Nate Erskine-Smith with constituents in Beaches–East York
  • 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. 


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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.


  • 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


  • 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.


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  • Effective Altruism and Animal Rights with Peter Singer

    Peter Singer may well be the world’s most influential living philosopher.  In episode 8, Nathaniel speaks with Peter about effective altruism and global poverty, animal rights, food policy and the need for a global ban on wet markets, and broader questions including how we can make the biggest difference.

  • From One Сrisis to Another: COVID-19 to Climate Change with Elizabeth May

    If the world can mobilize against COVID-19, can we do the same against climate change? Nathaniel speaks with former Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, about her climate advocacy, lessons we might learn from the pandemic, and the need for greater ambition and action to tackle the climate crisis.

  • Mobilizing our Health Response to COVID-19 with Danielle Allen and Sarah Downey

    Do we have enough personal protective equipment? Are we mobilizing fast enough to scale up the testing and tracing required? In episode six, Nathaniel discusses the health response to COVID-19 with Sarah Downey, the President and CEO of Michael Garron Hospital, and the need for a war-time effort with Danielle Allen, Professor and the Director…

  • Disinformation and COVID-19 with Charlie Angus

    Disinformation has helped to upend elections, and in a pandemic it can cost lives. Nathaniel speaks with NDP MP Charlie Angus about the challenges posed by disinformation online, their shared committee work in the last parliament, and the importance of a non-partisan and international approach to tackling platform governance issues. 

  • Can we still talk about sports? with Bruce Arthur and James Mirtle

    Can we still talk about sports? Nathaniel is joined by Toronto Star Sports/COVID-19 Columnist Bruce Arthur and The Athletic Canada Editor-in-Chief James Mirtle to discuss the meaning of sports in a pandemic, the big league emergency response, and how the economics of sports will be changed in a post-pandemic world.   

  • Human rights in a pandemic and beyond with Alex Neve

    How should we prioritize human rights in the midst of a pandemic? In episode three, Nathaniel speaks with Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. They discuss why human rights should be at the heart of the response to COVID-19, how Canada’s approach meets that call in many ways but falls short in others…

  • Is it time for a basic income? with Evelyn Forget

    Is now the right time for a basic income? In episode two, Nathaniel is joined by Evelyn Forget, a health economist and professor at the University of Manitoba, and expert in basic income experiments. They discuss the evidence from pilots and existing programs in Canada, the new Emergency Response Benefit, and whether a basic income…

  • COVID-19 and the Emergencies Act with Craig Forcese

    Uncommons: Canadian Politics with Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is a new podcast series from the Beaches-East York MP speaking with experts on current affairs.  Should the federal government invoke the Emergencies Act to combat COVID-19? In episode one, Nathaniel is joined by Craig Forcese, a University of Ottawa professor and expert in national security law. They discuss…