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.
Fed Up? You’re not alone.
“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
“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
“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
“He said to me, “Grandma, I feel like the whole world is burning and no one is worried about it.”
– Susan, 72, Surrey
“I can’t afford to eat 3 meals a day, and some days I skip eating altogether.”
-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.
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.
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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!