Canada’s NDP leader visits Kirkland Lake to outline priorities if elected PM

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has wrapped up a three-day visit to northeastern Ontario that included stops in Cochrane, Timmins and, on his final day, Kirkland Lake.

After touring a local mine, Singh spent time Wednesday with local residents at an art gallery and multicultural centre.

Jagmeet Singh, federal NDP leader met with Kirkland Lake residents at The Stope on Government Road West. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News)

“We need him to help us to bring everything down so we can live happily here,” said one local woman who is a newcomer to Canada.

“I heard the cost of living, particularly groceries and housing, and so my commitment is to address that,” said Singh.

“We know directly why care costs are so high -- corporations are ripping off people.

Met the mayor

Another woman who recently moved from Chile to Kirkland Lake said she’s grateful Singh wants to work on lowering the cost of living.

“Because we are from the north, everything (is) so expensive," she said.

"I start working but it is hard to try and start in a new community."

Singh also met with Kirkland Lake Mayor Stacy Wight, who said the town has applied for government funding to create more housing but is still waiting for an answer.

Wight said competing against more than 400 municipalities is a challenge.

“I believe that from the federal level funding coming through the provinces, there needs to be specific streams for infrastructure and housing directed to small and northern communities, specifically, so we're no longer competing with larger centres,” she said.

Affordable housing

"We've got to build homes that people can actually afford," added Singh.

"It can't just be about giving developers free reign to build whatever we need to make sure there's real investment so that the homes that are built are ones that someone can actually afford."

Another one of Singh’s priorities is to address the opioid crisis.

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"We've got to save lives and so do whatever we can to save lives," he said.

"Those people that need help, we are going to make sure they get that help. Finally, we got to get the toxic drugs. We're going to get that garbage out of our communities."

"If he's going to be a prime minister, get rid of the drug problem we have," said another local resident in attendance.

"That's it, No. 1."

The federal election is not until October 2025. With Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus not seeking re-election, it leaves his riding open for a new politician.