Conservatives announce support for gig workers as NDP tackles housing market

Erin O'Toole says that aConservative government led by him wouldoffer support to people he claims were ignoredby thefederal programs launched in response tothe globalpandemic:gig workers.

"Many were left behind, especially gig economy workers," the Conservative leader said todayin Ottawa, adding that 1.7 million Canadians "work in the gig economy."

"We're talking about everyone,from truckers to graphic designers, from warehouse workersto delivery drivers. Anyone working on a contract or an on-call basis."

O'Toole said those workers and their families were excluded from many of the benefits announced over the last year and a half. Hesaid theyoften don't qualify for employment insurance because they lackthe required insurable hours or payroll contributions.

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Today, O'Toole announcedthe party's "Canada's Recovery Plan" would require companies that operate within the gig economy tomake contributions to portable Employees Savings Accounts every time they pay a worker.

Those contributions wouldbe equal to ones made to the Canada Pension Plan andwould grow tax-free. Workerscouldusethe money in the accountsto pay CPP premiums or withdrawthem to meet expenses.

In the past,Conservatives have criticizedCPPand EI premiumincreases as taxes on job creation.O'Toole said times have changed.

"The Conservative Party is going to stand up for all workers," he said. "This is a new part of our economy. The gig economy didn't exist years ago when EI and other programs were rolled out. That's why 1.7 million Canadians were missed in a crisis."

NDP takes aim at Conservative announcement

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singhwas quick to criticize the Conservativeplan.

"If Erin O'Toole actually wanted to help people working in the gig economy, he wouldn't have teamed up with Justin Trudeau to vote against prescription drug and dental coverage for these workers," Singhsaid in a press release shortly after O'Toole's announcement.

"His record shows that he would make life harder for people. Just like Justin Trudeau, Erin O'Toole's plan gives the biggest corporations a free ride and hurts everyone else."

While the Conservatives were announcing a plan for gig workers, the NDP announced its intention to help first-time homebuyers by doubling the first-time homeowners credit and transforming it into a rebate making the money available to people when they move intoa newly purchased home, instead of during tax season.

The party also said it would introduce measures to help families lower their mortgage payments.

The NDP's housing platform is centred on a proposal to build 500,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years.

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At a press conference in Winnipeg, Singh said the dream of owning a home is fast becoming unattainable for many Canadians, in partdue to big money and foreign investments in the market.

"We also want to build more homes that are within people's budgets," he said today. "We're going to invest significantly, and massively and seriously in building more homes that people can afford."