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Bringing Accountability,
Not Just Promises.

A Clear Economic Vision for Canada

 

As an independent candidate in this federal election, I'm focused on delivering real economic solutions that put Canadians first, not partisan politics. I’ve seen firsthand how rising costs and economic uncertainty weigh on families in Gloucester-Ottawa-Vanier and across Canada. It’s time for a plan that prioritizes stability and opportunity for everyone.

 

Economic Growth and Stability

My vision is clear: drive sustainable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth while maintaining a stable 2% inflation rate. This approach fosters prosperity without the economic swings that make life harder for Canadian families. Stability isn’t just a goal, it’s the foundation for long-term economic security, helping to lower grocery bills, support small businesses, and create jobs.

 

A Plan Built on Process

 

Every effective plan starts with understanding the problem. To create this economic roadmap, I have:

  • Evaluated the challenges facing Canadians.

  • Gathered comprehensive data, taking into account factors like the Trump Tariffs and their impact on Canadian families and businesses.

  • Broken down the issues into manageable parts.

  • Identified practical, results-driven solutions.

 

When elected, we will:

  • Implement these carefully selected solutions.

  • Continuously assess our progress with accountability and transparency, making updates available online to the public.

  • Refine the plan to ensure it evolves with real-world needs.

 

This thoughtful, methodical approach ensures that every action is guided by what works, not by political ideology.

 

Accountability You Can Trust

Transparency is at the heart of my commitment to you. You’ll know exactly what we aim to accomplish, when it will happen, and who will make it happen. No empty promises, just clear goals and measurable outcomes.

 

Independence Means Better Decisions

As an independent candidate, I'm free to evaluate every policy based on its economic merit, not political gain. This independence allows me to champion solutions that truly benefit all Canadians, ensuring our economy grows stronger and fairer for everyone. Let’s build a future where stability, opportunity, and accountability are at the core of Canada’s economic success. Together, we can create a Canada where families thrive, businesses grow, and no one is left behind. If our voices come together, we will be heard.

EQUALITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

s aged under 25, compared with 27.3% of the non-Indigenous population in 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As your representative, I am committed to building a more inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. My platform focuses on concrete actions to address structural obstacles and create meaningful change:

Gender Equality

 

  • Advancing Equality: Supporting the reinstatement of the Women and Gender Equality Canada Minister to champion equal opportunities for all genders, addressing barriers related to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, and ensuring full inclusion in Canada’s economic, social, and political life.

  • Enhanced Parental Support: Improving maternity and parental leave benefits to financially support families.

  • Women's Safety: Funding for women's shelters and enhancing their accessibility to protect vulnerable individuals facing domestic violence.

Workplace Equity

Official Languages

  • Bilingual Services: Providing dedicated funding to strengthen the Official Languages Act within the Federal Public Service, ensuring equitable access to services in both French and English.

  • In 2024, racialized people made up over one-third of Canada's workforce

  • Women are responsible for 75% to 80% of purchasing decisions

  • According to the 2021 Census, 23% of Canada's population are immigrants and is projected to 31.8% in 2041

  • In 2022, 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older reported having at least one disability, a 4.7% increase compared to 2017

  • In 2021, about 10.5% youth aged 15-24 reported being part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community

  • 41.2% of Indigenous Peoples aged under 25, compared with 27.3% of the non-Indigenous population in 2021

COMMUNITY SAFETY, CRIME PREVENTION & BORDER SECURITY 

As your representative, I am committed to tackling systemic issues, embracing technology, and promoting equitable justice through a phased strategy focused on five key areas: 

Stronger Laws, Safer Neighbourhoods 

  • Incentivized Community Policing: Federal funding to provinces that choose to implement community policing models, respecting provincial autonomy, while encouraging best practices.  

  • Cultural Competency Training: Provide resources for training in cultural awareness and conflict resolution.  

  • Community Feedback: Create town halls and anonymous feedback systems for police accountability.  

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Restorative Justice for Real Change 

  • Equitable Justice Strategies: Funding for supporting and expanding Indigenous and Black justice strategies, working in partnership with communities to develop culturally relevant restorative justice initiatives that address systemic inequalities.  

  • Pilot Programs for Access: Focus initial efforts on launching pilot programs in underserved areas, prioritizing remote, Indigenous, and Black communities. These pilots will help build local partnerships, train facilitators, and establish infrastructure before wider implementation.  

  • Youth-Focused Initiatives: Funding for the development of restorative justice programs tailored for young offenders.  

  • Public Awareness: Promoting understanding of restorative justice through educational campaigns.  

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Protecting Our Borders, Securing Our Nation 

  • Interagency Collaboration: Increase the number of border agents and establish dedicated task forces that unite federal, provincial, and local law enforcement agencies to combat illegal activities and strengthen border integrity.  

  • Technology Upgrades: Deploy state-of-the-art scanning technologies at key border points to detect firearms, vehicles, and drugs in imported and exported containers, ensuring comprehensive screening before national implementation.  

  • Community Engagement: Launch targeted awareness programs that empower border communities to play an active role in reporting suspicious activities and strengthening border security efforts.  

  • Enhanced Training: Develop specialized training for border agents on recognizing human trafficking and working with vulnerable populations.  

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Support for At-Risk Youth 

  • Federal grant programs for youth mentorship and education initiatives  

  • Partnering with provinces to support job training programs through federal workforce development funding  

  • Integration with Justice System: Establish formal referral pathways between youth justice agencies and support programs, creating a seamless continuum of preventive and rehabilitative services.  

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​​Strengthening National Defence and Military Support 

  • Military Investment: Advocating for increased federal investment in the Canadian Armed Forces to enhance military readiness and support personnel.  

  • Agency Collaboration: Promoting collaboration between military and civilian agencies to improve emergency response and national security.  

  • Veterans Support: Championing adequate resources and mental health support for veterans and active service members, recognizing their crucial role in protecting our nation.  

ECONOMIC GROWTH & SMALL BUSINESSES 

As your representative, I am committed to building a stronger economy that works for everyone. My platform focuses on concrete actions that support small businesses while ensuring our economy grows in a sustainable and equitable way:​ 

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​Balanced Taxation 

  • Corporate Tax Fairness: Raising corporate taxes on profits over $500 million to ensure large corporations pay their fair share while maintaining Canada's competitive advantage.  

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Supporting Small Business Growth 

  • Job Creation Incentives: Implementing a Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit providing a ​tax reduction for businesses with fewer than 100 employees that increase their workforce.  

  • Market Expansion Support: Providing funding to help small businesses enhance their advertising and delivery options, allowing them to reach new customers and compete in the digital marketplace.  

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Sustainable Resource Development​​ 

  • Indigenous Partnerships: Champion sustainable pipeline projects in partnership with Indigenous communities, ensuring economic benefits are shared while respecting environmental stewardship and traditional knowledge.  

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Removing Barriers to Interprovincial Trade 

  • Unified Canadian Market: Leveraging federal authority under Section 91 of the Constitution, amending restrictive federal legislation, and collaborating with provinces through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement to eliminate barriers to the movement of goods, services, and labour across provincial boundaries.  

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Supporting Innovation for a Resilient Future  

  • Research and development: Leveraging federal research funding and innovation programs to help Canadian businesses compete globally.  

  • Education Partnerships: Working with provincial education systems through targeted federal grants to develop the workforce skills needed for tomorrow's economy.  

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS

•The housing crisis in Canada has reached critical levels, demanding urgent and coordinated action across all levels of government and community organizations. "Homelessness in Canada affects at least 35,000 people nightly and over 235,000 annually. Despite the National Housing Strategy's goals"* the situation continues to worsen for our most vulnerable populations. •

"Canada's opioid crisis has caused over 50,928 deaths between January 2016 and September 2024."* The federal approach on Canada's opioid crisis is ineffective.

•Research from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School demonstrates effective approaches for treating opioid addiction based on a combination of scientifically supported treatment methods, and strong emphasis on long-term recovery. Canada needs more treatment centres based on this model.

•We don't lack understanding of effective solutions. Groundbreaking research by Canadian experts Stephen Gaetz, Fiona Scott, and Tanya Gulliver in "Housing First in Canada: Supporting Communities to End Homelessness" provides clear evidence for what works. We don't need more research to tell us what to do, we need effective implementation.

As your independent representative, I am committed to resolving the housing crisis in Canada and ending homelessness through immediate, practical solutions. My platform focuses on concrete actions to increase the supply of housing and make housing more affordable:  The housing approval process is not the main issue.

 

Developers have confirmed that city approvals in Ottawa are quick, with some even starting construction before formal approval is granted. The real challenges lie in construction costs, land prices, and policies that directly impact housing affordability. Rather than just speeding up the approval process, we must focus on addressing these underlying factors to make housing more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Making housing more affordable

  • Tax relief for first-time home buyers: GST removed on home purchases up to $1.5 million to make homeownership more accessible to middle-class families. 

  • Tax relief for all home buyers:  Remove GST on home purchases to make homeownership and affordable housing more accessible for low-income families.

Fight against homelessness

  • Social and Affordable Housing: We must build more social and affordable housing to meet the growing needs of our community. Adequate housing is not a privilege, it is a right protected by law. To uphold that right, we need to increase supply significantly and sustainably. This means investing in housing that is truly affordable, ensuring people are not left behind, and creating safe, stable communities for all. Everyone deserves a place to call home.

  • Housing-centred approach: Increase the supply of affordable housing by accelerating development for low-income residents,

  • Reforming restrictive zoning laws and moving people into stable housing immediately before tackling other challenges.

  • Sustainable solutions: Advocate for a transition from current ineffective federal approaches to homelessness to more sustainable, evidence-based programs that provide real long-term solutions.

Source: [https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/graduate-school-addiction-studies]
 

HEALTHCARE & MENTAL ILLNESS

''Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague.   In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.    By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.    Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures; however, systemic inequalities such as racism, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, colonial and gender-based violence, among others, can worsen mental health and symptoms of mental illness, especially if mental health supports are difficult to access."

As your representative, I am committed to strengthening our healthcare system and ensuring all Canadians have access to the care they need, including mental health services. My platform focuses on concrete actions to address current healthcare challenges: 

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Healthcare Workforce Solutions

 

  • Immigration Pathway Reform: Addressing critical healthcare shortages through immigration reforms that support internationally trained medical professionals who face barriers to practicing in Canada. This program would provide pathways for credential recognition, access to training and exams, and opportunities for mentorship and employment, leveraging the skills of qualified professionals from diverse backgrounds.  

  • National Recruitment Strategy: Funding a comprehensive national strategy for healthcare human resources, focusing on recruitment and retention through meaningful consultations with healthcare professionals, provincial governments, and community organizations to develop practical, sustainable solutions.  

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Enhanced Federal Funding 

  • Targeted Health Transfers: Expanding the Canada Health Transfer with specific allocations for mental health services and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications, ensuring these critical areas receive the dedicated funding they require.  

SOCIAL SECURITY 

As your representative, I am committed to strengthening our social safety net to protect our most vulnerable citizens and prepare our youth for success. By investing in comprehensive social security measures, we can build a more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

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Supporting Vulnerable Canadians 

  • Enhanced Support for Vulnerable Populations: Increasing benefits for seniors, Persons with disabilities, and children with disabilities to ensure dignified living standards and reduce economic inequality.  

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Investing in Our Future 

  • Life Ready Program for Youth: Implementing a comprehensive program to equip young people with essential financial literacy, employability skills, and social supports for successful transitions to adulthood and economic self-sufficiency. 

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Independent Voice for Our District
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ELIZABETH BENOIT

FOR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

GLOUCESTER | OTTAWA | VANIER

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"We acknowledge and honor the unceded lands of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, on which Gloucester-Ottawa-Vanier resides, a place of gathering and exchange since time immemorial. We also recognize the Métis and Inuit Peoples. We express our respect and gratitude to the past, present, and future guardians of these lands, and commit to learning, listening, and working in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples to support reconciliation."

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