greenparty.ca/en/candidate/jayden-baldonado www.greenparty.ca/en/candidate/jayden-baldonado
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1. Electoral Reform: In its current state, Canadian politics is far from being a true democracy. By shifting to an electoral system based on Proportional Representation rather than First-Past-The-Post, we can ensure that every voice is heard, empower Canadians to vote in line with their values instead of "strategically" choosing the "lesser evil", force politicians to work across party lines in order to pass legislation, and fight back against the influence of corporate interests.
2. Universal Basic Income: As times change, so must our economic model. By implementing a UBI, we can end poverty and homelessness in Canada, ensure that all communities have access to the resources required to survive and thrive, prevent our workers from falling through the cracks during the energy transition and increasing automation, and strengthen our economy by encouraging entrepreneurship and reskilling.
3. Non-Market Housing: Housing should be a human right, not an investment opportunity. By building affordable, publicly owned homes in Canadian cities, then selling and renting them out at-cost to community members for use as a place to live, we can increase and diversify the housing supply, forcing corporate landlords to lower the market prices.
4. Sovereignty through Diversification: As the United States shows its true colours under the Trump administration, it is increasingly important that we maintain sovereignty over our economy and values. Canada must expand trade with partners aside from the US, ensure that our economic prosperity is not dependent on any one partner, end our dependence on the volatile fossil fuel industry, and begin processing and manufacturing our own resources at home.
5. Pushing for Peace: Canada should not be involved in the military-industrial complex facilitating wars and genocides overseas for the profit of the ruling class. From Palestine and Ukraine to Sudan and Congo, we must encourage ceasefire negotiations, uphold international law, end the export of military goods and technologies, impose sanctions and embargoes on aggressors, and withdraw from NATO. These principles must also be reflected in our domestic affairs as we work towards decolonization and abolition of the carceral state.
Biography
Jayden Baldonado (he/him) is a passionate young activist born and raised on Treaty 7 Mohkinstsis (Calgary, Alberta). Since he was a child, Jayden has been passionate about addressing the climate crisis, but found that his concerns were consistently dismissed by those in charge.
During his youth, he began to learn about intersectionality and the shared root causes behind the environmental, social, and economic issues faced by working-class communities across Canada and the world. This prompted him to take action. Although he was still too young to vote, Jayden became a member of the Green Party of Canada, and volunteered with local candidates during the 2021 federal election. The empowering experience of that campaign inspired him to run in his home riding of Calgary-East as a candidate for the Green Party of Alberta during the 2023 provincial election, and subsequently to take on the responsibilities of an Executive Council member for the provincial party.
Jayden is currently studying Environmental Science at Mount Royal University, where he participates in several socioeconomic and environmental activism-oriented student clubs and previously served as a governor of his students’ association. He previously graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with a diploma in Environmental Technology. His role as a student leader has taught him the importance of open and honest two-way communication, and Jayden aspires to hold onto these principles as a prospective member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Centre.
In order to represent the best interests of all Canadians, Jayden recognizes that we must take action to avert the climate crisis, eliminate poverty, and reduce socioeconomic inequity by working to dismantle the interconnected systems of colonialism, capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy through a community-oriented approach. He believes that this must be accomplished through direct action, including mutual aid and other solidarity-building efforts with targeted communities, alongside a progressive political upheaval facilitated by a grassroots party who prioritizes the needs of everyday Canadians over the greed of the ruling class.
Reason for running
greenparty.ca/en/candidate/jayden-baldonado www.greenparty.ca/en/candidate/jayden-baldonado