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Affordability
Cell & Internet services
NDP's promises
Childcare
NDP's promises
"Go above and beyond the current federal child care initiative to establish permanent, free and universal public child care – creating jobs and helping Islanders get back to work." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Dental care and optometry
NDP's promise
Food prices
NDP's promises
"Introduce a market nutrition coupon, providing a minimum of $30/week toward farmers’ market or community-supported food purchases." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Follow the federal NDP’s lead and call for an investigation into out-of-control food costs on Prince Edward Island." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Remove the suggested $5.50 cost of the PEI lunch program and implement a free breakfast and lunch program for all Island students." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Fuel and transportation costs
NDP's promise
"Bring in a gasoline tax exemption, easing approximately 8.5 cents per litre for Island drivers." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Minimum wage
NDP's promises
Poverty
NDP's promises
"Raise social assistance rates to realistic levels that boost households above the Market Basket poverty line." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Extend inflationary support payments to individuals and families through 2025." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Prescription drugs & pharmacare
NDP's promise
Public transit
NDP's promises
Student loans
NDP's promises
"Giving young people a chance by converting government loans to grants, so students aren’t graduating with massive debts." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Tax measures and rebates
NDP's promises
"Create a new bracket for PEI’s highest income earners, while lobbying for a federal wealth tax and closing of tax loopholes for the rich." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Climate Change & the Environment
Climate adaptation
NDP's promises
"Studying the possibility of converting Maritime Electric and the power grid to public ownership, with the intent of moving towards a 100% Island-sourced renewable energy grid." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Empowering municipalities to tackle their climate infrastructure needs with dedicated funding and changes to the Municipal Government Act." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Energy generation
NDP's promise
"Studying the possibility of converting Maritime Electric and the power grid to public ownership, with the intent of moving towards a 100% Island-sourced renewable energy grid." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Green construction and retrofits
NDP's promises
"Empowering municipalities to tackle their climate infrastructure needs with dedicated funding and changes to the Municipal Government Act." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Launch an energy retrofit program, targeting 3% of PEI’s buildings per year to save money, cut emissions and create new jobs. This will include a step code for buildings to reach net-zero by 2032 and mandatory building and home energy efficiency disclosure." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Green tech
NDP's promises
"Immediately establish a Green Jobs Task Force to guide the transformation of PEI’s economy into a sustainable one, while creating thousands of green jobs. This task force will include representatives from community, labour, business and environmental organizations, Mi’kmaq and Black communities, municipalities, agriculture and fisheries, universities and colleges." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Support innovation in renewable energy generation and storage – creating jobs in wind, solar and other sources of natural power." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Green transportation
NDP's promise
Land
NDP's promises
"Work to amend the Lands Protection Act, to protect our natural environment against further questionable commercial encroachment." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Renew legislation to protect species at risk, ensuring that the current list of species is complete" — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Public transit
NDP's promises
Water
NDP's promises
Education
Indigenous learning
NDP's promises
K-12 funding
NDP's promises
"Remove the suggested $5.50 cost of the PEI lunch program and implement a free breakfast and lunch program for all Island students." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Integrating environmental and outdoor education into public school curricula." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Maintaining a school transportation system that meets the needs of all public school students, including those who participate in after-school activities." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Eliminating fees and financial pressure associated with school supplies, field trips and fundraising activities." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Cap classes for grades 4 through 8 at 20, and reduce high school classes to ensure students at every age get the support and attention they deserve." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Learning needs
NDP's promises
"Ensuring wraparound care for students experiencing trauma and mental health issues, including training of school staff and integration of community resources." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Providing targeted support for students with ADHD, including a clear referral and assessment pathway and training in early intervention for education professionals." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Post-secondary costs and tuition
NDP's promises
School construction and upgrades
NDP's promises
"Increasing the provincial budget to finish school upgrades." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Launching a study on building new schools to offset aging buildings, with attention to locations where students currently face long commute times." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Student loans
NDP's promises
"Giving young people a chance by converting government loans to grants, so students aren’t graduating with massive debts." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Student mental health
NDP's promises
"Ensuring wraparound care for students experiencing trauma and mental health issues, including training of school staff and integration of community resources." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Tackling bullying effectively in partnership with community leaders and organizations, including adoption of a restorative conflict resolution practice in schools." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Health & Healthcare
Access to abortion services
NDP's promise
Ambulance and emergency wait-times
NDP's promises
Dental care and optometry
NDP's promise
Drugs and addiction
NDP's promises
Gender-affirming care
NDP's promise
Long-term care
NDP's promises
"Work with the federal, provincial and territorial governments to develop national care standards." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Mental health
NDP's promises
"Implement mental health therapy through the PEI health card, allowing Islanders to choose the best services for their needs." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Improve accessibility of our province’s complicated and under-utilized e-health system." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Natal care
NDP's promise
Prescription drugs & pharmacare
NDP's promise
Prevention and treatment
NDP's promises
Primary care
NDP's promise
"Establish health hubs where primary care teams provide services to individuals in their communities." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Rural healthcare
NDP's promises
"Boosting practicum and residency placements for medical students and graduates with experienced rural physicians." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Senior at-home care
NDP's promises
"Strengthen the full-range complement of professional services in the publicly managed home care program – OT, physio, social work, personal support and home help." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Create a substantial Caregiver Tax Credit to provide real financial support to family caregivers." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Seniors' health & services
NDP's promise
Sexual and reproductive health
NDP's promises
Staffing shortages
NDP's promises
Training more staff
NDP's promises
"Boosting practicum and residency placements for medical students and graduates with experienced rural physicians." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Housing & Homelessness
Affordable housing
NDP's promises
"Require 25 for 25 for government-funded developments, meaning 25% of units are kept affordable for 25 years and developers are locked into this commitment." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Invest to create 5,000 public affordable units to be rented out and maintained by the province, providing assured housing stock during hard times." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Increase support for municipal, co-op, community development and service organizations – groups that are selflessly providing housing for those in need." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Legislate the cost definition of affordability using the a formula that is based on minimum wage income. Affordability is calculated at 25% of average monthly income on minimum wage." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Home construction and supply
NDP's promise
"Update the housing building code to allow for unique housing structures like bunkies, tiny houses and off-grid living." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Public housing
NDP's promise
"Invest to create 5,000 public affordable units to be rented out and maintained by the province, providing assured housing stock during hard times." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Rental housing
NDP's promises
"Add regulation to maintain the same rent charged to the previous tenant." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Short-term rentals
NDP's promise
"Develop the Short-Term Rental Act to support municipalities facing short-term rental issues, and step in if needed with provincial regulations." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Jobs
Agriculture
NDP's promises
"Protect and expand supply management, to ensure farmers are fairly compensated and able to cover production costs." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Create jobs for workers, opportunities for farmers and sustainability for PEI agriculture with a new Regenerative Agricultural Network." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Gig and contract workers
NDP's promises
"Bringing in legislation to ensure that all workers, regardless of job, can qualify for benefits such as overtime, sick days and holidays." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Standing up for gig and contract workers, holding companies responsible for the health and safety of employees hired through temp agencies." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Minimum wage
NDP's promises
Seafood, fishing, and aquaculture
NDP's promise
"Establish a Grow, Feed and Buy PEI program to increase food security and local business growth – supporting local farmers, fishers, growers, wineries and breweries.
○ Grow PEI will help young farmers access land, and support farmers and processors to expand local food production.
○ Feed PEI will increase the use of PEI-grown and processed foods – including agricultural products and seafood – in hospitals, schools, and other government facilities.
○ Buy PEI will help local producers and processors market their products by re-establishing a strong, recognizable Buy PEI brand and supporting industry-led Buy PEI marketing activities." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Sick leave
NDP's promise
Startups and small businesses
NDP's promises
"Improve the government procurement process to increase contracting of local companies and consider social, economic and environmental factors – such as good wages, local jobs and hiring a diverse workforce." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Tourism
NDP's promise
Trades
NDP's promises
"Easing the restrictions qualified immigrant workers face in attaining the credentials to work on PEI." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Working with trade unions to assist in the creation of trades colleges and training institutions, operated through trade unions." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
"Encourage women in trades through increased funding to organizations such as the PEI Women’s Network and the Trade HERizons program." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Unions
NDP's promises
Society & Government
Disabilities and accessibility
NDP's promises
Elections & electoral reform
NDP's promises
"Launch a Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform to examine alternatives to the first-past-the-post system, and issues such as low voter turnout." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Justice and legal aid
NDP's promise
Local government
NDP's promise
"Empowering municipalities to tackle their climate infrastructure needs with dedicated funding and changes to the Municipal Government Act." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
Racism and diversity
NDP's promises
Reconciliation
NDP's promises
Misc. topics
Children and youth
NDP's promise
"Making sure all students regardless of family income have access to opportunities in arts and sports." — NDP Platform 2023, 2023-03-09
They may still in the future!
Biography
Michelle owns “Salvage Garden Consignment” in Murray River and is a supply teacher for the Public Schools Branch. She organizes and runs the Main Street Farmer’s Market in Murray River as well as various other community events and initiatives. Michelle’s commitment to the community of Belfast-Murray River is evident in her involvement in community events, small business collaboration and her vibrant enthusiasm for “Down East”.
“The political options are out there and I’m excited to be representing the Island New Democrats,” says Hodgson. “Islanders are choosing between heating their home, paying for prescriptions or rent. I’ve heard from so many people in our communities that need changes, that’s why I’m putting my name forward so we can get a better deal.”