What federal parties have promised for the North

Federal party leaders on the campaign trail have made plenty of election promises including tax cuts, military spending, new housing, climate pledges and more.

We followed what the party leaders and NWT candidates have said about key northern issues, from Arctic security to reconciliation, in the lead-up to the April 28 election.

Our election promise tracker summarizes what the parties have pledged to do in each area if they form the next federal government, and what candidates have said they would push for in the House of Commons.

Find out more about each issue below.

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This article, originally published on April 7, has been updated as parties released more details about their election platforms. The date and time of the last update appears in orange beside the original publishing date.

The Green Party, New Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Conservative Party have all now released their full election platforms.

Four people are running to be the NWT’s next Member of Parliament: Rebecca Alty for the Liberals, Kimberly Fairman for the Conservatives, Kelvin Kotchilea for the New Democrats and Rainbow Eyes, also known as Angela Davidson, for the Green Party.

The leaders of those parties are Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh and co-leaders Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, respectively.

Climate change

The Arctic is warming at four times the global average and the NWT has experienced its fair share of climate-related impacts in recent years, from historical flooding to wildfires. Meanwhile, many communities are reliant on diesel and face an infrastructure gap that makes opting for greener choices challenging.

Responsibility for climate change in Canada is shared between the provincial, territorial and federal governments. While provinces and territories are responsible for implementing policies to address issues specific to their regions, the federal government coordinates national policies and programs and sets national targets.

The Green Party pledged to “cut pollution, build clean energy and protect Canadians from climate disasters” as well as “make polluters pay.” Its climate action platform includes plans to stop all new fossil fuel projects and instead invest in clean energy with the aim of fully phasing out fossil fuel production by 2045 while providing training to help workers with the transition to a green economy.

The party also promised to:

• establish a cross-party climate cabinet and mandate annual climate progress reports to Parliament;
• implement legally binding emissions reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement;
• introduce a polluter pays act;
• strengthen carbon border adjustments;
• launch a low-cost heat pump program;
• mandate the Canada Infrastructure Bank to allocate at least half of investments to climate resilience projects;
• create a national civil defence corps focused on responding to climate disasters and a youth climate corps to support ecosystem restoration and conservation projects;
• establish a national adaptation strategy;
• commit to annual funding for biodiversity conservation;
• restore the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to pre-2012 standards;
• provide annual funding for Indigenous-led conservation efforts and expand Indigenous co-management of national parks and conservation lands;
• create a nationwide retrofit program for buildings and homes to save energy and cut costs;
• invest in research and innovation for clean technology and climate adaptation;
• enforce environmental protections and require the consent of Indigenous communities for mining activity on their lands;
• ensure AI data centres run on clean energy;
• create strict science-based limits on Canada’s total pollution; and
• make companies prove they have real plans to deal with climate risks.

The New Democratic Party promised impactful emissions targets and to “take on big polluters.”

Singh said his party would eliminate public subsidies and tax breaks for oil and gas companies and instead invest those funds into a major home retrofit program.

He pledged his party would also:

• end the consumer carbon tax (which ended earlier this month) while keeping the industrial carbon price;
• eliminate fossil fuel subsidies by the end of 2026;
• keep the oil and gas emissions cap in place and protect workers in the transition to a green economy;
• introduce a border carbon adjustment (a policy that applies fees on imported goods based on the amount of greenhouses gases emitted during their production);
• ensure the Canadian Armed Forces is properly equipped to respond to climate disasters;
• pass an environmental bill of rights and establish an office of environmental justice to address “the disproportionate impacts of pollution and loss of biodiversity on Indigenous, Black and racialized communities as well as youth and future generations;”
• ban the sale of all products containing unnecessary plastic microparticles by 2030 and reduce forever chemicals in plastic products by 90 percent in 2035;
• enact a plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss including passing a biodiversity accountability law with measurable targets for protecting at least 30-percent of high-carbon high-biodiversity lands, freshwater and oceans by 2030;
• work with provinces and municipalities toward a goal of doubling public transit ridership by 2035, expand the Canada Public Transit Fund to include operations funding, work with rural communities to re-establish bus routes formerly operated by Greyhound, and build high-speed rail across Canada;
• modernize the Energy Efficiency Act and update the National Building Code; and
• extend federal rebates for new electric vehicles up to $5,000 and double rebates for EVs made in Canada to $10,000.

Liberal Party: In one of his first moves as prime minister, Carney scrapped the consumer carbon tax – which had been a key piece of the Liberals’ plans to address climate change – saying it had “become too divisive.”

Instead, Carney promised to replace the tax with “a system of incentives to award Canadians for making greener choices.” He said those incentives would be funded by making “big polluters pay” for their emissions while promising to improve the industrial carbon price system.

Carney also said he would invest in energy efficient buildings and electrified transportation, help make Canadian companies more competitive and introduce trade measures to “ensure fairness for Canadian industries in the global economy to ally with those countries engaged in the fight against climate change.”

The party promised to:

• develop a carbon border adjustment mechanism;
• invest in energy-efficient buildings and electrified transportation;
• implement an efficiency mandate for low-temperature industrial heat;
• reform federal permitting and cut red tape to speed up approvals of green energy projects;
• improve subsidies for heat pumps;
• deploy technology to speed up assessments of home energy efficiency;
• phase out the use of fossil fuels in federal government buildings by 2030; and
• expand electric vehicle charging station infrastructure; and

Carney further promised to:

• create at least 10 new national parks and marine conservation areas;
• establish a new Arctic Indigenous guardians program and support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives;
• create a new Indigenous Climate Readiness and Adaptation Fund;
• invest $100 million in strategic water security technology;
• enshrine First Nation’s right to water into law;
• implement nature-based climate solutions that deliver carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits;
• invest $15 million to modernize the location, retrieval and responsible disposal of ghost gear;
• launch the Canadian Nature Protection Fund; and
• establish a youth climate corps pilot.

Alty highlighted the $375 million Our Land for the Future Agreement, which was signed in November, toward Indigenous-led conservation.

Conservative Party: Poilievre has long campaigned on his “axe the tax” slogan and called for “a carbon tax election.” While the government has ended the carbon tax for consumers, Poilievre said he would go a step further and also repeal the carbon tax for large industrial emitters.

The Conservative leader has opposed other Liberal government climate policies like the goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, clean fuel regulations, electric vehicle sales targets, clean electricity regulations and the proposed cap on emissions for the oil and gas sector.

Instead, Poilievre said he would expand eligibility for clean technology and manufacturing tax credits and “reward heavy industries who make products with lower emissions than the world average.”

The Conservatives’ plan to “protect the environment and lower emissions” further promises to:

• End the dumping of raw sewage into Canada’s waterways;
• create an Outdoor Heritage Fund to support hunting, fishing and conservation efforts; and
• implement a fisheries strategy that includes a public registry of quote and licence holders, investment in integrated fisheries management plans and doubling permanent funding for small craft harbours.

When asked about the Conservatives’ approach to climate change, Fairman said the party has talked about development “being done responsibly and in consideration of the environment.”

Arctic security and sovereignty

Increasing attention has been paid to Arctic security and sovereignty as climate change makes the North more accessible and Russia and China pose potential threats in the region.

The federal government is primarily responsible for protecting Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic, including engaging with other levels of government and partners.

Poilievre pledged to build a military base in Iqaluit by 2027, acquire two additional polar icebreakers for the Royal Canadian Navy and double the 1st Patrol Group of the Canadian Ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 people.

As “part two” of the Conservatives’ Arctic defence plan the party leader promised to:

• update the forward operating location in Inuvik to full base status;
• procure airborne early warning and control aircraft;
• establish a Canadian Army reserve unit in Whitehorse; and
• construct a new naval base in Churchill.

As prime minister, Carney promised to expand the Canadian Armed Forces’ northern and Arctic operations including increasing personnel and the potential for “increased inclusion of forces from allied nations with an Arctic interest.” He said he would also partner with Australia on an early warning radar system in the Arctic.

While campaigning, Carney pledged to make investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, improve defence procurement, invest in new submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy as well as additional heavy icebreakers and give the Canadian Coast guard a new mandate and equipment to conduct maritime surveillance operations, among other measures to “secure Canadian sovereignty.”

Singh promised to build new marine search and rescue stations as well as new small craft harbours, and to enhance the capacity of and compensation for the Canadian Rangers. He said that would include completion of a deep-water port in Nanisivik and deep-water ports in Qikiqtarjuaq and Grays Bay.

Singh said his party would co-develop an Arctic policy framework with Inuit.

The party leader pledged to consult territorial premiers about re-establishing a full-time military base in Inuvik, establishing a base in Iqaluit and a new Canadian Armed Forces reserve unit in Whitehorse. He said the NDP would also invest in airport infrastructure like paving the Cambridge Bay runway.

Singh said protecting Canada’s sovereignty must also include investments in northern communities including schools, power, housing and healthcare. He promised the NDP would work with all levels of government and Indigenous people to maximize local benefits.

May said Arctic sovereignty is not only about military presence but “ensuring that the land, the people and the ecosystems that define the Arctic are protected.”

The Green Party promised to:

• increase support for the Canadian Rangers;
• expand training and exchanges with French, UK, Scandinavian and Ukrainian forces to bolster Canada’s defence capabilities;
• invest in domestic shipbuilding, icebreakers, Arctic infrastructure, search and rescue capabilities and the development of key Arctic ports; and
• expand the coast guard’s presence and introduce new regulations to protect Arctic fisheries.

Housing

The NWT is experiencing a housing crisis with a lack of affordable and adequate housing across all communities. According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, 23 percent of all dwellings in the NWT were in core need in 2024 – meaning they did not meet at least one of suitability, adequacy or affordability standards.

Responsibility for housing is shared by all levels of government in Canada.

Two federal parties have promised to eliminate GST for some new homebuyers. In Canada, homebuyers only have to pay GST/HST when they purchase a home from the developer. The tax does not usually apply to the sale of an owner-occupied home.

Carney promised to eliminate GST on all homes up to $1 million for first-time home buyers. He said he would expand access to funding and low-interest loans from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or CMHC, for small and non-profit builders by building on the Rapid Housing and Rental Protection Fund programs.

The Liberals’ housing plan further pledges to:

• provide more than $25 billion for prefabricated home builders in Canada;
• double the pace of new housing construction over 10 years;
• create a new $6 billion entity called Build Canada Homes to build affordable housing and provide financing to homebuilders;
• cut municipal development charges in half for multi-unit residential housing and work with provinces and territories to make up the lost revenue for municipalities over five years;
• reintroduce a tax incentive known as the Multiple Unit Rental Building Cost Allowance;
• facilitate the conversion of existing structures into affordable housing; and
• reduce bureaucracy, zoning restrictions and red tape.

The Conservatives promised to eliminate GST on all new homes sold for up to $1.3 million. Poilievre said he would fund the tax cut by eliminating what he called bureaucratic “housing schemes” such as the Housing Accelerator Fund and the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The Conservatives’ housing plan promises to encourage municipalities to increase construction of new housing by:

• reducing federal funding for municipalities that fail to increase the number of homes built by 15 percent each year and increasing funding for cities that exceed that target;
• requiring cities to permit high-density housing around federally funded transit stations as a condition of receiving federal funding;
• requiring cities to pre-permit housing as a requirement for federal funding for related roads, bridges and transit;
• reimbursing municipalities for half of every dollar spent, up to $50,000, in savings for new homebuyers;
• eliminating GST on new rental housing (the Liberal government removed GST on new purpose-built rental housing in 2023);
• identifying 15 percent of federal land and buildings to sell to municipalities;
• working with municipalities to pre-zone land; and
• simplifying the National Building Code.

Singh promised to expand the CMHC’s mandate and offer long-term, low-interest mortgages to first-time homebuyers. He said he would also ban corporations from buying existing affordable rental buildings, cut off “handouts” such as low-interest federal loans for “big corporate landlords who gouge their tenants,” and boost the Rental Protection Fund by $2 billion.

The party further promised to:

• replace the Housing Accelerator Fund with a permanent $16 billion national housing strategy;
• set aside all suitable federal Crown land to build more than 100,000 rent-controlled homes by 2035;
• redesign and double the Public Land Acquisition Fund;
• publicly finance new construction with a new Community Housing Bank to partner with non-profits, co-ops and Indigenous communities;
• speed up approvals on federally owned land;
• train more than 100,000 people in skilled trades and improve working conditions;
• require tenant protection measures as a condition for federal housing funding including rent control and prohibitions on “predatory landlord practices” such as renovictions;
• introduce a renters’ bill of rights;
• prevent Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs, hedge funds and private equity funds from purchasing affordable housing; and
• establish a housing insecurity prevention benefit to help 50,000 people find homes.

The Green Party pledged to use covenants to make sure housing built with public money stays affordable, close loopholes to “stop criminals from using real estate to hide dirty money,” eliminate tax advantages for REITs and stop corporations from buying single-family homes.

The Greens’ affordable housing plan includes promises to set clear rules for what affordable means, strengthen housing market regulations, and “get the federal government back into the business of building housing.”

The party further promised to:

• declare housing affordability and homelessness a national emergency;
• build 1.2 million permanently affordable homes over seven years;
• restore CMHC’s mandate to directly finance and develop non-market housing, require it to provide long-term low-interest loads to non-profits, co-ops and public housing agencies, and mandate it to establish five regional modular housing plants;
• redesign and expand the Public Land Acquisition Fund;
• eliminate GST on non-market housing construction materials;
• increase the Canada Rental Protection Fund;
• require all provinces and territories to have strong rent and vacancy controls and sufficiently funded landlord/tenant dispute resolution agencies;
• implement a national renters’ bill of rights;
• create a new Homelessness Prevention and Eradication Fund;
• increase municipal funding for emergency shelters and transitional housing; and
• develop an Indigenous housing strategy and transfer federal land to Indigenous-led housing organizations.

Infrastructure and resource development

Beyond the need for housing, the North faces a significant infrastructure gap compared to the rest of Canada, including a lack of all-season roads and reliable high-speed internet.

The NWT’s economy is also heavily reliant on resource extraction, with calls for economic diversification as the territory’s three diamond mines near the end of production.

In Canada, infrastructure responsibilities are shared between the provincial, territorial and federal governments. While provinces and territories are primarily responsible for local infrastructure, the federal government is responsible for national infrastructure projects and provides substantial infrastructure funding.

The NWT is responsible for lands and resources within the territory, save for federal Crown lands, while the federal government has jurisdiction over all offshore natural resources including the Beaufort Sea.

Projects in the NWT generally must pass significant territorial regulatory and political scrutiny, which runs separately to any federal intervention.

Poilievre promised to create a pre-approved national energy corridor to fast-track approvals for transmission lines, railways, pipelines and other infrastructure. He also said he would create “shovel-ready zones” with pre-approved permits for major resource or energy projects.

Poilievre pledged to repeal Bill C-69, which enacted the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to fast-track resource projects. The legislation strengthened Ottawa’s ability to assess environmental and social impacts as well as the rights of Indigenous people when major projects are proposed nationwide.

Poilievre said he would incentivize Indigenous leaders to support natural resource projects by “letting companies pay a share of their federal corporate taxes to local First Nations.”

Poilievre promised to create a single office called the Rapid Resource Project Office to handle all regulatory approvals for resource projects. He said he would ensure there is one environmental review per project and set a one-year maximum wait time for approvals.

Poilievre said he would support the Grays Bay port and road project, which aims to provide access to mineral resources in Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region. Building a road from Yellowknife to the Grays Bay project forms part of the Conservatives’ Arctic defence plan.

Following a meeting with premiers just ahead of the election, Carney pledged to “unlock economic projects and remove barriers.”

The Liberal leader promised to:

• establish a $5-billion Trade Diversification Corridor Fund to “accelerate nation-building projects at ports, railroads, inland terminals, airports and highways;”
• create a First Mile Fund to build transportation networks to connect energy extraction sites to rail lines and roads; and
• create a “one window” approval process to streamline approvals for large scale, national-interest infrastructure projects.

While campaigning, Carney pledged to make Canada “the world’s leading energy superpower” by investing in critical minerals, getting energy projects built quickly and securing Canada’s energy and electricity sovereignty.

He promised to:

• connect critical mineral projects to supply chains through a new First and Last Mile Fund;
• accelerate exploration of critical minerals and extraction from recycling by investing in prospecting activities;
• attract, expand and de-risk investment in critical mineral exploration and extraction with the expansion of tax credits;
• fast-track projects of national interest jointly identified by the federal government, provinces, territories and Indigenous people;
• sign cooperation and substitution agreements with willing provincial, territorial and Indigenous governments within six months to ensure projects only go through one review;
• establish a major federal project office to move forward with “one project, one review” and issue decisions on major projects within two years;
• develop a trade and energy corridor;
• double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program to support more Indigenous-led infrastructure projects;
• increase capacity funding for Indigenous communities to engage on projects;
• work with provinces and territories to built an east-west electricity grid;
• double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program to “enable a greater share in the benefits of natural resources and energy projects” on Indigenous land;
• work with indigenous communities to address critical infrastructure needs across the country; and
• double funding for Indigenous people to contribute to major project assessments “for more consistent, fair and meaningful consultations.”

Alty highlighted that the Liberal government has provided funding for studies related to big infrastructure projects in the NWT. She said when it comes to supporting those projects, such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and Taltson hydro expansion, while territorial and Indigenous governments would lead those projects, a Liberal government would bring in technical expertise to help accelerate them. She said the federal government would then “find the right funding pot to move those projects forward” once they reach that stage.

Alty said the Liberal Party is discussing working with provinces, territories and Indigenous government on “ways that we can reduce duplication, having a bit of that single window service” when it comes to reducing barriers for resource projects.

The NDP said it would integrate trades training funding with projects in northern communities, prioritize the Mackenzie Valley Highway, harness renewable and reliable energy in the North and secure federal funding for communities to upgrade outdated infrastructure such as water treatment plants.

Singh said his party would work with Indigenous people to address the infrastructure deficit in northern communities. He said the NDP would create a northern infrastructure fund and expand the northern resident deduction to include more remote regions.

The party’s infrastructure plan pledges to increase the federal capital investment budget by $10 billion annually with investments including Arctic infrastructure.

Kotchilea, highlighting the Mackenzie Valley Highway as a priority, said he’s “very supportive of working towards accessibility” to all NWT communities, which he said also supports mining and exploration.

The party promised to start work on an east-west clean energy grid and to identify shovel-ready infrastructure projects.

New Democrats say they would bring together all levels of government, businesses and units to develop a national strategy aimed at boosting critical domestic manufacturing and value-added processing of Canada’s natural resources.

The Green Party said it opposes all new fossil fuel infrastructure “unless they demonstrably reduce emissions in the long term.”

The party called on all levels of government to enforce rigorous environmental impact assessments before approving new industrial projects and to “prioritize community well-being over corporate profits.”

The Greens pledged to build a modern power grid across Canada. Rainbow Eyes highlighted renewable energy as an area of focus.

The party promised to provide annual funds for rural and northern infrastructure beginning in 2028 and expand the Universal Broadband Fund.

Healthcare

The NWT has one of the highest per-capita costs for healthcare delivery in Canada, is facing a shortage of healthcare staff, and struggles to attract and maintain healthcare professionals. Residents in communities outside major centres face significant barriers to accessing care.

While the NWT government is primarily responsible for delivering healthcare services in the territory, the federal government plays a role by providing funding and setting national standards.

The Green Party said its goal is “a well-funded universal healthcare system that puts people first.” The party has promised to train and hire more healthcare workers among other commitments.

Its healthcare platform pledges to:

• introduce a new Primary Care Health Act to guarantee every Canadian has access to a doctor, nurse practitioner or community health team;
• fully integrate mental health services into public healthcare as an insured benefit;
• enforce and enhance the Canada Health Act to ensure all new federal health funding goes to public not-for-profit care;
• invest in healthcare worker training and fair compensation including streamlined credential recognition for internationally trained professionals;
• double funding for the Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative to train, recruit and retain Indigenous health professionals;
• provide stable long-term funding to provinces and territories;
• implement universal pharmacare and expand the Canadian Dental Care Plan;
• increase funding for the Canadian Institute for Health and Public Health Agency of Canada to support public health monitoring;
• establish a national pandemic preparedness plan;
• create an independent oversight body to regulate medical assistance in dying;
• expand home and community care; and
• ensure access to reproductive care across Canada.

Singh released a plan “to fix the health care crisis in the North.

The party leader said the NDP would:

• train more doctors from the North and support them to stay;
• invest in regional medical schools in rural, remote and underserved communities;
• provide grants and “fair wages” for doctors who commit to northern practice;
• increase Indigenous representation in health care and require cultural humility training;
• offer an additional one percent in federal health transfers
• invest in dedicated housing for doctors and nurses; and
• promote wellness and healing initiatives led by Indigenous governments and community organizations.

More broadly, Singh pledged action to give every Canadian access to a family doctor by 2030. To that end, he said the NDP would:

• create residencies for internationally trained doctors already living in Canada;
• implement pan-Canadian licensure for medical professionals;
• train and equip more doctors from northern and rural communities; and
• work with territorial governments to provide housing and facilities for family doctors and primary care teams.

Singh also said the NDP would deliver full public pharmacare within four years beginning with the expansion of 100 of the most prescribed medications.

Singh said that “Canada’s public healthcare system is not for sale.” He said the NDP would:

• ban US corporations from buying Canadian healthcare facilities;
• strengthen and enforce the Canada Health Act;
• make full enforcement of public healthcare standards a condition of federal health funding; and
• go after provinces that violate the Canada Health Act to privatize care.

Carney promised to “protect and modernize Canada’s public healthcare system” by adding new doctors, building new hospitals and delivering better mental health services.

The Liberals’ healthcare plan pledges to:

• increase medical school spaces and build new medical schools, expand residency positions, recruit doctors through a new global recruitment strategy and streamline credential recognition for internationally trained doctors and nurses;
• invest $4 billion to construct and renovate community healthcare infrastructure and increase access to team-based care, mental health services and machinery such as MRIs;
• cut wait times in half for “life-saving medications,’ launch a task force for public care innovation, implement a national licence for physicians and nurses, reduce the administrative burden on doctors and secure Canadians’ access to their healthcare data;
• make the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund permanent and introduce a new in vitro fertilization program;
• protect reproductive rights by “always standing up for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;”
• invest in research on postpartum maternal health, menopause, endoetriosis, maternal mortality and morbidity and perinatal health; and
• establishing a permanent Youth Mental Health Fund.

The Conservative Party’s plan for healthcare promises to “fix the system by removing barriers, recognizing credentials, respecting workers and empowering families.” Poiliever has also pledged to add 15,000 doctors by 2030

The party promised to:

• work with provinces to create nationally-recognized licences for doctors, nurses and other professions;
• provide small loans to help new Canadians complete Blue Seal certification;
• expand residency spots;
• recognize US-board certified professionals;
• uphold the Canada Health Act and defend universal public health care; and
• maintain a 21-year-old policy that a Conservative government would not pass laws, rules or regulations restricting abortion. (The Conservative Party has allowed individual party members to introduce private members bills and vote freely on “issues of moral conscience” including abortion).

Poilievre said he would ensure no one would lose dental care or pharmacare coverage that currently has it under the existing national plans launched by the Liberal government in 2023 in exchange for the NDP’s support.

Justice and addictions

The NWT has some of the highest rates of addictions and substance use in Canada. Meanwhile, many communities and the RCMP have expressed increasing concern about crime connected to illicit drugs.

Addressing substance use-related harms is a shared responsibility between provincial, territorial and federal governments. Provinces and territories are responsible for planning and delivering addiction services. The federal government provides supportive funding to provinces and territories for those services while focusing on national legislation, surveillance and research.

The federal government has the authority to enact criminal law while provinces and territories are primarily responsible for enforcing the law, administering justice and providing services to victims of crime. Courts play a role by interpreting, applying and shaping laws and upholding the constitution.

Campaigning on the slogan “jail not bail,” Poilievre promised bail reform that he said would make it more difficult for some people charged with crimes to get released on bail. Poilievre also said he would impose life sentences for anyone convicted of five or more counts of human trafficking, importing or exporting 10 or more illegal firearms, or trafficking more than 40mg of fentanyl.

In response to concerns that the Conservatives’ proposed legal changes could be overturned by courts, Poilievre said he believes his proposals are constitutional. He also suggested he may be willing to invoke the notwithstanding clause, which allows Parliament to override some Charter rights for five years when passing legislation.

On the campaign trail, the Conservative leader pledged to reintroduce the Protecting Canadians by Ending Sentence Discounts for Multiple Murders Act, which gave judges the discretion to stack periods of parole ineligibility in cases where an offender committed multiple murders. The act, which was passed during the Harper administration, was unanimously struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada for violating the Charter. Poilievre said he would use the notwithstanding clause to pass the act a second time.

Poilievre pledged to “carry out the biggest crackdown on crime in Canadian history.” He said his party would create a “three strikes and you’re out law” to prevent people convicted of three serious offences from getting bail, probation, parole or house arrest; ensure they get a minimum 10 year prison term; and are designated as dangerous offenders. He said he would also deny parole for people convicted of murder in cases where there is no body and abolish statutory release for all offenders.

The party leader promised to create a new offence of assault of an intimate partner and “require the strictest bail conditions” for anyone accused of intimate partner violence, including ankle bracelet monitoring. He said he would also amend the criminal code to allow police to charge people when they “endanger public safety” or prevent people from moving through public spaces by setting up temporary structures and clarify in law that police can dismantle “illegal encampments.”

Poilievre promised to “stop the flow of drugs” by hiring 2,000 new Canada Border Services Agency agents, using container scanners at ports and expanded patrols with drones and surveillance towers.

The Conservative leader said he would allow judges to sentence offenders, including people charged with occupying public spaces with a temporary structure and simple possession of drugs, to mandatory addictions treatment and require addictions recovery-oriented rehabilitation in prisons.

Poilievre promised to expand drug recovery programs by funding treatment for 50,000 Canadians and launching a $44 billion lawsuit against “Big Pharma” to pay for addiction treatment and recovery.

He said he would stop federal funding for harm reduction programs including safer supply programs and supervised consumption sites, prevent supervised consumption sites from being located within 500 metres of schools, daycares, playgrounds, parks or seniors’ homes, and impose “strict new oversight rules.”

Carney said a Liberal government would “take responsible action to keep assault-style guns off our streets” while respecting hunting and sport shooting. He also pledged to strengthen the justice system and law enforcement to fight organized crime, trafficking and the illicit drug trade as well as protect families, children and communities.

The Liberal Party promised to:

• “reinvigorate” the implementation of a gun-buyback program for assault-style firearms;
• automatically revoke gun licences for people convicted of violent offences including intimate partner violence;
• make it a requirement for RCMP rather than industry to classify new firearm models entering the market;
• increase funding for RCMP forensic laboratories and the Saskatchewan ballistics laboratory to “better track down” guns used in crimes;
• toughen oversight of firearms licensing and strengthen the enforcement of yellow and red flag requirements;
• recruit 1,000 RCMP to “tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and the organized criminal gangs that steal cars;”
• create a new RCMP academy in Saskatoon and increase pay for cadet recruits;
• train 1,000 new Canadian Border Services Agency officers to “crack down on drugs” and add new border scanners, drones and K-9 teams;
• increase funding to the Public Prosecution Services of Canada to increase capacity to prosecute drug production, trafficking and importation offences;
• make bail laws stricter, particularly for repeat offenders, for violent and organized crime, home invasions, car theft and human trafficking;
• make “hate-motivated murders” including femicide a first-degree murder offence, raise the penalty for the distribution of intimate images without consent, and make it a criminal offence to distribute non-consensual sexual deepfakes;
• introduce legislation to protect children from online exploitation and sextortion;
• increase funding to the Canada Community Security Program and make it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct any place of worship, school or community centre and a criminal offence to willfully intimidate or threaten people attending services at those locations; and
• increase funding for mental health supports for first responders.

As part of the Liberals’ healthcare plan, Carney promised to immediately invest $500 million in the Emergency Treatment Fund to “confront the toxic drug and overdose crisis” among other investments to address mental health and addictions.

Alty highlighted that the Liberal government made reforms to bail that came into effect last year. She said addressing issues related to illicit drugs requires a “two-pronged approach” of both enforcement as well as prevention, addictions recovery and aftercare programs.

Rather than just being “tough on crime” she said the government should “get effective on crime,” which does not always mean jail time. She said federal support for community justice initiatives such as the John Howard Society is important.

Alty also highlighted the Liberal government’s support for Indigenous-led healing in the NWT such as the promised $7 million for the Endacho Healing Society to build a healing lodge.

Singh said the Canadian government needs to address substance use through a public health approach, calling addiction a social rather than a criminal issue.

The NDP leader said his party would work with communities to improve access to mental health and addiction treatment including investing in Indigenous healing and launching a new action plan to prevent suicide.

He said the NDP would also work with Indigenous communities to develop a First Nations justice and policing strategy, declare First Nations policing an essential service and provide long-term funding.

Kotchilea said many communities are asking for federal funding for wellness programming to address issues related to alcohol and drugs. He highlighted the need to “fix” social programs as well as enforcement.

The Greens’ promised to improve mental health and addictions services and reform Canada’s criminal justice system.

Regarding mental health and addictions, the party promised to:

• make mental health services fully funded under the Canada Health Act;
• establish a Canada Mental Health Transfer ensuring that mental health funding reaches community services;
• earmark half of all mental health funding for community-based providers;
• launch a national suicide prevention strategy;
• expand funding for supervised consumption sites and harm reduction services;
• legislate full decriminalization of drug possession for personal use;
• establish a federally managed safe supply program; and
• ensure access to land-based healing and culturally grounded addiction treatment.

Rainbow Eyes said supporting addictions treatment for northerners would be one of her areas of focus if elected.

The Greens’ justice platform pledges to:

• amend the Criminal Code to direct prosecutors to use restorative justice processes alongside federal investments in restorative justice education and systems;
• limit incarceration to only cases necessary for public safety;
• reform prison models and systems to focus on rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punitive measures;
• permanently end sustained and regular use of solitary confinement;
• end the systemic overincarceration of Indigenous people by implementing a decarceration strategy and investing in preventative measures and Indigenous-led restorative justice;
• implement a national standard for independent police oversight;
• strengthen federal action against human trafficking;
• support Indigenous-created and led law enforcement; and
• launch a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing including an investigation into in-custody deaths and the use of force against Indigenous people.

Rainbow Eyes is currently appealing a 51-day jail sentence related to her involvement in the Fairy Creek protests against old-growth logging on southern Vancouver Island. Rainbow Eyes, who is a member of the Da’naxda’xw First Nation, highlighted the overincarceration of Indigenous women.

Party co-leader Pedneault said the Greens want to change laws that protect private interests over those of Indigenous land defenders to “ensure they recognize our common responsibility to protect our territory, nature and resources from those who exploit them without regard for Indigenous knowledge and custodianship, sustainability and biodiversity.”

Reconciliation

Nearly half of the NWT’s population is Indigenous and several Indigenous governments in the territory are negotiating land claim and self-government agreements.

Reconciliation is a shared responsibility across all levels of government.

The Green Party promised to “build a true nation-to-nation relationship” with Indigenous Peoples, to respect Indigenous rights and support Indigenous self-determination.

The party’s reconciliation platform pledges to:

• fully implement every call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and every call for justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
• guarantee full funding for Jordan’s Principle;
• fully fund the Missing Children and Unmarked Burials Project;
• address the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in corrections through a coordinated justice strategy;
• identify federal Crown lands suitable for transfer to Indigenous ownership;
• expand support for Indigenous-led conservation;
• increase food security in northern and remote Indigenous communities through investments in agriculture, community greenhouses, traditional harvesting and nutrition education programs; and
• guarantee at least five percent of all federal procurement contracts are awarded to Indigenous-led businesses.

Rainbow Eyes said she would support “empowering nations in their own governance and rights and title to their land.”

The NDP said it is committed to a true nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples with recognition of Indigenous rights at its core.

The party’s reconciliation plan promises to:

• work with Indigenous people to fully harmonize the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• implement all calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and calls for justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
• provide long-term funding to search for grave sites at former residential schools and work with nations and survivors to commemorate children who never came home;
• introduce legislation to combat residential school denialism;
• appoint a special prosecutor to investigate crimes against Indigenous people through the residential school system;
• support community-driven healing initiatives aimed at addressing the harm caused by the residential school system;
• expand the Red Dress Alert (which is being piloted in Manitoba and alerts the public when an Indigenous woman, girl or gender-diverse person goes missing) across Canada;
• respect, support and resource Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare systems;
• negotiate with the National Children’s Chiefs Commission on long-term reform of First Nations Child and Family Services, establish permanent funding for the Inuit Child First Initiative, and address the backlog in Jordan’s Principle applications; and
• launch a national inquiry into systemic violence and racism against Indigenous people within Canadian institutions.

Kotlchilea said he would push for the Akaitcho and Dehcho land claims and self-government agreements to be negotiated.

Asked about the Liberals’ stance on reconciliation, Carney said as prime minister he had taken “initial steps to move forward” including meeting with Indigenous organizations and doubling the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. He also highlighted his trip to Iqaluit.

The Liberals’ reconciliation plan pledges to:

• support Indigenous-led processes for advancing self-determination;
• work in partnership with Indigenous people on the implementation of treaties, land claim and self-government agreements;
• move forward on implementation of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and calls for justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
• support Indigenous communities to uncover unmarked and undocumented burial sites at former residential schools;
• implement the United Nations Declarations on the Rights Indigenous Peoples Act and action plan; and
• launch a new Indigenous Pathways to Prosperity Skills and Training Fund.

Carney said he does not share the views expressed by his late father in 1965 regarding a program at an Indian day school in Fort Smith.

Alty said she believes the implementation and settlement of land claims and self-government agreements is “one of the key acts of reconciliation” the federal government can do. She said allocating more staff to negotiation tables would help to settle those agreement.

The NWT candidate added that continuing work of the previous Liberal government, such as the creation of an independent oversight body headed by a commissioner for modern treaty implementation, would allow the federal and Indigenous governments to work together to implement and interpret agreements.

Poilievre’s remarks on the topic have focused on resource development and “economic reconciliation,” including permitting First Nations to directly receive tax revenue from resource development on their land.

The Conservatives’ plan to “Stand with Indigenous Peoples” promises to:

• create a First Nations Resource Charge, a refundable tax credit for half of payments made by business toes First Nations for “resource wealth and commercial housing;”
• support the creation of an Indigenous Opportunities Corporation led by Indigenous Peoples to provide shared equity in resource and industrial projects;
• create a permanent infrastructure funding stream through the First Nations Fiscal Management Act;
• launch an Indigenous Outcomes Fund;
• establish a nation-to-nation consultation process for major legislation and projects directly impacting Indigenous people; and
• provide $25 million in support for Indigenous language media.

Poilievre has faced criticism for comments he made in 2008 regarding compensation for survivors of residential schools, for which he apologized.

He has more recently been criticized for stating that Canadians should be “unapologetic about our history” and vowing to name monuments after Sir John A Macdonald, who played a pivotal role in creating Canada’s residential school system.

Fairman said the Conservative Party wants “First Nations to be as successful as they can be.”

Other

The NDP promised to “fix” Nutrition North to ensure the subsidy goes to residents, give communities control over which items are covered, make pricing transparent and accountable and invest in local food programs that support traditional harvesting.

The Liberals promised to “co-develop evidence-based food security approaches” to replace Nutrition North with Indigenous leaders.