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I have always believed that politics are about choices. When I look at the choices the Justin Trudeau government is making, I believe we can and must do much better. Mr. Trudeau promised real change, but the truth is that Canadians are so far reaping little more than small change.

The choices made by decades of Liberal and Conservative governments have locked us into a race to the bottom with respect to jobs and wages, environmental standards and real economic growth. Looking to the same old-line parties will never lead us to a different outcome.

For the first time, we’re facing a future in which our children will have a lower standard of living than that of their parents. Progressives have a duty to respond to this new reality with a bold and credible plan to transform an economic system that leaves so many Canadians behind.

We can choose to meet our challenges with optimism and readiness. We can be bold and ambitious, and position Canada strategically to enjoy growth and prosperity for generations to come. We don’t have to respond to the future with fear.

A basic income is good public policy, since investing in Canadians gives them the tools to participate fully in society, access better opportunities, and achieve financial independence. It will not only reduce costs for the government in the long run, but also result in greater economic growth and productivity, helping many Canadians to achieve their full potential. As one of the world’s wealthiest democracies, we have the means to tackle this challenge in a meaningful way.

Over the course of the NDP leadership campaign, I will be proposing a detailed plan to get the economy working the way it should: for you. Big business has had its hands on the levers of power for too long.

I believe I possess the right combination of skills, experience and vision to lead us to a cleaner, more just and more prosperous country, and I look forward to sharing my fully costed plan with all of you in the months to come.

You can read a column by NDP leadership contender Peter Julian here.