NSNDP

April 9th, 2020

Government must support people to stay connected and stay at home

Halifax -- The NDP is calling on the Liberal government to take a number of immediate steps in an effort to better support people and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“As it is now clear that we will be in our homes and away from normal life for an extended period, the government must do all it can to ensure people have what they need during this unprecedented time,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill.

The NDP is calling on the government to:

  1. Ban all evictions;
  2. Freeze all rent increases retroactive to March 1;
  3. Support the federal NDP plan to make banks waive interest fees and charges on credit cards, bank loans, lines of credit and mortgages for at least the next two payment cycles;
  4. Prohibit utilities, including power, water, and heat from being shut off;
  5. Lower power rates;
  6. Ban cell phone and internet companies from charging overage fees on data and internet;
  7. Prohibit phone and internet companies from cutting off people’s service;
  8. Expand the low income cell phone program to cover all low income people without cell or internet access;
  9. Create a phone line for small businesses so they can maximize access to supports.
“The government has not shied away, in recent weeks, from mobilizing the full scope of its capacity to address the losses of the current situation,” said Burrill. “In the NDP, we hope to see this capacity brought to bear to make sure all people in our province can stay connected, and stay at home.”

The NDP continues to participate in all-party briefings with the Liberals and PCs to bring forward issues and concerns from people across the province.

-30-