OTTAWA 鈥� NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says that clearly 鈥減eople are feeling neglected鈥� by Ottawa, but that the way the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are going about raising those concerns are 鈥渄istracting鈥� from the 鈥渞eal鈥� problems.
In an interview with Evan Solomon, host of CTV鈥檚 Question Period, Singh said that the issues and pressures Albertans and Saskatchewanians are facing are real, but are being felt in 鈥渕any provinces.鈥�
While discussing what his priorities will be for the new Parliament, including more action on climate change, Singh was asked about the ongoing conversation around western alienation and the requests being made by Premiers Jason Kenney and Scott Moe and what the NDP caucus鈥� response would be to the Liberals moving ahead with targeted measures for that region of the country.
鈥淚 want to see commitments at the federal level to help out those folks,鈥� Singh said during a wide-ranging interview in which the NDP Leader also spoke about the intersection of his personal and spiritual beliefs, and why propping up the Liberal minority may be dependent on the promises in the throne speech.
鈥淧eople are feeling neglected and ignored by Ottawa,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淲hat Conservative premiers are doing is distracting from the real problem.鈥�
He cited the health care and education systems, and the challenge in finding jobs as examples of the 鈥渞eal鈥� issues.
Singh鈥攚ho has just one elected MP in Alberta and none in Saskatchewan鈥� opposes the Trans Mountain pipeline project that many in Alberta view as integral to their economic stability, and supports tougher environmental regulations.
As , Kenney announced that he would be creating a 鈥淔air Deal Panel鈥� to look into ending several arrangements with the federal government, including opting out of federal cost-share programs like a proposed pharmacare plan that Singh is a vocal proponent of; and enacting a system in which schools need provincial signoff before entering into federal government agreements.
In the interview Singh suggested that Alberta has to diversify its economy instead of doubling down on oil and gas. The Kenney government has previously said that becoming less dependent on oil and gas is a long-term initiative, though there have been steps taken.
鈥淭hey need to do better,鈥� Singh said.
鈥淭hey need to be an economy that鈥檚 not subject to the whims of one commodity that might go up and down in price and that could completely upturn their economy,鈥� Singh said. 鈥淲hat they need to do is this: They need to be committed to job creation, they need to be committed to making sure they have a diverse economy that creates real opportunities that aren鈥檛 subject to the global whims of a market that can go volatile up and down.鈥�
Singh said he is open to looking at the equalization formula to make sure that it鈥檚 still working and fair.
鈥淭he future we know is a future where we鈥檙e fighting the climate crisis while creating jobs. There has to be a path that鈥檚 laid out where we show workers that there is a path to create jobs鈥� that鈥檚 what people need to see and to hear and to feel, so that they鈥檙e not worried about their future,鈥� Singh said.
SINGH WANTS 'CONCRETE' LANGUAGE IN THRONE SPEECH
In addition to action on climate change and job creation, Singh said that he wants to see 鈥渢imelines鈥� and 鈥渟ome real concrete commitments鈥� for pharmacare and dental care in next month鈥檚 Liberal throne speech, otherwise he is prepared to vote against it.
鈥淚 want something concrete,鈥� Singh said, downplaying questions of whether he is over exaggerating the bargaining position he will have in forth-party status, given the Bloc Quebecois鈥� indicated intention to work collaboratively with the Liberals so long as they stay out of provincial secularism matters.
Singh said it鈥檚 different to have the support of an NDP caucus that he says will be 鈥渇ighting actively鈥� for improvements to Liberal initiatives than the backing of a party that would just 鈥渘ot get in the way.鈥�
鈥淭he Liberals can work with other people, there鈥檚 no question about it. The difference is that we鈥檙e actually fighting for things that Canadians want,鈥� Singh said.
SAYS PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL BELIEFS ALIGNED
In light of Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer being asked about his personal and religious views on social issues like same-sex marriage, Singh was asked whether as a Sikh he believes that being gay is a sin.
鈥淣辞.鈥�
He was asked whether he supported same-sex marriage.
鈥淵es.. I support it all the way.鈥�
And does he support the right of women to access abortion?
鈥淵es, absolutely, without any question.鈥�
Singh said that his personal and religious beliefs are 鈥渃ompletely aligned.鈥�
鈥淢y beliefs spiritually are fully in line with supporting same-sex marriage, supporting a woman鈥檚 right to choose. I have no, any sort of ambiguity with my personal, spiritual beliefs,鈥� Singh said.
Asked whether it was appropriate for these kinds of questions to be asked of federal leaders, Singh said that he thinks it gives people confidence in his stance.
鈥淚n my case, people can be very confident that both my spiritual, my personal, my beliefs as a leader are all in line with my values, which are to support a woman鈥檚 right to choose, which is to support same-sex marriage, which is to fight for equality and fairness for Canadians, so people can have that confidence with me."
