With an election around the corner, ordinary Canadians are speaking up. We are facing multiple overlapping crises — skyrocketing rent, unaffordable groceries, student debt, and a climate emergency.

Take some time to read the powerful stories below from people across the country. Then, join us to call on all Canadian Federal Party Leaders to build a future that works for all of us.

Read the Stories

Demand Better

Fed Up? You’re not alone.

Keep scrolling to read powerful stories from people across Canada who are courageously sharing why the status quo is not working for them.

 

“Having to choose between rent and groceries shouldn’t have to be a choice one is forced to make. The stress and burden of making less and spending more has caused extreme anxiety for me and my family.”
– Ben, 29

Read the full story.

Having to choose between rent and groceries shouldn’t have to be a choice one is forced to make. The stress and burden of making less and spending more has caused extreme anxiety for me and my family.

I have hopes and dreams of living comfortably and sustainably one day, but it seems like each day that passes puts those desires one step further beyond my grasp.

It has been an extremely discouraging time given the most recent US election, where it seems like the ones who do the most damage to the things we strive to improve on are always getting away with it.

We need to stop letting the wealthy few rule over the rest of us. It starts with the choices we make. A collective effort can go a long way, and while things are financially tough right now for most, it’s important to continue the fight in making the most ethical choice available to us as consumers.

Ben, 29

“Just like that Carolyn was gone. I had been mowing Carolyn’s lawn every Thursday for the past eight years. She was a lovely lady who didn’t deserve to die like that. I still miss her today. We need to address climate change now.”
– Amber

Read the full story

The heat dome of 2021 in BC started on June 18th and lasted until July 14th. There were 619 heat-related deaths during that time.

I remember it was a Thursday afternoon in July. I was mowing lawns that day for my customers in Chilliwack. I pulled up to Carolyn’s house. She was 87 years old. She was a widow and lived alone. She loved her garden. Her two daughters were standing out in the front yard. They both looked visibly upset. I approached them with concern and asked what was wrong? The eldest daughter told me that Carolyn’s air conditioner had stopped working during the night and that she “boiled to death in her sleep.”

I was speechless. I cried. Just like that Carolyn was gone. I had been mowing Carolyn’s lawn every Thursday for the past eight years. She was a lovely lady who didn’t deserve to die like that. I still miss her today.

We need to address climate change now. It’s real and it’s destroying our people, communities, and our planet. Enough already!

Amber

“I was laid off and entitled to maximum EI benefits. However, the maximum EI amount did not even cover my monthly rent, forcing me to further rely on debt until I could find more work.”
– Anonymous, 27, Alberta

Read the full story

I entered the workforce straight out of high school. I followed the adage of work hard and work your way up. I did that as well, moving from $16/hour to $80,000 per year in only 4 years.

Despite this, my finances never improved and even declined due to the cost of living. This was further exacerbated when I was relocated to Ontario for work. I lived 89 KM away from my primary work location, having to drive from Brantford to Mississauga everyday due to Brantford being the only semi-affordable location. Then, I was laid off and entitled to maximum EI benefits. However, the maximum EI amount did not even cover my monthly rent, forcing me to further rely on debt until I could find more work.

After depleting my resources, I was forced to move to Alberta into my uncle’s house in order to avoid becoming homeless. The debt has now developed into a self-perpetuating cycle due to interest rates, and the prospect of renting is now unimaginable; despite having a job as soon as I arrived in Alberta.

Anonymous, 27, Alberta

“He said to me, “Grandma, I feel like the whole world is burning and no one is worried about it.”
– Susan, 72, Surrey

 

Read the full story

When my 9-year-old grandson’s soccer practice was canceled, due to wildfire smoke, he said to me, “Grandma, I feel like the whole world is burning and no one is worried about it.” I told him that I was worried and I was trying to get the government to act faster. I have 5 grandchildren and I am worried about the kind of world they are going to grow up in. I may not solve anything in my lifetime, but I want my grandchildren to know that I tried.

It’s time for our governments to create a tax on the ultra-wealthy. Let’s use the money for not-for-profit housing and to promote more renewable energy projects.

Susan, 72, Surrey

“I can’t afford to eat 3 meals a day, and some days I skip eating altogether.”
-Anonymous, 26, Kingston

Read the full story

I’m disabled and queer, I live off of provincial disability support. It’s becoming harder and harder to live authentically and publicly. I can’t afford to eat 3 meals a day, and some days I skip eating altogether. I can’t leave my house when the sidewalks and roads aren’t plowed of snow due to my disabilities, and I can’t leave the house in the summer when it’s too hot for the same reason. I have to spend so much money on cooling in the summer that I don’t have money for transportation, clothing, or most food.

I’ve been homeless and I know that it’s easier to be hungry than it is to find housing. I’m worried that going without needs for so long won’t matter and that I’ll end up homeless despite how careful I’ve been with money. In order to prevent my mobility from getting worse, I need to be able to go to occupational therapy and physical therapy, neither of which are covered by the provincial disability program. In Ontario we disabled only get a maximum of $1358 in financial support, which is 56% of the poverty line and far beneath what we need to thrive.

The fact of the matter is that the cost of living, housing, and climate crises are all interconnected. The wealth gap is so large and poverty is so pervasive that people with multiple full-time jobs are experiencing destitution. Allowing disabled people, “unskilled” people, and families to suffer while resources and money are concentrated in so few people’s hands is injustice.

I desperately want to be of use and to contribute to society, but even if I had no way to, I should be able to live with dignity and respect. In order to work, I need more financial support for enough food for energy to concentrate, adequate clothing, and housing needs.

I don’t have the financial support that I need to escape the cycle I’m stuck in, and I don’t have the supportive programs I need to stabilize my disabilities to get better. I need to have hope that there will be a future where the planet is protected, people can afford to thrive, and no one is unhoused.

Anonymous, 26, Kingston

“It can be hard to enjoy your life when you’re  financially further behind than previous generations.”
– Brenna, 28, Moncton

Let’s demand better.

Mega corporations and billionaires are hoarding wealth, exploiting workers, and harming our climate for their profits. They profit, we pay. Among them, the fossil fuel industry, is raking in obscene profits while destroying our planet and future. Now, the looming trade war with the U.S. makes our reliance on corporations, especially the oil and gas sector, a ticking time bomb.

All of us are fed up with this rollercoaster ride. It’s time to take our future into our own hands with a Green New Deal that ensures everyone’s basic needs are met, strengthens local economies, follows Indigenous leadership, and reduces our exposure to both fossil fuel volatility and U.S. economic bullying. If we tax billionaires and Canada’s largest, price-gouging corporations, we can fund a future that works for all of us.

It’s time for political leaders to choose people over corporations and deliver a Green New Deal for a Resilient Canada.

Take Action

Read More Stories

Send Your Message

Protect People not Corporations: Deliver a Green New Deal for a Resilient Canada

Canada’s political parties are gearing up for the next election—let’s demand bold action for a fairer future.

While billionaires and Big Oil rake in record profits, everyday people are are left behind.

By taxing billionaires, Big Oil, and Canada’s richest corporations, we can generate billions for our families and communities.

It’s time to prioritize people over profits.

 

Dear Federal Party Leaders,

You can edit this text to make it personal to you.

Hi !

We have your contact info saved from last time, just click the button below to continue.

Not ? Sign out

By taking this action, you are agreeing to our terms of service and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Read more powerful stories from people across the country.

“I live in an area that has historically been termed temperate rainforest. We used to be able to depend on summer rains to both refill the reservoir that provides community water, and to reduce our need to use community water in our gardens.” -Alison, Sunshine Coast, BC

Read the full story

I live in an area that has historically been termed temperate rainforest. We used to be able to depend on summer rains to both refill the reservoir that provides community water, and to reduce our need to use community water in our gardens.

In 2015, the Sunshine Coast went to Stage 4 water restrictions for the first time. Under this stage we are not allowed to use ANY community water in our gardens – even if we are growing food. In the 10 years that started in 2015 we went to Stage 4 six times, and Stage 3 three times. Only in the wet summer of 2024 did we manage to avoid Stage 3 status.

At my home, we have 12 fruit trees and 2 vegetable beds. Over the last 10 years we’ve built a water catchment and holding system out of food shipping containers that we located through Craigslist. We can now store 13,000 litres of water. This has been enough to keep the veg beds going, but we’re concerned that isn’t enough to make a meaningful difference to the fruit trees.

We’ve also had summers when the smoke is too bad to go outside. Our area is dependent on summer tourism for a lot of jobs and the smoke can drive away tourists.

Alison, Sunshine Coast, BC

“This event was just another clear example that the climate crisis is here and really drove home the fact that it is crucial for humanity to learn how to adapt in order to survive it. This wasn’t a “once-in-a-lifetime” disaster, nor was it unique to the Okanagan. As global temperatures continue to increase due to the climate crisis, these horrific events are only becoming more common and frequent.” -Anonymous

Read the full story

I was living in Kelowna during the McDougall Creek Wildfire in August 2023. Growing up in Saskatchewan, there were frequently smoky weeks during the summer due to wildfires up north or as far away as Alberta and BC, but this was the first time I had actually seen a wildfire up close.

It was terrifying; the fire jumped the Okanagan Lake from West Kelowna into Kelowna, and thousands of people had to evacuate their homes in the area. The residents in my apartment building were placed on an evacuation alert, with a warning that we may have to evacuate at any moment.

A lot of people left the city to stay with family elsewhere, but I had nowhere else to go. I hardly slept that first night as I was constantly checking news updates and hoping like hell that the fire wouldn’t come as far as downtown. Thankfully it didn’t, but the air quality in Kelowna in the aftermath was absolutely horrible. Thinking back on those smoky summers in Saskatchewan, they didn’t even come close in terms of poor air quality.

This event was just another clear example that the climate crisis is here and really drove home the fact that it is crucial for humanity to learn how to adapt in order to survive it. This wasn’t a “once-in-a-lifetime” disaster, nor was it unique to the Okanagan. As global temperatures continue to increase due to the climate crisis, these horrific events are only becoming more common and frequent.

Anonymous

“When I was finally evicted, I moved 5 hours away from my family to have more affordable housing and then the same pattern began to happen here.”
– Lori, 70, Penticton

Read the full story

I lived in Vancouver for years as rental costs escalated. When I was finally evicted, I moved 5 hours away from my family to have more affordable housing and then the same pattern began to happen here. I was lucky enough to find a not too expensive mobile (modular) home but it’s in a privately owned park in the centre of town. I often wake up with panicky fears that the owner will sell the prime property and I’ll have nowhere to go. AND I am on a gas furnace and can’t afford to change to a heat pump for health and safety and reduced emissions.

Universal Basic Income that provides people a living wage would benefit the people as well as the economy. We would be spending less on medical and support costs, justice, and bureaucracy managing those in poverty, and they would be able to pay rent, care for their children, get training or retraining, and get better jobs.

Lori, 70, Penticton

“Despite having a good job, it is hard to save more, given the wildly inflated rental market, and the cost of food inflated to provide more corporate profit.” -Ahmed

Read the full story

The housing crisis is something of very personal significance. Myself, alongside many my age, are looking at home ownership, and seeing that goal/milestone be incredibly far out of reach. Despite having a good job, it is hard to save more, given the wildly inflated rental market, and the cost of food inflated to provide more corporate profit.

I feel locked out of even considering home ownership right now, let alone good quality options that feel like a place to make home.

Ahmed

“Since entering the workforce 9 years ago, I have been saving at least 50% of my income consistently, and yet the same houses that I looked at when I first entered the workforce have all doubled to tripled in price. I can finally afford to purchase at the price that they were 10 years ago.” – Anonymous, 31

Read the full story

I have been saving to buy a home since I was a child. I spent hardly any of the money I ever received and put almost all of it away all for the sake of home ownership. Since entering the workforce 9 years ago, I have been saving at least 50% of my income consistently, and yet the same houses that I looked at when I first entered the workforce have all doubled to tripled in price. I can finally afford to purchase at the price that they were 10 years ago.

The massive greed and subscribing to economic models expecting “endless growth” as a norm both have been playing large parts in driving this, and it has been frustrating to no end, as these factors are the results of choices and decisions of how people who are in control of businesses behave. It is entirely avoidable and preventable.

Wealth tax the rich and you will have enough budget to do everything you need to do to take care of everyone else.

Anonymous, 31

“I am a therapist, and increasingly I am having to support clients (both youth and adults) who are struggling with immense anxiety and hopelessness about their futures. Providing that support can feel especially difficult at times when I am struggling with those same emotions. We need concrete action from our government, not empty promises. Put an end to oil and gas lobbying, enforce a capital gains tax for the fossil fuel industry, invest into cleaner energy and support a just transition for all Canadians (including supporting alternative industries in Alberta).” – Anonymous, Vancouver

“I also wish we would change our climate policies more aggressively to have a greener future because I’m British Columbia. Where we currently live we are being affected by droughts and wildfires that get worse each year. My mom has asthma and can’t leave the house when the wildfires get too bad.” – Luis, Vancouver, 26

Read the full story

I am a fulltime college-educated professional currently making 70k a year and living with my partner in a basement rental. We share a 12 year old car that is also expensive to maintain for us as well. We’ve been in this place for 3 years now, however if we are forced to move, we might not be able to afford anything within budget. We live with quite a bit of anxiety due to rising food and housing costs, as of now our only options are to try and save extra and look at applying to housing co-ops that are very limited where we live. It is disheartening to think about how we will make ends meet and plan for a family and stable future when both housing and the cost of living are increasing so much.

We both have additional responsibilities with our aging parents who we try to help out now and then because they too are not well equipped to retire and live comfortably in their old age, it also adds to our anxiety and stress too.

I also wish we would change our climate policies more aggressively to have a greener future because I’m British Columbia. Where we currently live we are being affected by droughts and wildfires that get worse each year. My mom has asthma and can’t leave the house when the wildfires get too bad. The city that I grew up in has changed drastically versus when I was a kid – you can feel the tensions and see the decimation of our green spaces and forests because of corporate greed, we need to make it stop!

Our governments should create more below market housing co-ops, regulate developers and force them to build affordable housing. Aggressively tax billionaires, limit the amount of foreign corporations buying Canadian industry, begin to create more green initiatives and subsidize them just as much or more than the gas and oil sector, reduce logging of old growth forests, ban plastics, accept nuclear energy as a viable alternative and begin transitioning away from gas and oil.

Luis, Vancouver, 26

“My mortgage is up for renewal in September, and I am terrified that I will not be able to afford the new rate. I must, or I will find myself in a seniors’ residence, or institutionalized, which is an extremely unpleasant prospect. I have two dogs and a cat that I would most likely have to give up – which I will never do.” -Linda, Sharbot Lake, 77

Read the full story

I have had several challenges in my life, but the one that is currently the most impactful centres around the ever-increasing cost-of-living. I do my grocery shopping online because of physical disabilities. Once a month, my boarder (and friend) drives the 40 km to our closest town to pick them up. And every month, I find myself ordering less and less as the prices increase. Not only that, but that particular item is taking a larger chunk out of my budget each month. My mortgage is up for renewal in September, and I am terrified that I will not be able to afford the new rate. I must, or I will find myself in a seniors’ residence, or institutionalized, which is an extremely unpleasant prospect. I have two dogs and a cat that I would most likely have to give up – which I will never do. I love them and, since I am childless and have been widowed two times, they are my only source of affection and companionship. I will fight tooth-and-nail to stay in my home.

Last year, I developed a blockage in my digestive track, caused by scar tissue from a healing ulcer. I am unable to eat normal food and live on a diet of Ensure and a few soft foods. My pharmacist gave me the unhappy news that my prescription would not be honoured by the Drug Benefit Plan here in Ontario, as it is designated for only patients who are tube-fed. When I looked at the monthly cost, I knew I would be unable to afford it. However, I was extremely lucky when, after contacting my provincial Member of Parliament, he was able to arrange an exception for me so that this prescription is, indeed, paid by the province. But I endured several months of very few groceries while this issue was being investigated. I do not know what I would have done had I not won that particular fight.

As luck would have it, I also developed double vision and, after consulting a specialist in that area, was prescribed glasses with prisms. As you are aware, neither contact lenses nor glasses are covered by OHIP any longer, and the cost for these specialized lenses is onerous. I was wearing trifocals previously, but the technology does not exist, yet, for this new prescription to be made as a trifocal. That means I require two pairs of glasses, one for close-up and one for distance. That also means the cost of my glasses is twofold. I am presently approaching various social agencies seeking financial assistance.

They say that the Golden Years is a time to cherish – and I do, because I know full well there are many people who pass away before they can experience this era. However, I wish someone would have warned me that getting old is definitely not for sissies — and that there is a tremendous amount of rust attached to that gold!

Linda, Sharbot Lake, 77

“I’ve never felt more hopeless about my future than I do right now. At 30, I expected to be planning to start a family. Instead I read the news and feel paralyzed.” – Anonymous, Toronto, 30

Read the full story

I’ve never felt more hopeless about my future than I do right now. At 30, I expected to be planning to start a family. Instead I read the news and feel paralyzed.

Unlike my parents’ and grandparents’ generations, owning a home in my city seems like an impossible dream for all but the wealthiest. We are now more likely to be killed by natural disaster or societal breakdown than old age, due to failure after failure to address climate change, thanks in large part to the oil and gas industry’s manipulation of politics and media.

Now Donald Trump is back to pour fuel on all of these fires and further divide us against ourselves.

The solutions are at hand, we just need politicians who are brave enough to act:

  • Fairly tax and stop subsidizing the oil and gas industry, billionaires, and largest corporations (especially those headquartered in other countries) that return little value to us, relative to their cost in environmental destruction.
  • Fight the financialization of housing and build affordable housing units that are supported by transit in mixed-use neighbourhoods within pre-existing city boundaries (not sprawl).
  • Fight foreign interference in our elections from the likes of Elon Musk and support balanced, truthful journalism in our country.
  • Invest in energy efficiency (e.g. building retrofits) and energy independence through a smart, distributed, renewable grid (not pipelines).

Anonymous, Toronto, 30

“I have just had a baby and the cost of everything is making it difficult to get ahead at all. The cost of living plus groceries is making it super difficult to have any savings at all and the cost of formula is atrocious!” -Anonymous, 28, Peterborough

“I have a serious breathing illness, pulmonary fibrosis. Last summer I was restricted indoors when air quality was dangerous for breathing for at least 60 days. Water in Southern Alberta is close to drought conditions, due to diminishing snow melt plus selenium in the Old Man River watershed and downstream from selenium in the water as a result of coal-mining activity at Grassy Mountain. I spend most of my time advocating for climate regeneration. It’s long past time to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuel giants. Apply those funds to promote sustainable energy projects. Put a cap on the windfall profits of major corporations, particularly fossil fuel companies. Do something to mitigate capitalist greed and encourage employee-owned industry.” -Brian, 85, Calgary

“If I’m not deciding whether or not I can eat that day, I’m trying to decide which of my other bills is most pressing – what absolutely cannot wait or what I’ve already reached my limit of extensions on. Despite all of that, I am one of the lucky people because I at least have a place to stay. It costs more than is allotted to me on ODSP, even with four roommates but I at least have a roof over my head.” -Sarah, 29

Read the full story

I believe that like so many others I am impacted by these things on a daily basis and I do mean daily. Every single day I have to make the choice of what I can afford to eat for dinner or if I can afford anything at all.

I am lucky enough that I have access to food banks and resources. I grew up using these resources so I know about them and what’s available to me. It’s one of the rare moments I appreciate having grown up well below the poverty line because I am used to having to make these types of decisions. However, the regularity with which I am now forced to make these decisions, has increased exponentially.

If I’m not deciding whether or not I can eat that day, I’m trying to decide which of my other bills is most pressing – what absolutely cannot wait or what I’ve already reached my limit of extensions on. Despite all of that, I am one of the lucky people because I at least have a place to stay. It costs more than is allotted to me on ODSP, even with four roommates but I at least have a roof over my head.

I could give you a list of at least 10 people that I know personally who are not so lucky, people who wait in line daily to try to claim a spot at a shelter but theirs is not my story to tell. I believe every single person is affected by our current cost of living crisis, but I know first hand that the people that are most affected are those closest to the poverty line. We are drowning, with no end in sight.

Sarah, 29

“As someone with a university degree I don’t feel that this degree is helpful in ensuring my future in terms of employment or earning the money needed for even just basic necessities and this is causing me a great deal of anxiety and stress, which doesn’t help my physical or mental health in any way.” -Elisabeth, 28

Read the full story

I am fed up with the expensive cost of living. Every month I am paying a very high price for groceries and public transit. This reality is very concerning because given the average wages workers are making, I don’t feel the necessary expenses can easily be afforded by the majority of the population for an extended period of time.

As someone with a university degree I don’t feel that this degree is helpful in ensuring my future in terms of employment or earning the money needed for even just basic necessities and this is causing me a great deal of anxiety and stress, which doesn’t help my physical or mental health in any way.

I am fed up with the lies and misinformation that is being spread to the public, so that people aren’t learning about the real truths surrounding world events, activism, and climate change. There are several critical problems that the world is experiencing and instead of informing people about the reality, this information is either being covered up or twisted up so that people aren’t aware of the truth. This stresses me out, because it means people are unable to accept the truth or listen to facts about certain situations.

I am fed up with people’s ignorance and apathy towards the climate crisis. The climate crisis is something that everyone is affected by on different scales and needs to be a part of working towards improving. I lived in Kelowna and experienced a serious forest fire, due to the climate change, there two summers ago. This was a beyond terrifying experience for me. I am grateful that I didn’t have to leave my home or lose it, but I constantly was in fear that I would have to. My heart breaks thinking about everyone who was directly impacted and lost their home, and the environmental damage caused. I am stressed out thinking that these instances aren’t isolated and will only increase if things continue on the same path.

Elisabeth, 28

“I had to move from BC to SK due to the cost of living. After two years of being back, I am not saving any money here. I am university educated and have three roommates and I still do not save anything per pay cheque due to the cost of housing and groceries. Our lease is up in May and I am unsure where we will move to because we can’t afford much and there are not many options. On top of this, I feel constantly stressed about the state of the world with the fluctuating climate that influences our food production and various other things. It feels like there is too much going on at once.” – Anonymous, 27, Saskatoon

Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this project. We appreciate your honesty and your vulnerability. Thank you for reminding us that we are not alone in these heavy times and we all deserve better.  

 

Spread the Word

Share these powerful stories with your friends and community members.

BlueSky

Instagram

Facebook

WhatsApp