UPDATE: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair visits Saskatoon, pledges more help for women's shelters

Federal New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Thomas Mulcair was in Saskatoon on Monday to announce his party’s position on violence against women.

Speaking at Saskatoon’s Station 20 West building, Mulcair promised a crowd of supporters that, if elected, the NDP would create a national strategy to ensure women and children in need aren’t turned away from shelters.

“In April of 2014 on just one night, 338 women and 201 children fleeing violence were turned away from shelters because there weren’t enough spaces. That’s unacceptable in a country like Canada,” Mulcair said.

“I’m committing today that under an NDP government, we will take action to ensure that never again will a woman in need be turned away from a shelter.”

Mulcair said the NDP would restore the federal government’s Shelter Enhancement Program and would be putting back funding of $40 million over four years. Mulcair said they would also invest in more affordable housing and homelessness programs.

“More than twice as many women in Saskatchewan report being victims of violence as the national average,” Mulcair said. “Indigenous women are four times more likely to face violence than other women in Canada.”

“I say this to every mother, to every daughter, to every sister, it’s time you had a Prime Minister who cares,”  – Thomas Mulcair.

While recognizing the one year anniversary of the murder of Winnipeg teenager Tina Fontaine, Mulcair also restated his party’s pledge to hold a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women within 100 days of taking office.

“I say this to every mother, to every daughter, to every sister, it’s time you had a prime minister who cares,” Mulcair said.

While answering a reporter’s question about aboriginal women, Mulcair said the inaction towards missing and murdered indigenous women is because of an “underlying attitude of racism.”

Another question came from a recent statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a campaign stop in Quebec last week when he said the NDP are proposing reckless spending plans without Mulcair saying how he will pay for them. Mulcair said their spending breakdown of big ticket promises would eventually come.

“We are going to be doing that in great detail but every step of the way, we have been backed by high-level economists who have looked at our funding,” Mulcair said.

Mulcair also spoke about maintaining a good working relationship with provincial premiers if elected.

“Premier (Brad) Wall and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything but I can tell you I have a decent working relationship with him and when I sat down with him the last time, we agreed on one thing, that it’s high time we got rid of the senate,” Mulcair said.

But Mulcair was less clear on whether he agreed with Wall about ending equalization payments, which are designed to enable poorer provinces to offer government services at tax levels similar to richer jurisdictions.

“On an important issue like equalization, don’t forget it’s constitutionalized, it’s complex, it does require an open discussion and I don’t want to set one against the other,” Mulcair said. “I want us to all benefit from an understanding that when we succeed together we make Canada a stronger country.”

Mulcair’s next stop will be in Penticton, B.C Monday night.

NDP leader Mulcair says Brad Wall and him agree on the Senate pic.twitter.com/jXcmH0nvtP

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Says he will make it his duty to have good working relationship with provincial Premiers #yxe pic.twitter.com/234oxXvi9c

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Says Harper’s plan isn’t working and his plan is wrong. .. NDP will repair the damage Harper has done

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Mulcair says NDP government will hold inquiry into #mmiw in first 100 days of taking office #yxe pic.twitter.com/VtVnpSkp2L

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Women in #Sask more than twice as likely to experience violence than national average – Mulcair pic.twitter.com/UQubMnlh1m

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Putting back funding of $40 million over 4 years and restore shelter enhancement program #yxe pic.twitter.com/wjTcEdYXPZ

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Committing that under NDP they will take action to make sure no woman is turned away from a shelter #yxe pic.twitter.com/okCb7YF261

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Plan to end violence towards women announced at Station 20 West #yxe pic.twitter.com/0FLE36J2Aw

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

“Thank you for calling a national inquiry and giving respect to our women” Chief Jonathan pic.twitter.com/JMbW9ilKP8

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

NDP leader Tom Mulcair references Tragically Hip #yxe https://t.co/CJxEcZG2Rc

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

FSIN Chief says this is a turning point so we don’t see indigenous women as disposable pic.twitter.com/tBvZ6Ntitd

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

FSIN interim Chief Kimberly Jonathan says an inquiry into #MMIW writhing 100 days of election is good step pic.twitter.com/BlUrjDD7N8

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

NDP candidate Sheri Benson speaks at Station 20 West #yxe pic.twitter.com/8l0KxT3hZV

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

Led in by FSIN interim Chief Jonathan, Mulcair is greeted with drumming #yxe https://t.co/KJqqbu2h9g

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

applause as NDP Leader Tom Mulcair stops in #yxe https://t.co/DcgHNuaqyw

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

packed room at Station 20 West for NDP Leader Tom Mulcair’s Campaign for Change stop #yxe https://t.co/JJMIOuqY1N

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair’s Campaign for Change makes a stop in #yxe at Station 20 pic.twitter.com/iqvh9exGEp

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015

An absolutely packed house here pic.twitter.com/YxODt6VAM7

— Kelly Malone (@KellyGerMalone) August 31, 2015