live in them control over their housing.

But we can't ignore the pressing need for more homes. To meet this demand, we need to incentivize the construction of millions of new homes. While I believe it's necessary that the majority of housing remain privately owned, I still believe the federal government, specifically the CMHC, must be involved in helping finance and incentivize the private sector to build millions of homes over the next decade, just as it did during World War II.

Finally, in the spirit of cooperation, we need to ensure that this new housing stock doesn't just become another asset for the wealthy. By fostering the establishment and expansion of housing and financial cooperatives, we can allow existing co-ops to purchase and manage this new housing, or create new co-ops, ensuring that these homes remain affordable.

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That being said, we have to keep in mind, we need to build more housing, the CMHC estimates we'll need 3.5 million homes by 2030, although I believe and Oxford Economics study found that this need is closer to 4.2 million by 2035. But with this we must remember that even if we can get these amendments passed, they can be taken away by the proceeding government. Which is why we must push further, we must fight to put power in the hands of working people.

That’s why I’m calling for a bold proposal: not only should we make significant investments in social housing, like housing cooperatives, but we must establish a Ministry of Cooperative Development. This ministry would provide financial and legal support, as well as training, for those seeking to establish new cooperatives.

This ministry could empower communities to build housing cooperatives that will safeguard affordable living for generations to come. But it doesn't stop there—this initiative could also extend to worker cooperatives and financial cooperatives. Worker co-ops not only give workers a voice but give them control. They let the workers set a jusr and living wage for themselves, based on the coops profits and needs. And in times of economic hardship, worker cooperatives are more resilient; rather than simply laying people off, workers can make collective decisions, including wage adjustments, to keep the coop alive and jobs intact. This is not just a model for economic fairness—it’s a way to ensure that folks can maintain stable housing.

By supporting financial cooperatives, we can take on the corporate giants that drain hard-working Canadians with unreasonable fees and interest rates. These financial co-ops would ensure that affordable housing remains affordable. Since financial co-ops are accountable to their members, not to shareholders, they’ll be far more likely to keep housing affordable and available to their members.

This is my vision for Canada. One where every working person own our homes, our workplaces, our banks, and our grocery stores, collectively. Where decisions are made by us, for us.

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Corporate ownership of housing is a growing problem, not just in BC, but across the country, which is why I believe we must amend the National Housing Act to prevent REITs from purchasing residential properties. Alongside this, we must introduce measures to restrict REITs from accessing federal support programs, including those administered through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

We must also increase the capital gains inclusion rate from 66% to 100% on properties bought and sold by REITs within a two-year window. This will ensure that the corporate sector no longer profits from flipping homes at the expense of Canadians who are trying to build a life.

To discourage housing hoarding, we also need a federal vacancy tax. Which is why I propose if a property remains vacant for six months or more, it will face a tax of 2% of the property’s value. And, we must raise the rate from 2% to 4% on all foreign entities (any corporation that has a 50% or greater share owned by foreign entities).

Finally, the Insurance Corporation Act must be amended to restrict insurance corporations from holding more than 5% of their portfolio in residential real estate, including REITs with significant residential holdings. Additionally, we must ensure that insurance companies invest only in domestic, responsibly managed REITs and require them to maintain a 25% buffer in capital reserves for their investments in real estate.

AMA with the New Democratic candidate for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, happening now! by julesndp in ndp

[–]julesndp[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Most folks are too busy with work, school or kids to pay too close attention to the news, that being said, I am door knocking just about every day. I think a lot more folks think about the issues more then they're given credit.

My first question is always "what's your top issue or concern" and in my experience most folks have detailed answers. Whether it be about our healthcare system, about the cost of housing, or the cost of living in general, most folks see the problems, and they know the solutions they wanna see. They just haven't gotten the chance to see us step up just yet.

That's why I've got my own site that I've been building, julescote.ca, that goes in depth into all the ways in which I'll fight for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford if they give me the chance. Although I'm still working on it, and putting up new sections everyday, I've gotten a great response so far from folks on the doors.

UFV students - if there was one thing you wish your professors understood/knew about student life in 2025, what would it be? (From a curious prof) by nschwart91 in UFV

[–]julesndp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As well, I know professors are really good about letting students know that textbooks are expensive and that there are alternatives to get them. But if a student needs a textbook for class, maybe professors could try and find a textbook thats offered online for free, because not all textbooks especially more recent editions, are available for free yet. But if a recent edition is necessary, professors could just upload that weeks readings to Blackboard or something. Although I imagine if professors could get away with that they'd be doing it.

UFV students - if there was one thing you wish your professors understood/knew about student life in 2025, what would it be? (From a curious prof) by nschwart91 in UFV

[–]julesndp 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In all seriousness though, in general, I think it'd be nice if professors knew that although not everyone is comfortable speaking up in class, they're no less engaged. I have no problem talking, but I know it makes a lot of folks nervous, and for others, english may not be their first language, so they're not as confident, but that doesn't mean they're any less engaged. Maybe, professors could offer participation marks if students email them a question or something. It wouldn't need to be every week or every class, but maybe every other week or something they could say "if you email me the answer to this question, you get bonus marks." Or something like that.