An NDP government under Lewis would expand Farm Credit Canada’s mandate
The federal New Democratic Party (NDP) has a new leader after seven months of campaigning.
Documentary filmmaker and former journalist Avi Lewis won 56 per cent of party support on the first ballot at the NDP’s national convention in Winnipeg, Man.
“Canada, mark your calendar. The NDP comeback starts now,” Lewis said in his victory speech.
Much of Lewis’s plans should the NDP form government under his leadership revolve around public ownership.
Here’s what that could look like for food and agriculture.
Lewis is a supporter of public grocery stores and regional hubs to help bring down food costs.
“By using a high volume, warehouse style model with subsidized rent and utilities, and backed up by networked local and regional food hubs to bring in local foods, grocery costs could be cut by as much as 30-40%,” his campaign plan says.
These food hubs would fall under an expanded Farm Credit Canada mandate, “so that food can be grown, stored, processed and sold closer to home – outside of corporate value chains.”
Supports for farmland acquisition are also part of his platform.
Lewis proposes a public farms fund to support municipalities.
This fund would help municipalities buy farmland as farmers age and pay older farmers to mentor younger producers.
In addition, the Lewis-led NDP would have public institutions like schools and hospitals use their purchasing power to support local food.
“Access to food is a basic human right. An Avi-led NDP would invest in public grocery stores, and national food and farming infrastructure to ensure everyone in the country can afford to eat,” his campaign site says.
Lewis and his Green New Deal would include ag.
The deal would invest 2 per cent of Canada’s GDP to manage climate issues.
That spending includes public federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous corporations to manufacture electric-battery delivery vans and buses, and farm machinery.
And in his tax policy, Lewis wants to treat capital gains the same as employment income but would maintain exemptions for farms and other businesses.