A prominent federal Liberal has stopped in Windsor to lay out the party's plan should it keep power in this election.
Chrystia Freeland, the candidate for Toronto University-Rosedale, and the previous government's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, stopped at the University of Windsor Thursday afternoon for a private meeting with local Liberal candidates, along with union and business leaders. She then met with reporters to discuss the Liberal plan for issues important to those locally.
A key part of the Liberal platform is to make childcare affordable nationwide by charging $10 per day per child. With poverty rates still high in Windsor, Freeland said such a program is vital.
"We now have deals with provinces and territories, covering 47 per cent of children across the country," said Freeland. "I am totally committed to getting this job done for the children of Windsor, and the children of Ontario."
A fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected campaigning in this election campaign, and Freeland pleaded with Windsor-Essex residents who have not gotten a vaccine to do so, pointing out that her 12-year-old had just gotten both doses of the vaccine.
"Let's do it also for the kids who aren't 12 yet, and who really want to go back to school without further resort to virtual learning," said Freeland. "Come on, it's really hard to do when you're five years old."
Freeland also said the Liberals have the most specific plan to jumpstart the Canadian economy after COVID-19 caused it to tank last year, with many small businesses still feeling the effects.
Chrystia Freeland speaks with media, as Windsor West Liberal candidate Sandra Pupatello, left, and Windsor Tecumseh Liberal candidate Irek Kusmierczyk look on at the University of Windsor Assumption Hall, September 2, 2021. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
Freeland was joined by Windsor West candidate Sandra Pupatello, and Windsor-Tecumseh's Irek Kusmierczyk. Pupatello is running in Windsor West against NDP incumbent Brian Masse, Conservative Anthony Orlando, Matthew Giancola of the People's Party of Canada, and Margaret Villamizer of the Marxist-Leninists.
Kusmierczyk is the incumbent Liberal in his riding and is running against previous MP Cheryl Hardcastle of the NDP, Kathy Borrelli of the Conservatives, Victor Green of the PPC, and Laura Chesnik of the Marxist-Leninists.
The election is Monday, September 20.