Federal Election 2025: Beaches-East York NDP candidate Shannon Devine answers our questions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Beach Metro Community News sent these questions to the federal candidates in Beaches-East York. Not all candidates responded by our deadline. Candidates were asked to keep their responses to approximately 300 words. Please visit our website at www.beachmetro.com for more information on the candidates.)

QUESTION 1: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and why you are running in this election?

I’m running in this election because I believe in a fairer, more just Canada—one where people don’t just get by, but can thrive. Far too often, this isn’t the case now and I know we can make different choices to support Canadians.

Growing up in a community-minded and union household, I understood early on that progress must be fought-for and no one should be left behind. Seeing real wins for workers and social justice shaped my commitment to advocacy and led me to a career in the labour movement and community organizing.

For the past 18 years, I’ve worked to secure fair wages, safer workplaces, stronger rights for workers and equity-seeking groups and deliver real change. I’ve served as Communications Director for the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) and Unifor, as Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), and currently as the department head for Communications and Political Action at the United Steelworkers union (USW), where my efforts recently have involved fighting the U.S. tariffs.

My work has focused on amplifying workers’ voices, strengthening workplace protections and pushing for inclusive policies that reflect our diverse communities. I also co-lead the USW’s national 2SLGBTQIA+ working group, ensuring that equity remains at the forefront of our work. Over the years, I have been involved in a number of community organizations and volunteer at my daughter’s school – Bowmore Public School. I am an engaged community member, with the drive to make things better.

Beaches–East York deserves leadership that puts people first—fighting for affordable housing, better healthcare, strong public education and good jobs. I’m running because I know that when we organize, we win. I will bring my experience, passion and commitment to Parliament to ensure that members of our community are never left behind and can thrive in Beaches–East York.

QUESTION 2: Why is your party and your party leader the best one to deal with the threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, and how will your party support Canadians impacted by tariffs and other American policies towards Canada?

Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency brings serious threats to Canada’s economy, jobs, and sovereignty. Whether it’s reckless tariffs or attacks on our public services, Canadians need a government that will fight back.

Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are ready to meet this moment with the courage and clarity it demands.

Here’s what we would do: We’d implement a strong Team Canada approach that brings provinces, trade unions, industry groups and other stakeholders to the table—because unity is our strength. We’d keep all options on the table, including potentially cutting the flow of critical minerals to the U.S. We would ban American companies from bidding on federal government contracts, if we have the capacity here in Canada. We would also update procurement rules to favour Canadian companies with unionized labour and who provide decent wages and benefits. We would increase Canadian content requirements and prioritize Canadian-made building materials, like steel, every infrastructure project. For workers hurt by U.S. tariffs, we would boost Employment Insurance (E.I.)and overhaul the system to provide better benefits, faster access and coverage for gig and self-employed workers.

Every dollar from retaliatory tariffs would go directly to support workers in impacted industries like steel, aluminum, and auto. Here in Toronto, we have fewer workers affected directly in their workplaces by tariffs but there will be implications up and down supply chains and in seemingly unrelated sectors so we must have a broad understanding of the issue.

QUESTION 3: Beyond Canada’s relationship with the United States, what do you see as the next most important issue in this election and how will you and your party address it?

While knocking on doors and talking to our neighbours in Beaches–East York, I have been hearing that the most important issue for most people in our community is the rising cost of living—and the growing sense among Canadians that no matter how hard they work, they just can’t get ahead.

New Democrats are focused on making life more affordable—and we’ve already shown we can deliver. Since the last election, we used our power in Parliament to make real progress for Canadians: we fought for and won a national dental care program that’s already helping over 3.3 million people and saving families up to $1,700 a year. We worked hard to secure a national pharmacare plan that will make birth control and diabetes medication free. We also delivered on a long-held promise of a national affordable child care plan, one that has been promised by numerous governments and never realized.

But we know there’s more to do. New Democrats will scrap the GST on everyday essentials like groceries, diapers, kids’ clothes, restaurant meals, phone and internet bills and home heating. We will put a price cap on basic grocery items so that prices aren’t continuing to rise exponentially as we have seen since the pandemic.

We will fix the gaps in the dental care program so millions more people can qualify and we will expand pharmacare to cover more life-changing medications. Already in Beaches–East York many of our neighbours are using this program and many more will soon.

We will also tackle the housing crisis head-on—building more homes that people can actually afford, and working with provinces to implement rent control, ban renovictions, and end unfair lease practices. We will also support connecting the new building efforts to community benefits agreements so that the local community can benefit from training and good job opportunities.

We’re ready to make life fairer, more affordable and more hopeful for everyone in Beaches–East York and across Canada. I am committed to delivering for our community.