New Democrats aim to push a wedge into the 'prosperity gap'
Vancouver Sun
September 13, 2007
By: Barbara Yaffe

You are a political party at the back of the pack, starting a new parliamentary session and needing some steam in your engine.

The prosperity gap. Yes, that's the issue the New Democratic Party has settled on to get some serious "mo" back on its side this autumn…

New Democrats convened a special caucus last week in Montreal to map out strategy for the coming political season, set to resume Oct. 16 with a throne speech from the Harperites…

But Canadians should watch for a new policy thrust relating to a growing gap between the country's rich and poor…

Specifically: Statistics Canada data show that while incomes for all family units, in constant dollars, grew six per cent on average between 1989 and 2005, there is serious disparity between the growth of low-income earners and of families with fatter paycheques.

According to Julian's figures, the top earning 20 per cent were, by 2005, enjoying incomes 16 per cent higher than in 1989.

The lowest 20 per cent, meanwhile, were earning 11 per cent less than in 1989. Trend lines from 1989 to 2005 are consistent. And this area is a natural fit for the NDP.

So, the party will be pushing for a national daycare strategy