OTTAWA \u2014 Rival Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland issued duelling policy pledges on Thursday, with one candidate vowing to speeding up homebuilding and the other promising to bring doctors back to Canada.<\/p>\n
Carney said he plans to incentivize prefabricated and modular homes to help tackle the housing affordability crisis, since they reduce the cost, building time and amount of construction waste for new homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a huge problem with affordability. If we can strip out 25 per cent of the cost of homes, it\u2019s going to make it easier for young Canadian families to get those homes,\u201d he said, after visiting the University of British Columbia\u2019s Smart Structures Lab in Vancouver. \u201cThis is a time to build. It\u2019s directly relevant to the tariff response to the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Carney did not comment on any of the specifics of what those incentives would entail, pledging no specific amount of funding or tax credits.<\/p>\n
Just around the same time on Thursday, Freeland\u2019s campaign released a plan to woo back Canadian doctors and nurses who left to take up practice in the U.S. through subsidizing their medical school loans.<\/p>\n
The former finance minister\u2019s plan outlines that if President Donald Trump moves ahead with his tariff threats, she will offer signing and retention bonuses if they return home to Canada, something she promises would \u201cdramatically boost Canada\u2019s health care workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan would offer doctors $200,000 and nurses $100,000 after five years. Ottawa would pay off a portion of U.S. student loans they have as well: $300,000 for each returning doctor and $50,000 for each nurse. Loans transferred to Canada would be made interest free.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Karina Gould, Ruby Dhalla and Frank Baylis are also vying to become the next leader on March 9.<\/p>\n
All the candidates will soon be turning to preparations for the two upcoming French and English debates in Montreal.<\/p>\n
The Liberal party said it will not accommodate Dhalla\u2019s request for a translator at the upcoming French debate on Feb. 24.<\/p>\n
Party spokesperson Parker Lund said only the candidates and the moderator will be allowed on the debate stage and no translation will be provided.<\/p>\n
Dhalla said in a recent interview that her campaign planned to ask this week for a translator because she is not fluent in the language.<\/p>\n
But she plans to attend either way and will make opening and closing statements in French.<\/p>\n
Dhalla on Thursday that she remains dedicated to learning French, which would be her fifth language.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs leader, I will always champion a Canada where every citizen, regardless of language, is included in the conversation about our future,\u201d she said in a statement. \u201cWhile I acknowledge the Liberal party\u2019s decision, I see this as an opportunity to demonstrate my commitment to representing all Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a92025 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"-\"](\"https:\/\/cc-production-uploads-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2025\/02\/600X350_New.png\")
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