OTTAWA — The federal NDP is demanding the Trudeau government close a controversial tax loophole for stock options and crackdown on tax havens in the coming federal budget — and redirect the savings towards a national pharmacare program.
The NDP also wants the government to put more money into affordable housing and ending boil-water advisories on First Nations, and to better protect workers' pensions when companies go bankrupt.
The demands come just two weeks before the federal budget Feb. 27, and as New Democrats from across the country prepare to gather in Ottawa for three days of meetings starting Thursday.
Singh, who has backed away from predecessor Tom Mulcair's commitment that an NDP government would stick to a balanced budget, says average Canadians are not feeling the benefits of recent growth in the economy.
The NDP leader says while the Liberals have failed to address inequality, they can take real action by including his party's proposals in the budget.
New Democrats have said they plan to make inequality a key theme in the lead-up to next year's federal election.
