greenparty.ca/en/candidate/nikida-steel www.greenparty.ca/en/candidate/nikida-steel
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On climate, I want to see serious, immediate action: a rapid transition to renewable energy, investment in public transit, retrofitting homes and buildings, and protecting biodiversity. We can create thousands of good, green jobs while securing a livable future.
On housing, I support policies that treat housing as a human right. I want to see investments in affordable, non-market housing, stronger tenant protections, and real action on speculation and empty homes.
On reconciliation, I advocate for Indigenous-led solutions, true implementation of UNDRIP, and the full return of jurisdiction over child welfare, land, and governance to Indigenous nations. As a Métis person, I want to see culturally grounded supports in every area of policy.
On income and affordability, I want to see a Guaranteed Livable Income, fair wages, and accessible public services—from pharmacare to mental health care—so no one is left behind.
On democracy, I believe in proportional representation and stronger local voices. Politics should reflect the people it serves, and that means lifting up marginalized voices and making sure every vote counts.
I want a future where we look out for each other, care for the Earth, and leave no one behind. That’s what I’ll fight for as a Green.
Affordability & Housing
Childcare
Nikida Steel's promises
I support policies that keep housing affordable in the long term through land trusts, co-ops, and non-profit models that take profit out of the equation.
- to cap rent increases, end renovictions, and ensure tenants have access to legal supports and fair treatment.
- I will support measures to curb speculation and vacancy, including taxes on empty homes and limits on corporate ownership of residential housing.
- I will champion a Housing First approach—safe, supportive housing with wraparound mental health and social services, not criminalization.
- I’ll push for fully funded, Indigenous-led housing strategies both on- and off-reserve, rooted in self-determination and cultural safety.
- I will advocate for universal design standards in all new builds, retrofitting existing units for accessibility, and expanding supportive housing options that allow people to live with dignity and independence in their own communities.
Food prices
Nikida Steel's promises
- I’ll advocate for investment in local farms, Indigenous food sovereignty, and urban agriculture to shorten supply chains, build food security, and keep prices stable.
- I support breaking up food monopolies and empowering the Competition Bureau to investigate and regulate large grocery chains driving up prices while raking in record profits.
- I’ll push for income supports that ensure everyone—especially low-income families, seniors, and students—can afford healthy, fresh food without sacrificing other basic needs.
- I’ll champion free, nutritious meals in schools so every child has access to healthy food, regardless of their family’s income.
- I’ll work to support farmers in adapting to climate change with sustainable practices, so we can protect our food supply and keep prices from spiraling due to climate-related disruptions.
Fuel and transportation costs
Nikida Steel's promises
advocate for policies to stabilize fuel prices without sacrificing environmental goals, ensuring that both consumers and communities are protected from sudden cost hikes during the energy transition.
I’ll push for significant investments in modern, reliable, and eco-friendly public transportation systems. Upgrading bus and train fleets to electric or low-emission models is essential for reducing congestion and pollution.
support building safer pathways for cycling and walking. These projects not only reduce emissions but also improve public health through increased physical activity.
Home ownership
Nikida Steel's promises
- I’ll advocate for targeted assistance for first-time homebuyers—including shared equity models and community land trusts—that reduce upfront costs without driving up housing prices.
- support updating building codes to require high-efficiency, low-emission construction, and providing grants or tax credits to help homeowners upgrade insulation, heating systems, and appliances.
- I will push for federal programs that reward energy-efficient homes with lower interest rates, rebates for green retrofits, and financing options that make sustainable choices affordable.
- I’ll promote ownership structures that prioritize community stability and sustainability over profit, including co-housing, co-ops, and land trusts.
- support stronger regulation of the mortgage and real estate markets to prevent housing from being treated purely as an investment vehicle, ensuring homes stay in the hands of people who live in them.
- I’ll advocate for policies that help homeowners adapt to climate risks—like wildfires, floods, and heatwaves—through grants for upgrades and disaster preparedness.
Homelessness
Nikida Steel's promises
- will advocate for a federally funded, community-led Housing First strategy that provides immediate, permanent housing—alongside mental health, trauma-informed care, addiction treatment, and social supports.
- I’ll fight for long-term funding to build and maintain deeply affordable, non-profit, Indigenous-led, and supportive housing—particularly for those most at risk in Vancouver East.
16,000 lives lost since the onset of the opioid crisis.
- support decriminalizing poverty, homelessness, and drug use, and will push for federal leadership on safe supply, supervised consumption sites, and culturally safe harm reduction services.
- I will champion a national mental health strategy with dedicated funding to expand accessible, publicly funded mental health and addiction services—including mobile crisis response teams that prevent unnecessary police intervention.
- I’ll fight for full funding of Indigenous housing and wellness programs both on- and off-reserve, rooted in self-determination, culture, and community.
- I’ll work to ensure federal standards for emergency shelters that prioritize safety, dignity, accessibility, and pathways to permanent housing.
Post-secondary costs and loans
Nikida Steel's promises
- I will fight for the gradual elimination of tuition for all post-secondary institutions, starting with making college and university free for low- and middle-income students.
- support forgiving existing federal student loan debt to relieve the crushing financial burden many graduates carry for decades after finishing school.
- I’ll push to phase out federal student loans and replace them with non-repayable grants that cover the real costs of education—tuition, books, housing, and food.
- will advocate for the end of unpaid internships and ensure all students and apprentices receive fair wages and safe working conditions.
- fight for fully funded, culturally safe education programs for Indigenous learners and targeted supports for students facing systemic barriers—including disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, racialized, and low-income students.
- work to increase federal transfers to universities and colleges, ensuring they remain public, well-funded, and focused on education—not profit.
Poverty
Nikida Steel's promises
- push for a national Guaranteed Livable Income to ensure everyone has the means to meet their basic needs—regardless of employment status—dignified, unconditional, and indexed to the cost of living.
- I will fight for massive investment in deeply affordable, supportive, and non-market housing as a foundation for stability and dignity.
- advocate for fully funded pharmacare, dental care, mental health care, and childcare—because access to health and well-being shouldn’t depend on your income.
- I support a federal living wage, protections for gig and precarious workers, and stronger enforcement of labour rights—so no one working full-time lives in poverty.
- champion universal school food programs, support for community-based food systems, and policies to make healthy food affordable and accessible.
- advocate for intersectional anti-poverty strategies that centre Indigenous people, racialized communities, seniors, people with disabilities, and youth.
Green's promises
"Establish a National Livable Wage Index to set wage floors by region based on the cost of housing, food, and essentials." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Public and affordable housing
Nikida Steel's promises
- I’ll fight for sustained federal funding to build at least 50,000 units of deeply affordable, non-profit, cooperative, and public housing annually—prioritizing those most in need.
- I support removing housing from the speculative market by investing in models like land trusts, co-ops, and Indigenous-led housing that guarantee long-term affordability.
- I will push for funding to upgrade and expand current public housing units to ensure they’re safe, livable, climate-resilient, and accessible to all—including seniors and people with disabilities.
- I’ll advocate for stronger tenant rights and a national framework for rent control, so people aren’t priced out of their communities or evicted without cause.
- I support a Housing First approach with wraparound health, mental health, and social services that ensure no one is forced to live on the streets or in unsafe conditions.
- I will fight for full funding and autonomy for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities to build, own, and govern their own housing—on and off reserve.
Renting and rental housing
Nikida Steel's promises
- will push for a federal rent control strategy in partnership with provinces and territories—capping annual increases, closing loopholes, and preventing renovictions and demovictions.
- support major federal investment in building and maintaining co-op, non-profit, and community-owned rental housing that is permanently affordable and not tied to profit motives.
- will fight for a national standard that guarantees fair leases, protection from unjust evictions, transparent rent pricing, and access to legal support and dispute resolution.
- I’ll advocate for restrictions on large corporate landlords and real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are driving up rents and removing affordable units from the market.
- will champion emergency rental assistance programs and eviction moratoriums during times of crisis, ensuring no one loses their home due to temporary hardship.
- I’ll work to fund energy-efficiency upgrades in rental buildings with strong rules preventing landlords from using retrofits as an excuse to raise rents or displace tenants.
Tax measures and rebates
Nikida Steel's promises
- will push for a wealth tax on the ultra-rich and higher taxes on large corporations and real estate speculators, so those profiting the most contribute their fair share.
- I support closing corporate tax loopholes, cracking down on offshore tax avoidance, and ensuring multinationals pay taxes where they do business.
- I’ll advocate for expanded federal rebates for home energy retrofits, heat pumps, electric vehicles, and public transit passes to help Canadians lower emissions and save money.
- support removing the GST from essential items like diapers, menstrual products, and all basic, healthy food—including culturally relevant staples—to reduce the cost of living.
- I’ll push for increased federal tax credits for low-income individuals and families, including a more generous Canada Child Benefit and seniors’ tax credits.
- support tax incentives for small, community-focused businesses—especially those that are worker-owned, co-operative, or environmentally sustainable.
Green's promise
"Eliminate federal income taxes for low income Canadians and decrease the tax burden on Canadians earning $100,000 or less by raising the Basic Personal Amount to $40,000." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Climate Change & the Environment
Clean energy
Green's promises
"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Climate adaptation
Nikida Steel's promises
- will fight for science-based, legally binding targets to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, with a 60% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030.
- support an immediate end to subsidies, new drilling, and pipeline construction, and a just transition away from fossil fuels—protecting workers, not corporate profits.
- I’ll advocate for large-scale investment in public transit, renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable agriculture to create jobs while slashing emissions.
- promise to support workers through retraining programs, income guarantees, and job creation in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience sectors.
- champion the protection of 30% of Canada’s land and waters by 2030, Indigenous-led conservation, and restoration of ecosystems that act as carbon sinks.
- support funding for local adaptation—flood protection, cooling centres, wildfire response, and emergency preparedness—to help communities survive worsening climate impacts.
- I’ll ensure Indigenous rights, knowledge, and leadership are central to all climate decisions, supporting sovereignty and land stewardship as essential to climate action.
Green's promises
"Establish a National Civil Defence Corps — a civilian-led national service dedicated to building Canada’s resilience and preparedness for emergencies. This initiative will provide meaningful employment for workers impacted by economic transitions, equipping them with vital skills in disaster response, emergency management, infrastructure protection, and climate resilience." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Transform Public Safety Canada into Canada’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), a FEMA-equivalent agency with specialized disaster intervention teams ready for rapid deployment." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Electric vehicles
Green's promises
Electricity
Green's promises
"Swiftly transition Canada to a fully renewable electricity system by eliminating coal, oil, and gas-fired power generation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect and modernize regional grids, improve interprovincial energy sharing, and ensure renewable electricity can flow efficiently across the country." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support northern and remote communities in transitioning off diesel by expanding access to community-owned renewable microgrids, tailored to local needs and priorities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Freshwater
Green's promises
Green building retrofits
Green's promises
"Revisit trade restrictions with China to strategically balance economic and environmental goals, maintaining tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles to protect Canadian manufacturing and jobs in our rapidly growing domestic EV sector, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels to accelerate the adoption of affordable renewable energy and create jobs in solar installation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Green jobs
Green's promises
"Ensure clean economy subsidies serve workers and communities — not just corporate profits by requiring strong labour, environmental, and transparency conditions on all public funding." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Establish a National Civil Defence Corps — a civilian-led national service dedicated to building Canada’s resilience and preparedness for emergencies. This initiative will provide meaningful employment for workers impacted by economic transitions, equipping them with vital skills in disaster response, emergency management, infrastructure protection, and climate resilience." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Launch a National Green Jobs Training and Apprenticeship Program to provide free training, paid apprenticeships, and wage support, prioritizing workers affected by the transition away from fossil fuels and automation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Greenhouse gas emissions
Green's promises
"Develop a National Industrial Decarbonization Strategy to transition manufacturing, resource processing, and heavy industry away from fossil fuels." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce carbon border adjustments to protect Canadian industries from high-emissions imports and ensure fair competition. Use these tools to encourage global emissions reductions and incentivize climate action in international trade." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support a just global transition by contributing to international climate finance, including a Global Justice Fund." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement a national Buy Clean strategy, ensuring that:
» At least 75% of federal procurement prioritizes Canadian-made goods and services.
» At least 50% of federal procurement prioritizes clean technology and low-carbon materials.
» All federally funded infrastructure projects align with Buy Clean standards.
» A procurement review ensures compliance with trade agreements while protecting Canadian industries."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce an international aviation and shipping fuel tax to ensure these industries contribute to climate initiatives." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Mining and minerals
Nikida Steel's promises
- will fight to ensure that no mining projects move forward without the free, prior, and informed consent of affected Indigenous Nations—honouring UNDRIP and Indigenous sovereignty.
- I’ll advocate for policies that prioritize mineral recycling, reuse, and repair to reduce the demand for new extraction and extend the life of existing materials.
- support robust federal oversight and environmental assessments that prevent ecosystem destruction, protect watersheds, and prioritize biodiversity over short-term profits.
- push for legally binding agreements that guarantee local communities—especially Indigenous and rural—see real, long-term benefits from any mining activity, including jobs, revenue sharing, and environmental monitoring.
- support a moratorium on deep-sea mining and will oppose projects that pose unacceptable risks to ecosystems and communities.
- I’ll promote a national plan that aligns mineral extraction with our climate goals—limiting extraction to what is truly needed for the green transition and ensuring it is done responsibly.
- I will advocate for mandatory public reporting of environmental, social, and human rights impacts from Canadian mining companies—both at home and abroad.
Green's promises
"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue- sharing frameworks for natural resources, ensuring structured, rights- based agreements that honour Treaty obligations and the principles of UNDRIP." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Oil and gas
Green's promises
"Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects. No public funds should support continued fossil fuel expansion." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban fracking due to environmental and seismic risks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Explore options for public ownership or nationalization of fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations or threaten Canada’s energy and climate security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Pollution
Green's promises
"Support a global tax on pollution from aviation and shipping, ensuring major international polluters pay their fair share. Work with global partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to develop a fair and effective system." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement stronger environmental accountability measures to prevent corporate abuse of Canada’s natural resources." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Require that federally procured goods prioritize circular economy principles, including repairability, durability, and recycled content, reducing waste and supporting sustainable industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Public transit
Green's promises
"Require all federally funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses to accelerate the transition away from diesel." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Advocate for user-fee-free public transit, with an annual federal transfer to municipalities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support preferential public transit tariffs for youth and ensure safe, accessible transit options for seniors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Culture, Arts, & Media
News and journalism
Green's promises
"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Health & Healthcare
Pharmaceuticals and pharmacare
Green's promise
"Ban imports of U.S. food and pharmaceuticals that fail to meet international safety standards, protecting Canadian consumers from deregulated products." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Indigenous Peoples and Nations
Indigenous businesses and economic opportunity
Green's promises
"Expand Indigenous-led training and employment opportunities in clean energy, ensuring full Indigenous participation in Canada’s transition economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Require at least 5% of federal contracts be awarded to Indigenous businesses, supporting economic reconciliation and Indigenous economic self-determination." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Jobs, Businesses, & Labour
Agriculture
Green's promises
"Ban imports of food products containing substances prohibited in Canada to protect Canadian health, food safety, and agricultural standards." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Expand farm-to-institution procurement, ensuring public institutions (schools, hospitals, universities) prioritize Canadian-grown food." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Mandate a “Canada First” purchasing policy for all federally funded food procurement programs, requiring a minimum of 75% Canadian-grown food, with priority given to local and provincial suppliers" — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Increase Canada’s food self-sufficiency by replacing one-third of food imports with locally produced food." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Invest in urban agriculture to increase food production and distribution in high density areas." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Expand farmers’ markets, culinary tourism, and direct-to-consumer food sales, reducing corporate control over food distribution and supporting local food cooperatives and processing facilities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Promote plant-based eating in alignment with Canada’s Food Guide, supporting public health and lowering the environmental impact of food production." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Employment Insurance
Green's promises
Fishing and aquaculture
Green's promise
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Forestry
Green's promises
"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Inter-provincial business and trade
Green's promise
"Invest in East-West Canadian trade infrastructure. Improve rail, roads, and energy transmission lines to strengthen internal markets and reduce reliance on U.S. exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
International trade
Green's promises
"Strengthen trade relationships with Europe, Latin America, Africa, and BRICS+ nations (India, Brazil, South Africa, etc.) to create new markets for Canadian goods and services." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Lead a global effort to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) into a World Trade and Climate Organization, ensuring trade agreements prioritize environmental and social justice." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Revisit trade restrictions with China to strategically balance economic and environmental goals, maintaining tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles to protect Canadian manufacturing and jobs in our rapidly growing domestic EV sector, while reducing tariffs on Chinese solar panels to accelerate the adoption of affordable renewable energy and create jobs in solar installation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Labour rights
Green's promises
"Implement a clear ABC Test to classify workers properly and prevent gig economy exploitation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Crack down on sham contracting and unjust misclassification of employees as independent contractors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Increase federal labour inspectors and compliance funding to strengthen enforcement against employer violations, including worker misclassification, wage theft, and unfair labour practices." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Require gig companies (Uber, DoorDash, Amazon, etc.) to guarantee minimum pay, mileage reimbursement, and employment protections." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Establish a Portable Benefits Fund for gig workers, ensuring access to:
» Pensions, health insurance, and paid leave regardless of employment classification.
» This fund will be financed through a mandatory per-trip or per-hour employer levy, ensuring companies contribute their fair share."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Manufacturing
Green's promises
"Support the transition to a circular economy by investing in repair, remanufacturing, and local recycling industries, reducing dependence on raw material extraction while creating jobs in sustainable production." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Increase research and innovation funding for circular economy solutions, including material recovery technologies, zero-waste manufacturing, and advanced recycling systems." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Prioritize Canadian workers and supply chains in the energy transition by investing in domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage technologies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Mining and minerals
Nikida Steel's promises
- will fight to ensure that no mining projects move forward without the free, prior, and informed consent of affected Indigenous Nations—honouring UNDRIP and Indigenous sovereignty.
- I’ll advocate for policies that prioritize mineral recycling, reuse, and repair to reduce the demand for new extraction and extend the life of existing materials.
- support robust federal oversight and environmental assessments that prevent ecosystem destruction, protect watersheds, and prioritize biodiversity over short-term profits.
- push for legally binding agreements that guarantee local communities—especially Indigenous and rural—see real, long-term benefits from any mining activity, including jobs, revenue sharing, and environmental monitoring.
- support a moratorium on deep-sea mining and will oppose projects that pose unacceptable risks to ecosystems and communities.
- I’ll promote a national plan that aligns mineral extraction with our climate goals—limiting extraction to what is truly needed for the green transition and ensuring it is done responsibly.
- I will advocate for mandatory public reporting of environmental, social, and human rights impacts from Canadian mining companies—both at home and abroad.
Green's promises
"Increase productivity by incentivizing value-added resource use through tax incentives, innovation grants, and industrial partnerships that maximize efficiency in processing and manufacturing." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Co-develop federal legislation with First Nations to establish revenue- sharing frameworks for natural resources, ensuring structured, rights- based agreements that honour Treaty obligations and the principles of UNDRIP." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Oil and gas
Green's promises
"Eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies immediately, including tax write-offs for LNG, oil, gas, and coal projects. No public funds should support continued fossil fuel expansion." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Align Canada’s resource policies with the Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy to ensure resource extraction, processing, and industrial development support the transition to a net-zero economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban fracking due to environmental and seismic risks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Explore options for public ownership or nationalization of fossil fuel assets in cases where foreign-controlled companies withdraw from environmental obligations or threaten Canada’s energy and climate security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Small businesses
Green's promises
Start-ups and innovation
Green's promises
"Increase direct annual federal funding for private and student-led business R&D, ensuring more research is commercialized by Canadian companies." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Develop flexible IP licensing tools and provide discounted federally funded IP for Canadian firms to strengthen Canada’s innovation ecosystem." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Expand entrepreneurship training and support for equity-seeking groups, including Indigenous, Black, and women-led businesses, with an annual grant program." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Supply management
Green's promises
"Strengthen supply management to protect Canadian farmers, while ensuring small-scale and cooperative food producers have fair access to markets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Technology and the digital economy
Green's promises
"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Trump's tariffs
Green's promises
"Establish national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against U.S. trade disruptions, stabilize domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty.
» Stockpile essential raw materials to ensure stable supply and prevent price spikes during shortages.
» Ensure reserves are managed on a cost-recovery basis."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Apply export taxes on key Canadian resources that the U.S. relies on— such as oil, gas, uranium, aluminum, potash, and natural gas. This would make it more expensive for U.S. industries to source these materials, discouraging tariffs on Canadian goods while generating revenue to invest in domestic industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Cancel government contracts with U.S. companies tied to Trump’s corporate allies, redirecting public funds to Canadian businesses and ethical international partners." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Strengthen protections against foreign takeovers by lowering the threshold for government review of U.S. and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies. This will prevent American investors from buying up struggling Canadian industries at bargain prices and ensure critical sectors remain under Canadian control." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Reform the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to ensure all pension funds are invested in Canada, supporting Canadian workers, communities, and infrastructure. The current CCPIBA requires pension funds to be invested solely based on return on investment (ROI).
» Prioritize investments in Canadian industries, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience rather than speculative market activities.
» Increase transparency and accountability in how CPP funds are managed, ensuring investments align with Canada’s economic and social priorities."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce targeted taxes on U.S. oil and gas corporations operating in Canada to ensure they contribute fairly to our economy. This measure would prevent American fossil fuel companies from profiting off Canadian resources while their government imposes tariffs on Canadian exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement “Buy Canadian” policies. Prioritize domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods, ensuring federal and provincial governments lead by example." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support local and regional value chains. Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to build economic resilience and insulate Canadian households from global price shocks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Upskilling
Green's promises
"Expand access to training for all workers, ensuring employment programs cover:
» Secondary school completion and upgrading.
» Adult literacy and numeracy training.
» English/French language instruction.
» Union and community-led workforce development."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Provide income support for workers seeking training, eliminating financial barriers to career shifts." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Minority Rights, Fair Government, & Democracy
Foreign interference and transnational repression
Green's promises
"Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection to combat election interference and foreign manipulation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Mandate transparency in media ownership, requiring full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Government transparency and lobbying
Green's promises
Immigration
Green's promise
Public service
Green's promise
Tax fairness
Green's promises
"Increase the corporate tax rate from 14% to 21% for businesses with profits over $100 million ($44 billion in revenue)." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce a permanent Windfall Tax (Excess Profit Tax) on large corporations, including banks, grocery chains and fossil fuel companies, to prevent profiteering at the expense of Canadians. This tax will apply at a rate of 15% on profits exceeding 120% of a company’s average profits over the previous four years, ensuring that large corporations contribute fairly when they generate excessive gains." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement a 0.35% Financial Transactions Tax (Tobin Tax) on trades involving stocks, bonds, derivatives, and currencies. This measure will help curb speculative trading practices that destabilize markets and generate significant revenue for social, economic, and environmental programs."
"Implement a progressive wealth tax on net wealth above $10 million. The tax would apply at a rate of 1% on net wealth over $10 million, 2% on net wealth over $50 million, and 3% on net wealth over $100 million. This policy would impact only .5% of Canadian households." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Strengthen Canada’s exit tax to prevent the ultra-wealthy from avoiding taxes by moving assets abroad. We will apply a net wealth-based exit tax of 35% on assets over $10 million for individuals renouncing Canadian tax residency, ensuring those who have benefited the most from Canada’s economy must contribute significantly before leaving. Loopholes that allow tax avoidance through corporate structures and exempt assets will also be closed." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ensure fair taxation of extreme capital gains by applying a progressive tax only to profits over $10 million. To prevent wealthy investors from avoiding taxes indefinitely, we will also limit the ability to deduct past investment losses to a maximum of 10 years." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Revise Canada’s Select Luxury Items Tax Act to eliminate the “lesser of” rule and apply a flat luxury tax rate (e.g., 10% or higher on the full purchase price).
» Increase the tax rates for extreme wealth purchases (e.g., higher rates for private jets and superyachts.)
» Close corporate loopholes that allow businesses to buy these assets to avoid the Select Luxury Items Tax.
» Exempt Canadian-made commercial and recreational vessels from the Select Luxury Items Tax, to support small manufacturers and coastal industries."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Close stock options and capital gains tax loopholes, which primarily benefit wealthy executives." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"End off shore tax evasion by taxing hidden funds and requiring proof of foreign business operations." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Review and phase out corporate subsidies that fail to deliver proven economic, environmental, or social benefits, with priority given to eliminating subsidies that:
» Distort markets without improving public well-being.
» Contribute to corporate concentration of key industries.
» Benefit large corporations disproportionately over small businesses and workers.
» Are provided to corporations with majority foreign ownership, particularly U.S.-based firms, undermining Canadian economic sovereignty.
» Fail to pass a cost-benefit analysis."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Increase transparency on business subsidies by mandating full public reporting on corporate tax benefits, grants, and loans — including which corporations receive them and their economic impact." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Women and gender equality
Green's promise
"Fully implement and enforce federal pay equity laws, ensuring equal pay for work of equal value. The Pay Equity Commission remains underfunded and requires a budget increase." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Post-Secondary Education & Jobs Training
Post-secondary costs and loans
Nikida Steel's promises
- I will fight for the gradual elimination of tuition for all post-secondary institutions, starting with making college and university free for low- and middle-income students.
- support forgiving existing federal student loan debt to relieve the crushing financial burden many graduates carry for decades after finishing school.
- I’ll push to phase out federal student loans and replace them with non-repayable grants that cover the real costs of education—tuition, books, housing, and food.
- will advocate for the end of unpaid internships and ensure all students and apprentices receive fair wages and safe working conditions.
- fight for fully funded, culturally safe education programs for Indigenous learners and targeted supports for students facing systemic barriers—including disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, racialized, and low-income students.
- work to increase federal transfers to universities and colleges, ensuring they remain public, well-funded, and focused on education—not profit.
Post-secondary funding
Green's promise
"Provide direct research funding to Canadian universities, allocated automatically based on graduate student enrollment in thesis-based programs, to ensure stable baseline funding for curiosity-driven, early-stage research. This will support long-term scientific inquiry and breakthrough discoveries without the burden of competitive grant applications.
» Require that all research funded through this program be fully public, preventing the privatization of publicly funded knowledge and ensuring open access for researchers, businesses, and the public."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Scientific research
Green's promises
"Increase R&D funding to 2.7% of GDP to bring Canada in line with the OECD average." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Increase funding for research councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), ensuring a minimum 60% success rate in grant competitions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Mandate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) considerations in federal research grants to ensure ethical and sustainable research funding." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Mandate open access for publicly funded research, following Europe’s “Plan S” model to make science freely available." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Upskilling
Green's promises
"Expand access to training for all workers, ensuring employment programs cover:
» Secondary school completion and upgrading.
» Adult literacy and numeracy training.
» English/French language instruction.
» Union and community-led workforce development."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Provide income support for workers seeking training, eliminating financial barriers to career shifts." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Public Safety, Policing, & the Justice System
Border security
Green's promise
Sovereignty, Foreign Relations, & the United States
American threats to Canada's sovereignty
Green's promises
"End Canada’s reliance on U.S.-owned defence, digital, and IT systems by investing in sovereign infrastructure and partnerships with like-minded democracies to strengthen cyber defence and national security." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Defending Canada's north
Green's promises
"Expand Arctic and coastal security patrols, upgrading surveillance, monitoring, and defence equipment to protect Canada’s northern and maritime sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Foreign interference and transnational repression
Green's promises
"Expand the Canadian Election Security Task Force, incorporating AI-based threat detection to combat election interference and foreign manipulation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Mandate transparency in media ownership, requiring full disclosure of foreign interests in major Canadian media outlets." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Foreign policy
Green's promises
"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Re-engage in the UN system, increasing Canada’s funding for peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. Explore opportunities to host expanded UN programs and institutions in Canada to strengthen global geographic equity in multilateral governance." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Commit to global climate diplomacy that centres equity, international justice, and the leadership of the Global South. Prioritize contributions to international climate finance and support reforms to global trade and financial institutions that advance sustainability and human rights." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Sustain diplomatic initiatives with a PR campaign involving prominent Canadian personalities to emphasize Canada’s historical alliances and independence." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"End Canadian arms exports to regimes that commit human rights abuses, ensuring Canadian-made weapons are not used in conflicts that violate international law." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Work with the Global Greens network to foster the creation of a new security alliance for democracies, encompassing Europe, South America, and the Asia Pacific." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Israel and Palestine
Green's promises
"Recognize the State of Palestine and advocate for its full UN membership, aligning with Canada’s commitment to international law and multilateral diplomacy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
National defence
Green's promises
"Equip the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with tailored, modernized capabilities to address today’s threats, including cyber warfare, climate-related disasters, and hybrid warfare." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Trump's tariffs
Green's promises
"Establish national strategic reserves of Canadian resources to protect against U.S. trade disruptions, stabilize domestic markets, and strengthen Canadian sovereignty.
» Stockpile essential raw materials to ensure stable supply and prevent price spikes during shortages.
» Ensure reserves are managed on a cost-recovery basis."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban the export of unprocessed resources. Ensure Canadian oil, minerals, timber, and seafood are refined, processed, and value-added before export, creating Canadian jobs and reducing U.S. leverage over our economy." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Apply export taxes on key Canadian resources that the U.S. relies on— such as oil, gas, uranium, aluminum, potash, and natural gas. This would make it more expensive for U.S. industries to source these materials, discouraging tariffs on Canadian goods while generating revenue to invest in domestic industries." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Cancel government contracts with U.S. companies tied to Trump’s corporate allies, redirecting public funds to Canadian businesses and ethical international partners." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Strengthen protections against foreign takeovers by lowering the threshold for government review of U.S. and foreign acquisitions of Canadian companies. This will prevent American investors from buying up struggling Canadian industries at bargain prices and ensure critical sectors remain under Canadian control." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Reform the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to ensure all pension funds are invested in Canada, supporting Canadian workers, communities, and infrastructure. The current CCPIBA requires pension funds to be invested solely based on return on investment (ROI).
» Prioritize investments in Canadian industries, clean energy, public infrastructure, and long-term economic resilience rather than speculative market activities.
» Increase transparency and accountability in how CPP funds are managed, ensuring investments align with Canada’s economic and social priorities."
— Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce a tax on U.S. tech monopolies operating in Canada, ensuring companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Starlink pay their fair share. This will include a Digital Services Tax (DST) on digital advertising, app store fees, streaming services, and consumer data monetization, as well as a corporate tax surcharge on tech giants. Revenue from these taxes will be reinvested in Canadian-owned technology, broadband expansion, and independent journalism, reducing reliance on U.S. corporate giants while strengthening Canada’s digital sovereignty." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Introduce targeted taxes on U.S. oil and gas corporations operating in Canada to ensure they contribute fairly to our economy. This measure would prevent American fossil fuel companies from profiting off Canadian resources while their government imposes tariffs on Canadian exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement “Buy Canadian” policies. Prioritize domestic procurement and consumer spending on Canadian-made goods, ensuring federal and provincial governments lead by example." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support local and regional value chains. Invest in domestic food, energy, and manufacturing supply chains to build economic resilience and insulate Canadian households from global price shocks." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Form a common diplomatic and economic alliance (“economic NATO”) with democracies including EU, UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, and ASEAN nations to counter US economic pressure." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Ukraine
Green's promises
Transit, Transportation, & Infrastructure
Electric vehicles
Green's promises
Electricity
Green's promises
"Swiftly transition Canada to a fully renewable electricity system by eliminating coal, oil, and gas-fired power generation." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Implement a National Electrical Grid Strategy to connect and modernize regional grids, improve interprovincial energy sharing, and ensure renewable electricity can flow efficiently across the country." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support northern and remote communities in transitioning off diesel by expanding access to community-owned renewable microgrids, tailored to local needs and priorities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Ban new nuclear development and direct federal investment exclusively to proven, cost-effective renewable energy solutions." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Infrastructure investment
Green's promises
"Ensure affordable, accessible internet nationwide with investments in broadband expansion for rural businesses." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Invest in East-West Canadian trade infrastructure. Improve rail, roads, and energy transmission lines to strengthen internal markets and reduce reliance on U.S. exports." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Intercity transportation
Green's promises
"Nationalize Canada’s freight rail line (CN) as public infrastructure to ensure efficient, climate-friendly transport and economic resilience. To ensure service for Canadian farmers and ensure passenger rail has priority over freight" — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Municipal infrastructure
Green's promises
"Create a National Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Fund to expand bike lanes, pedestrian infrastructure, and municipal bike-share programs." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Public transit
Green's promises
"Require all federally funded transit projects to purchase only zero-emission buses to accelerate the transition away from diesel." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Advocate for user-fee-free public transit, with an annual federal transfer to municipalities." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
"Support preferential public transit tariffs for youth and ensure safe, accessible transit options for seniors." — Change: Vote For It, retrieved 2025-04-25
Misc. topics
Vehicle safety
Green's promise
Biography
Living with a chronic condition, she is cognizant of the disparities faced by those with disabilities and the gaps in services and supports. A survivor of systemic abuse, Nikida has spent her life healing & dismantling harmful systems, challenging the status quo, and fostering meaningful change through collaboration with community peers and partners.
Living in Vancouver East, Nikida understands firsthand the challenges faced by constituents in the riding and is deeply committed to addressing them with respect, accountability, and genuine care. Her lived experiences fuel her unwavering dedication to creating a society where everyone can thrive. She brings with her a complementary academic background with studies from Douglas College and the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
With a history of vulnerable sectors/leadership roles in mainstream and nonprofit organizations, Nikida has championed the rights of marginalized people and the common working populations, consistently speaking out against injustice and advocating for systemic reform. Her work reflects her commitment to values that matter most to Vancouver East:
• Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention: Advocating for survivors and raising awareness about exploitation.
• Systemic Abuse and Justice Reform: Fighting for justice and equity in systems that have historically failed marginalized communities.
• Affordable Housing and Poverty Reduction: Promoting policies that ensure housing is a right, not a privilege.
• Climate Action and Sustainability: Committing to climate justice and building resilient communities.
• Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation: Supporting self-determination and working toward meaningful reconciliation.
• Ethical Governance and Political Accountability: Upholding transparency and integrity in government.
• Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Advocating for harm reduction, mental health services, and life-saving medications.
Nikida’s approach is rooted in compassion and collaboration. She believes in holding one another accountable and walking together toward sustainable outcomes that honour the needs of every individual. Her campaign is about building bridges, fostering community resilience, and creating policies that reflect the realities of the people she serves. The crimes against Nikida and her peers (coast to coast on Turtle Island) as well as many other Canadians who have survived exploitation and systemic harms officially ended in 2015. The involvement of a high-ranking officer (who went to jail in 2018) and the inability of the local MLA’s/MPs to engage with the concerning subject matter only allowed for additional harms and silenced the truth from surfacing. The prior administrations refused to address the correspondence pertaining to the matters which allowed for additional harm and perpetuated denial of basic human rights.
As a lifelong learner and tireless advocate, Nikida Steel is ready to bring her voice, experience, and commitment to Parliament, ensuring that Vancouver East is heard, valued, and supported. She is fully bilingual in English and French and is active in community engagement/public speaking. Most recently, she presented at the restorative justice conference in Alberta, November 2024, and will be delivering a TEDx talk at Western University, February 2025. Lastly, in the fall of 2024, she was added to the Associate Roster for Mediate BC upon fully meeting the requirements. #GREENLIGHT2025
Reason for running
As a Métis person and a long-time community advocate, I know the importance of grassroots leadership. I’m bringing forward the voices of those too often left out of the conversation—youth, renters, frontline workers, and Indigenous communities.
The Green Party offers more than just environmental solutions. We’re committed to social justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and building a fair economy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy few.
I’m running because I believe change is possible, and it starts with bold, honest leadership that puts people and the planet first.
Voting for me is voting for sustainable change from somebody who champions, authenticity and integrity
greenparty.ca/en/candidate/nikida-steel www.greenparty.ca/en/candidate/nikida-steel