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Throughout the past ten years, Gord has been a vocal advocate for affordable housing and food security in Courtenay-Alberni. Here are a few of Gord’s accomplishments:
Affordable Housing. Gord considers housing to be a human right, which must be accessible and safe for all Canadians:
- Gord has secured record levels of federal investment in affordable housing across the riding, from Tofino to Courtenay.
- Gord is pushing for non-market and cooperative housing to be created as part of the solution for the current housing and unhoused crises. Gord himself grew up in cooperative housing on Vancouver Island.
- Gord has argued in favour of increased housing access for released inmates, a disproportionate number of whom are Indigenous. This is particularly impactful in Courtenay-Alberni, where two-thirds of the unhoused population is Indigenous.
- Gord has been involved in the local push to establish a cold-weather shelter in Parksville, which seeks to keep unhoused and housing-vulnerable British Columbians warm in increasingly extreme weather.
- Gord has called on the federal government to prohibit the acquisition of affordable homes by large corporate landlords that drive up rent for profit. This prohibition would make more housing available for purchase across income, as well as keeping rents lower in affordable housing complexes.
Food Security. Gord is committed to the United Nations-recognized right to adequate food, and works to ensure that no Canadians go hungry:
- Gord introduced Motions M-78 and M-66 for federal investment in local agriculture and farmers' markets associations to provide coupons to lower-income families, pregnant women, and seniors. This program would match funding for coupon programs supported by some provinces.
- Gord tabled petitions in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 to expand the BC farmers’ market coupon program nationwide. If implemented, this program would help local growers sell fresh food to low-income folks and seniors.
- Gord supported the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act (C-56), as a strong advocate for locally sourced food in Courtney-Alberni.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, MP Johns helped mobilize volunteer and donor support for local food banks to ensure food security during an already daunting time for many.
- Gord called for the 2024 federal budget to include a funded national school lunch program. The implementation of a lunch program will help to alleviate stress on families and children by ensuring students will have at least one provided meal a day.
- Gord has advocated for the right of farmers to plant seeds from their previous year's crop, without restrictions from major companies which patent crops.
Gord’s job is not done. He continues to work hard every day to bring down prices and ensure that every Canadian has a roof over their head and food on their plate.
For more information on Gord’s record, visit openparliament.ca, an independent website that helps you “Keep tabs on Parliament”.
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