Stephanie Bell

New Democratic Party

Stephanie Bell has been working in the service industry for over ten years and also as a gardener promoting organic farming and biodiversity. She is a strong advocate for local transportation initiatives, affordable housing and equitable healthcare. She says her experience as a member of the working class is what drives her desire for social justice. She believes that acting together to protect the environment will lead to a more egalitarian society and that social justice and the fight against climate change are inextricably linked. Bell says she can be counted on to bring an open mind to different points of views and cultures, an ability she attributes to her extensive travels around the world. She is a proud and active resident of Prince Edward County, and is ready to bring the community’s voices to Ottawa.

Bell says that affordability is top of her party’s priorities list, and housing is a key component. “We want everyone to have a safe, stable home,” says Bell, as she explains that the NDP pledges to build 500,000 houses should they be elected. “The market is too volatile to provide housing that is affordable. We need to build places for regular folks like you and me, so we can live where we work,” she says. Bell explains that an easy example is right now in the County. She says there is a lack of available staff for the hospitality industry. “There are not enough people, and places are having to limit hours or close certain days to be able to keep up.”

Bell also notes that her party is looking forward to bring a more complete healthcare system to the country. “This means services to help with your eyes, your teeth, your mental health and your medication. You would save money but so would our healthcare system in the long run, as folks currently wait to get care because they can’t afford it. Emergency care is much more expensive to the system than preventative care,” says Bell. “Frankly, it’s just the right thing to do. We deserve better.” Bell believes that rural communities such as the County need to attract more immigrants. “I personally adore people coming to Canada. I’ve travelled the world and I feel that anyone starting out in another country is so brave and worth getting to know,” she says. Bell explains that the NDP’s platform states it well. “Immigration makes Canada stronger, welcoming new talent and energy from around the world. This builds our communities and boosts the economy.” She says that with an ageing population nationally, Canada needs new, young workers and their families to help care for those most in need.

When asked how her party would help decrease Canada’s deficit, Bell quickly exclaims that she believes the human population has ran the whole planet into a deficit. “Talk to me about a deficit when we have clean water, clean lakes and oceans. Trees to mop up the air we’ve polluted and land that isn’t on fire. Ask about the deficit when we have an education system that cares more about growing lifelong learners and workers than test scores,” she says.

Bell believes that education is the key to creating jobs and helping small businesses grow and be prosperous not only in the Bay of Quinte riding, but in Canada as a whole. “We want to provide training and affordable post-secondary education. If you’re going to go back to school, you should be able to. It should be easy, affordable and available,” she says. Bell says that Canada is failing to train its workforce. “We as a country can provide the circumstances for that. It should be what’s expected, and easy. We all deserve to work at good jobs, with decent pay and to get trained when we need to. Our country will be more prosperous when we are all able to access education whenever we need to.