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Uncommons
We need serious and experienced leadership to defend Canada against US threats, and to deliver a strong economic plan to supercharge home construction, develop clean energy, unlock internal trade, and more.
We need to protect our progress. And to build on it.
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Nate’s earned a reputation as a principled voice in the House of Commons, with a track record of voting more independently, and working across party lines to get things done.
He focuses on substantive debate, goes beyond talking points, welcomes experts and different perspectives to his Uncommons podcast, where he provides long-form explanations of his voting and parliamentary work.
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Nate worked to drive down the costs of home building, advocated for doubling community and non-market housing, and supported efforts to address homelessness and help the most vulnerable.
In a short time as Minister, he secured many long-term deals to strengthen and expand public transit and to get both housing and enabling infrastructure built.
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Nate led efforts to enhance the Canada Workers Benefit. As a former co-chair of the all-party anti-poverty caucus, he also worked across party lines to help realize the Canada Disability Benefit.
When big grocer CEOs all cancelled ‘hero pay’ bonuses at the same time in the pandemic, Nate held them accountable and worked to make wage-fixing illegal. He’s also been vocal about the need to address wealth inequality.
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Nate’s legislation to treat substance use as a health issue was adopted by the government and passed by Parliament. He also worked to secure federal funding for evidence-based addiction treatment.
He worked closely with a local childhood cancer survivor to deliver $30 million in federal support for pediatric cancer research and treatment. And he’s been part of successful efforts to advance sensible gun control.
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Nate introduced net zero legislation and played an active role in efforts to improve the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
He has consistently used his position to support stronger and more ambitious climate action and nature protection, and to defend the idea that polluters should pay.
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Nate’s been a leading advocate for consumer protections online through stronger privacy laws, especially for our kids. He introduced privacy legislation and led Canadian and international efforts to hold social media platforms accountable.
He worked at the industry committee to advocate for more competition, taking telecom companies to task in particular. And he led efforts at the privacy committee to hold Pornhub accountable for failing to protect young women on its platform.
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Nate’s represented Canada on the world stage and defended human rights at the UN. He’s called for action to protect Rohingya refugees, support Palestinian human rights, hold China accountable for its treatment of the Uyghurs, and address forced labour in supply chains.
He also supported death with dignity laws, defended LGBTQ+ rights, supported refugee resettlement, worked to fix over-reaching anti-terror legislation, shut down hate speech, and criticized Quebec’s Bill 21.
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Nate worked to reform Indigenous child welfare, supported government efforts to end long-term boil water advisories, and helped to build a partnership between the Liberal 416 caucus and TASSC, a coalition of Toronto’s Indigenous service organizations.
As a result of his advocacy, the government delivered $2 million to provide TASSC a permanent home.
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Nate’s been at the forefront of improving animal protections in Canada. His advocacy led to government action to ban the shark fin trade, address animal fighting and abuse, and phase out toxicity testing on animals.
He also helped found the Liberal Animal Welfare caucus, seconded legislation to ban the captivity of whales and dolphins, and was the House sponsor for the Jane Goodall Act.
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Nate has delivered for our city and community. He finalized a deal to help the TTC acquire new subway cars, delivered federal support to unlock Toronto’s waterfront, and worked with the Mayor’s office to create Toronto Builds, federal low-cost financing of $2.55 billion to get new rentals and affordable housing built.
He’s always been there for constituents. Nate stood with our community in the wake of the Danforth shooting, he and his team helped local vaccine clinics succeed in the pandemic, and he has advocated for countless constituents on specific case files or by raising their voice and concerns in Parliament.
Nate Erskine-Smith
Arun Advani is professor of economics and a commissioner of the UK’s Wealth Tax Commission, and he joins Nate on this episode to discuss the Commission’s call for a one-off wealth tax, and what he thinks of the wealth tax motion Nate has proposed in Parliament. The Commission found that a one-off wealth tax could…
Jann Arden is a Canadian music icon and a fierce defender of animal rights. Jann joins Nate to discuss the cruelty involved in the live export of horses for slaughter and her work to end that cruelty through the HORSESHIT campaign and with the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition. Find out more and support the campaign…
Jann Arden is a Canadian music icon and a fierce defender of animal rights. Jann joins Nate to discuss the cruelty involved in the live export of horses for slaughter and her work to end that cruelty through the HORSESHIT campaign and with the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition. Find out more and support the campaign…
This February marks the 25th anniversary of Black History Month, since then Liberal MP Jean Augustine led a motion to have it recognized. Writing in the Toronto Star recently, Minister Ahmed Hussen reflected on What Black History Month means in 2021. He joins Nate to discuss why he’s looking at that history through the lens…
The charities that serve those in need also need our help right now. Revenue has declined, demand for services has only increased, and a critical component of our social safety net is coming undone when we need it most. On this episode, Nate is joined by Maya Roy, Jocelyn Formsma, and Owen Charters to discuss…
Sarah Perret is a tax economist and deputy head of unit at the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. Her role involves assessing countries’ tax systems and advising them on tax reform. She is also the author of a number of studies on taxation, inequality and inclusive growth, including The Role and Design of…
Former Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache joins Nate to discuss the devastating effects of sexual harassment on women in the RCMP, and his scathing report “Broken Dreams Broken Lives.” The report and claims process formed part of the historic Merlo-Davidson settlement, in the wake of two class action suits alleging that female members of the…
With renewed optimism that the United States will now be a stronger partner than ever before in meeting the challenge of climate change, Saikat Chakrabarti joins Nate to discuss what comes next for the Green New Deal and more progressive politics in America. Saikat is former campaign manager and chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandra…
Dr. Samir Sinha joins Nate to talk about how we’ve failed to protect our seniors, and the changes we need to make going forward, including targeted vaccine roll-out to seniors at risk, national standards for long-term care, and action to help seniors stay in their homes. Dr. Sinha is a geriatrician, co-chair and policy director…
Dr. David Naylor is a physician, medical researcher, and former president of U of T. He’s also uniquely placed to discuss pandemic response, as the co-chair of the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, and as past chair of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health in 2003. On this episode, Dr. Naylor and…