NDP leader Jagmeet Singh talks health care and the fishery at St. John’s campaign stop

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Backed by a view that overlooked St. John’s harbour, federal New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh made his first official visit to Newfoundland and Labrador for this election cycle. 

On Saturday, April 5, Singh stepped to the podium at the Emera Innovation Exchange in the capital city and promised to deliver what he believes is a comprehensive way to fix health care in the country. 

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“I believe that everyone in our country should be able to have a family doctor. I believe that is a fundamental part of our health-care system,” he said. “We need that.” 

Flanked by St. John’s East candidate Mary Shortall, retired NDP MP Jack Harris, local members of CUPE and other supporters, Singh spoke at length about what he feels is the best deal for Canadians in this election. 

That includes ensuring more doctors are getting trained in the province, increasing the number of residencies available to foreign doctors by 1,000 for certification purposes and reducing administrative work so they can see more patients. 

They will also offer a one per cent increase in health-care transfers for provinces who sign on with the plan. 

“These are ways to work together to solve this problem, and I’m confident we can do it if we make it a priority — and for New Democrats, it is a priority,” said Singh. 

Bringing doctors home

When it comes to how that plan ensures doctors are available to people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, Singh wants to see residents serving their hometowns. 

That means training medical professionals who have roots in those communities in hopes of incentivizing them to move home to work instead of training others from elsewhere and asking them to go someplace new.

“They’re more likely to want to practice in the communities and serve the patients that they have grown up with,” said Singh. “We’re taking a different approach.  

“Let’s train people from those communities to be doctors in those communities.” 

A look at the fishery

Since the election was called, much of the conversation in NL has focused on the fishery and how the next government can improve it. 

For Singh, that comes in the form of a fishery that is focused on local industries instead of large commercial fleets. 

“The emphasis should be on local fishermen. That’s our approach. That’s long been our approach,” he said. 

That includes working with those close to the water to make sure they’re thriving. 

There’s been a lot of emphasis on resuming the seal hunt during the early stages of this election. It was one of the Conservatives’ first announcements on the campaign trail. 

Shortall said the NDP 100 per cent support resuming the hunt. 

“Where I think it can make a difference, especially right now, when we’re trying to make Canadian be Canadian, and we’re expanding our markets to everywhere other than the United States,” she said.

“I think the federal government has a responsibility to open up discussions with the European Union and the countries in Europe to make sure … they sell those valued products.” 

Standing up for Canada

Any election stop during this campaign, it seems, wouldn’t be complete without a stance on how best to protect Canadians and their interests in the wake of threats of tariffs and otherwise from the United States. 

Singh’s stop in St. John’s was no different, as he was asked about where he stands on the issue. 

To help with his answer, he told a story about a St. John’s woman who pinned a sealskin maple leaf on his sweater at a local establishment the night before. 

“When you’re in a storm, when you’re in a tough time, Canadians band together,” said Singh. “We get through tough times by looking out for each other.” 

‘Vote for a New Democrat’

As a part of his announcement, Singh made sure to distinguish what sets his party apart from both the Conservatives and Liberals — and that’s the NDP’s work to expand the health-care services already available to Canadians. 

“They’re worried that cutting health care is the wrong thing to do,” said Singh. “If you’re one of those folks that are hearing Mark Carney talking about cuts and you’re worried, vote for a New Democrat. 

“We are the only ones going to fight back to defend our health care … We can deliver and we deliver for Canadians.”