Rachael Mills (NDP Candidate Essex) Responses

Affordable Housing:
To make homeownership a reality, the Ontario NDP will double the supply of affordable housing through Homes Ontario, providing funding and public land for non-profit and co-op housing. As a reference, an affordable home is defined as 30% of your income being spent on housing costs.

We’ll focus on building homes where people want to live by legalizing fourplexes and increasing density responsibly in existing neighbourhoods. We will work with municipalities and homebuilders to reduce costs and eliminate outdated planning rules, making it easier for families to buy homes they can afford in their desired neighbourhoods. Additionally, we’ll engage with the federal government to improve funding for affordable housing and help clear Ontario’s housing waitlist. Through these efforts, we aim to ensure homeownership remains an achievable goal for more Ontarians. ON NDP will ensure we stop people from losing their homes in the first place.

We will implement real rent control, fix the Landlord and Tenant Board, close unfair loopholes and ensure unethical tactics are not forcing tenants out.

Intimate Partner Violence:
Yes, the Ontario NDP fully supports declaring intimate partner and gender-based violence an epidemic. The party recognizes that this crisis requires urgent action and is committed to implementing comprehensive policies to protect survivors, ensure access to support services, and hold perpetrators accountable. By formally recognizing intimate partner violence as an epidemic, Ontario would take a critical step toward prioritizing prevention, increasing funding for shelters and crisis services, and strengthening legal protections for survivors.

Passage of this bill would be life-changing for women and gender-diverse individuals across the province. It would mean better access to emergency shelters, counselling legal aid, ensuring survivors are not forced to choose between safety and financial stability.

It would also mandate systemic changes, such as education and training for law enforcement and healthcare providers, to improve responses to intimate partner violence. Ultimately, this recognition would send a strong message that the government takes this crisis seriously and is committed to ending gender-based violence in Ontario.

Healthcare :
Ontario NDP is committed to reducing barriers for the 13,000 internationally trained physicians to become certified and practice in the province.

Under Marit Stiles’ leadership, the party plans to streamline credential recognition, eliminate unnecessary barriers, and expand programs that help internationally trained doctors transition into Ontario’s healthcare system more efficiently. By doing so, we can address the ongoing physician shortage.

The Ontario NDP also supports harm reduction strategies and will reopen and properly fund safe injection and consumption sites across the province. These sites are proven to save lives, reduce public drug use, and connect people with necessary healthcare and addiction services to ensure people get the support they need.

Education:
Ontario NDP is committed to including mental health strategies, knowledge, and behaviours as part of the Ontario curriculum.

Recognizing mental health to be equally important as physical health. We aim to reduce youth mental health wait times, increase access to school and community-based mental health supports, and invest in mental health professionals within schools and post-secondary institutions.

To improve working and learning conditions for teachers and students, the Ontario NDP plans to address the funding gap by increasing investments in public education. The proposal includes hiring more qualified and caring educators and support staff to reduce class sizes, fixing deteriorating school infrastructure, and ensuring every student has access to the resources they need to reach their full potential.

We also plan to review the funding model to focus on student needs, ensuring vulnerable students receive adequate support.