The NDP candidate for Battlefords-Lloydminster-Meadow Lake is William ‘Bill’ Petryk. He is running in the riding for the April 28 Federal Elections. He is sharing his perspectives on the Vista Radio questionnaire to help you in your choices at the polls.
Question 1: Tell us about yourself in relation to what is at stake for Canada at this time.
Petryk: I’m a retired CPA with over 30 years of experience in various businesses across the country. Over the years, I’ve seen many changes: computerization, the acceptance of women in leadership roles, reliance on the internet for information, and the realization that environmental concerns are vital to business. These developments challenged old beliefs and shifted attitudes.
Now, once again, we face a change—a tyrannical conflict emerging from a nation we considered a trusted ally. Countries in the OECD uphold the rule of law, non-aggression, and the sanctity of treaties. Today, we cannot take anything for granted. We must defend our beliefs and build a resilient society to resist external threats and safeguard prosperity for our citizens.
Question 2: What does your party propose to do about the trade wars with the USA and China?
Petryk: If there was ever a time for diverse groups in our country to stand together, it is now. Anything else will be perceived as a weakness to be exploited. We MUST act swiftly to eliminate barriers to inter-provincial trade. The current crisis will give us the impetus to finally improve a situation that has been ignored for too long.
To reduce dependence on the USA and China, we need to diversify our markets by partnering with nations that share our values and will uphold their agreements. The NDP will also incentivize value-added processing and manufacturing in Canada, reducing the country’s reliance on exporting raw materials.
Additionally, the NDP will impose retaliatory tariffs and restrict the supply of critical minerals essential to industries in the USA, including Elon Musk’s Tesla. American companies will also be barred from participating in federal government procurement contracts and projects until Trump removes his tariffs.
Question 3: How would your party diversify export markets away from U.S. dependency?
Petryk: I’ll address this question in the context of our riding, where agriculture, forestry, and oil and gas are the major industries. In agriculture, it’s crucial to preserve the quality of our crops and market them to nations that value these standards.
Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities: while we must prepare for its impacts, the loss of crops in other producing countries could expand our markets.
In forestry, sustainability must remain a priority. Support may be needed to ensure our lumber meets the specifications of builders in Europe, South America, and Asia. Lastly, in oil and gas, the NDP has advocated for a pipeline to Eastern Canada.
Question 4: On immigration: What are your thoughts or those of your party on how to get greater involvement of immigrants in the national development of Canada?
Petryk: I think that I can best answer this with some of my own experience. In Toronto, I met a lady who emigrated from Iran, where she was an accountant. Yet, in Canada, she had to work in a pizza restaurant. The reason, her qualifications were not recognized here. In Alberta, I met a doctor who could not practise because his credentials were still being reviewed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. We cannot invite people to Canada and then tell them: don’t get too comfortable. To utilize the talents of immigrants, we must be sure their professional credentials and experience are recognized.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada must be properly resourced to speed up processing times. No one should have to put their life on hold because the IRCC doesn’t have the capacity to process their applications.
Question 5: On Indigenous issues: How do you or your party propose to get buy-in from First Nations on projects of national interest?
Petryk: The NDP emphasizes a Nation-to-Nation relationship with Indigenous communities, grounded in respect and meaningful consultation. They advocate for implementing the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which includes obtaining free, prior, and informed consent for projects affecting Indigenous lands and rights. So that opportunities and benefits of projects go to the communities that want them, not the CEOs and billionaires who force them through.
The NDP supports investing in Indigenous-led initiatives. The NDP also emphasizes the importance of addressing systemic barriers faced by Indigenous communities. They advocate for investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure to build trust and foster long-term partnerships. By ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard and respected in decision-making processes, the NDP aims to create a collaborative approach to projects of national interest.
Question 6: On pipelines: How do you or your party propose to get Quebec on board with national projects and building pipelines through Quebec?
Petryk: The NDP has always supported a pipeline to Eastern Canada and favours an all-Canadian route to avoid US interference. The only stipulation is that environmental and right-of-way issues be resolved. We realize that oil spills result in considerable harm.
As to getting Quebec on board, only the Parti Québécois has concerns. I personally am not aware of the extent of this reluctance. However, pipelines do not get built overnight, and the NDP has always had a policy of consultation. During the construction period, I am certain that any hesitancy can be resolved. I, and the NDP, feel that a coast-to-coast pipeline will benefit ALL provinces.
Question 7: What are potential solutions to housing affordability and homelessness?
Petryk: The official NDP policy is to build more affordable homes and to incentivize first-time home buyers. In addition, federal government lands can be converted to residential areas. This has happened in Downsview, Ontario, where a former military base was decommissioned and given to the City of Toronto for housing development. Other public lands can be used as a Public Land Bank.
We should remind voters that when Poilievre was housing minister in Harper’s government, a meagre 4,248 homes were built, and 800,000 were sold to private developers.
As to absolute homelessness, we recognize how serious this situation is. We also agree with studies that show it is cheaper to house these people and provide them with essential services than to look for them on the streets of our cities. We are committed to converting underused existing buildings to temporary shelters.
Question 8: What do you propose to do for the riding if elected?
Petryk: Affordability and healthcare remain pressing concerns for many in our communities. I will work to secure federal collaboration with provinces and territories to recruit and retain more doctors and nurses across Canada. Additionally, the licensing process for healthcare workers, whether from other countries or between provinces, must be streamlined to enable smoother mobility.
The Canada Health Act must be strengthened to stop the expansion of for-profit healthcare. The US for-profit system costs nearly twice as much per capita as ours, validating the need to protect our universal model.
Investing in better home care and long-term care for our elders, as well as implementing free prescribed medication, is essential so no one has to choose between their health and paying rent.
Incentives to build affordable homes have been limited to our larger centres. I will take every opportunity to emphasize our needs in this area.
Question 9: Are there any final thoughts on any topic that you would like to share?
Petryk: Donald Trump is the elephant in the room, and his policies are likely to harm the U.S. economy.
For Canada, this serves as a reminder to strengthen our economic resilience, ensuring we aren’t dragged down by external turbulence. While cooler heads will eventually prevail, allowing us to benefit from the vast U.S. market, we must not overlook the lesson he inadvertently taught us: the importance of diversification and keeping our options open.
At the same time, we must address challenges within our own borders. The top 20 per cent of Canadian households now control nearly 68 per cent of the country’s total net worth, leaving the bottom 40 per cent with just 2.7 per cent. This stark disparity underscores the need for policies that promote fairness and opportunity.
The NDP’s proposed one per cent wealth tax on fortunes exceeding $20 million is a step in this direction, aiming to reduce inequality and ensure the ultra-wealthy contribute more to public services and social programs.
