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By Michael Reeve

CANADA VOTES 2025

Election Issues 2025: Affordability and cost of living

Apr 21, 2025 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Over the next week, Canadians will head to the polls, basing their votes on several key topics, including housing, U.S. trade relations, the environment, crime and public safety — and Monday’s (April 21) topic for those running in Kamloops — affordability. All candidates in the two ridings were asked the exact same question. ‘Canadians are worried about the rising costs of everyday goods. What is your party’s plan to address the affordability crisis in our country?’

The Conservatives are campaigning on the ‘change’ vote, looking to end nearly 10 years of Liberal rule. In terms of affordability, they are asking a common election query — are you better off today than a decade ago?

“It’s not because of prudent government policy. The last 10 years have seen a skyrocketing cost of living, and that is based on two things — the cost of goods and housing,” said Frank Caputo, Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola Conservative incumbent. “It’s my view the Liberals have not delivered on those. As Conservatives, we will cut taxes — particularly the carbon tax. Right now, the Liberal plan is to pass that on to consumers by way of the manufacturer. That is just going to raise costs.”

While the governing party since 2015, the Liberals have undergone a leadership change from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney, the latter bringing with him new visions for Canada’s future, including a promised tax cut for middle-income Canadians.

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“Mark Carney and the Liberal party have already taken first steps to that, by eliminating carbon price index for consumers, as you see at the pumps where [the price] goes down. It trickles down to when you are trying to get goods and services to the market. And that is what it’s about — taking those effective measures,” said Ken Robertson, Liberal candidate in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies.

The NDP helped keep the Liberals in power, getting election promises around dental care and Pharmacare to reality in return.

“The NDP’s plan is to hold corporations accountable and one of the biggest pieces with that is looking at how to cap prices on things that are basic needs — some of those being… essential groceries that every household needs,” said Miguel Godau, NDP candidate for Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola. “Bringing in Pharmacare and supporting sustained Pharmacare so people don’t have to chose between getting their medications or eating.”

The People’s Party of Canada is promising to balance the budget in their first year in power, through cutting foreign aid and more than $50 billion from the budget.

“Our plan is to have a 15 per cent income tax on the first $100,000 and a 25 per cent income tax on anything over $100,000. That will definitely impact people’s take home money and be able to make things a lot more affordable,” said Michael Henry, PPC candidate in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies.

The Greens are seeing an imbalance in wealth across the country, wishing to see those at the top pay their fair share.

“We have allowed our society to be over-corporatized. We have allowed too few people to really benefit from policies at the federal level. And the Green party is going to get in and change that around. We believe — and I believe, personally — that a growing income gap is bad for everybody, wealthy and not so wealthy,” said Owen Madden, Green candidate in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies.

Election day is Monday, April 28.

CFJC News will continue our election issue features on Tuesday, with the candidates from the five major parties discussing housing and how their parties will help younger generations enter the market.