Michael Speers brings bold message of “peace and prosperity” to Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte Race

Michael Speers isn’t running your average election campaign. As the Communist Party of Canada candidate in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, he’s offering voters something he says the major parties have long abandoned: a movement rooted in working-class values and transformative change.

Speers, a former supporter of more mainstream political parties, said he grew disillusioned with the endless chase for power. “Winning was the number one goal, and actually putting forward policies that would improve people’s lives was secondary at best,” he said. “I wanted to join a party that I firmly believed in, that I saw were promoting policies and ideas that would benefit people and improve their material conditions now.”

At a time when affordability, housing, and healthcare dominate local concerns, Speers’ message is blunt: the current system isn’t working—and it’s time for a real alternative.

A Platform Built Around People

Speers is pushing a platform he says puts everyday people first, under the party’s “Peace and Prosperity, Not War and Austerity” banner. His proposals include:

• Nationalizing key sectors like steel and auto manufacturing to protect jobs and counter effects of global market volatility.
• Creating a “Made-in-Canada” electric vehicle to spur domestic innovation and provide affordable options for consumers.
• Improving Employment Insurance to cover 90% of a worker’s wages after layoffs.
• Implementing price controls on essentials like food, fuel, and rent.
• Raising the minimum wage to $25 per hour.
• Building two million public housing units, with rent capped at 20% of a person’s income.
• Expanding public healthcare to include universal pharmacare, dental care, and robust long-term care programs.

“We are strong believers that housing is a human right,” he said. “Not only will [affordable housing] provide a home for people, but it will also create jobs that people need.”

Fighting for More Than Votes

Speers says he’s not interested in election-time promises that get shelved after the votes are counted. “You're going to see us fighting for working people and policies that will benefit them between elections as well,” he said.

While he knows the word “communist” may raise eyebrows, he urges voters to look beyond the label. “At the heart of it, the Communist Party is the party for the working class,” he said. “We have no other interests except the interests of working people and their families.”

He also acknowledges the challenges of building cross-party consensus in Parliament, but says the Communist Party is open to collaboration—if the ideas on the table serve everyday Canadians. “We don’t just dictate what we think should be done. We listen. We talk to workers. We talk to families.”

A Vote to Challenge the Status Quo

Speers is asking voters to consider stepping outside the traditional party lines. “We’re asking people to rethink the idea of picking the least-worst choice,” he said. “A vote for the Communist Party sends a message that the status quo isn’t good enough.”

If elected, he promises to be an MP who doesn’t shy away from challenging the establishment. “We all know that through successive Liberal and Conservative governments, what have working people got? Houses they can’t afford. Food prices they can’t afford. I don’t think that’s what people in this riding want.”

Learn More

Voters interested in learning more about Speers or the Communist Party of Canada can visit votecommunist.com to read the full platform and find out more about the candidates.