

The Canadian Press





TORONTO -- New Democrats have released an election platform geared specifically to Toronto and its surrounding suburbs -- a vote-rich region of the country that could determine who wins on Oct. 19.

The platform, entitled "Building a Better Toronto," is based on the NDP's national platform but highlights the policies the party believes will most resonate with Torontonians.

"This great city, with the surrounding municipalities that make up the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), is the economic engine of our country," Toronto NDP incumbent Peggy Nash said in a news release Friday.

"We need a government in Ottawa that understands that."

The platform takes some of the promises from the NDP's national platform and breaks down what it would mean for Toronto.

For instance, it promises $12.9 billion over 20 years for Toronto transit infrastructure. And it promises to create 165,000 $15-a-day child care spaces in the city.

It also highlights promises to reverse health care cuts, create a cap-and-trade system to fight climate change, support arts and culture, make post-secondary education more accessible, reduce the backlog in immigration applications and repeal the Conservative government's controversial anti-terrorism law.

"Ours is an ambitious, progressive plan for a better future, building a city that is greener, fairer and a better place to live for all of us," Andrew Cash, another NDP incumbent in Toronto, says in the release.