PoliticoBailey was ready to launch his campaign in Downtown Toronto, and addressed a somewhat busy crowd of constituents to speak about his candidacy and the Pirate platform.

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Ads appearing on a backdrop as PoliticoBailey delivers his speech

Good afternoon Toronto! I’m PoliticoBailey, you may have seen me before standing around Ontario, and I’m here in this election as the Pirate Party candidate here in Toronto. I believe wholeheartedly in standing to offer an effective voice in Parliament for the people - as someone who will be there to represent your interests, and yours alone. This will be a closely fought election - both here in Toronto with the Liberal Party, and across Canada with various voices competing to form the next Canadian Government.

I’m here today to make the case for not just why I should be your next Member of Parliament, but why Canada will be better governed by the Pirate Party and our ambitious platform for the Canadian people. As one of the Deputy Leaders of the Pirate Party, I am truly committed to the policies that we are standing upon in this election - a vision where the voice of every Canadian is heard, a comprehensive plan for us to move forward into a brighter society, and a Government led by a party that is committed to doing politics differently.

It’s no secret that I have stood for election quite a few times before, although I embrace that fact. The Liberal Party has attacked me recently in Toronto for this, calling me a failed by-election candidate and claiming that the Pirate Party are taking the people of Toronto for granted. Indeed, I stood in the Central Ontario by-election a few weeks ago, but what the Liberal Party failed to mention is that their own candidate here was also standing in a by-election that week… in the Territories! I’m pleased that I’m standing to represent the people in Parliament again, and nothing will stop me from ensuring that we actively offer communities across Canada a progressive voice for the future.

In this general election, we’re the only party that is offering an ambitious plan for Canadian communities - we’ll create a fairer and more prosperous Canada, that effectively challenges injustice and builds a new Toronto for our future generations. Under our plans we will ensure that Canada has a thriving economy, and a thriving economy for all Canadians. That’s why as your Member of Parliament I’ll be an active voice in calling for the transformative changes that will be the defining features in building a brighter future.

We’ll create labour councils across Toronto to represent the voice of both trade unions and non-unionised workplaces that will fight for the interests of Toronto’s workers and provide a crucial voice of representation to politicians and our nation’s institutions. The status quo is not something that the Pirate Party is prepared to let continue any longer, and we’ll always seek to implement fairer reforms for workers.

We’re also prepared to make the fundamental, groundbreaking changes to our economy that the other parties haven’t delivered and won’t deliver. This begins with a federal wealth tax, with a simple aim of reducing income inequality and generating the income necessary for the projects that will change Canada for the better such as pharmacare and significant increases in transport investment.

Our reforms wouldn’t stop there, and our ambition goes further in our platform for welfare reform - with our plans for a Canada Dividend. Our plans will ensure that every Canadian has the means to live comfortably and securely, with the basic support that should be afforded to every citizen. This begins with our long-standing but simple commitment for a Universal Basic Income, providing security to every Canadian and especially those who are seeking employment. In fact, a system of Universal Basic Income will give people the time they need to find highly-skilled and well-paid work with an employer suitable to their needs.

We’ll also work with provinces and transit authorities to provide free local transport as part of the Canada Dividend. This will allow people, especially on low-incomes, to keep money in their pockets and lower their financial strain. It will also help for the long-term future of our environment, and truly support the people of Toronto.

There is much more contained within our plans for the Canadian people, and I encourage you to read the Pirate Platform before you go to the polls in this election. I’m truly proud to be standing to represent the people of Toronto in the House of Commons, and if elected as your Member of Parliament there is a vast array of policies that I will champion and deliver alongside my Pirate colleagues. We’re prepared to do politics differently, and we will if you vote for us to build a brighter Toronto.