NDP promises to repeal Bill C-51, decriminalize pot in platform

The NDP released their platform for the upcoming federal election which promises, among other things, to repeal the controversial Bill C-51 instated by the Conservative government, with support from the Liberals, and to decriminalize possession of “personal amounts” of marijuana.

Bill C-51 was meant to protect Canada against terrorism, but NDP federal leader Thomas Mulcair calls it “dangerous and ineffective” and claim anti-terrorism experts agree. The bill would be repealed within the first 100 days of the NDP’s reign, should they get elected.

As for the decriminalization of marijuana, the details seem vague as to what would constitute a “personal amount,” but the NDP claim it’s in an effort to allow police officers to focus on more serious crimes. They would also work with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities to add 2,500 more police officers to their forces.

Other key aspects of their platform include:

• Add 7,000 more doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners to various community clinics across the country
• Lower drug costs
• $15 a day childcare
• Ensuring Canadians have access to low interest credit cards
• Close the wage gap between men and women

The NDP also promised a $15 an hour federal minimum wage, but only for civil servants and federal contractors. That would affect about 100,000 people nationally.

Mulcair seemed to take direct shots at the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, saying he would create incentives for automakers and parts suppliers to keep the auto industry more localized. He said he wanted to ensure “foreign investment and trade deals support Canadian jobs.”

To read the full 72 page platform document, click here.