Protecting the Coast
Since his election in 2015, Gord has been a relentless advocate for the environment in Ottawa. Here are some highlights of what Gord has achieved as part of the NDP team:
Protecting our oceans. As NDP Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and Climate Change and Coastal Protection, Gord has successfully championed many initiatives to address ocean pollution and protect aquatic species, including:
- Gaining unanimous support in Parliament for a motion to create a national ocean plastics strategy leading to a ban on single-use plastics and annual funding for clean-up and education campaigns.
- Introducing multiple environmental bills and motions in the 45th Parliament:
- Bill C-215, to establish a prevention and response strategy for pollution caused by shipping container spills;
- Motion M-2, calling for a national ship recycling strategy;
- Motion M-3, promoting sustainable food systems through federal support for Farmer's Market Nutrition Coupon programs;
- Motion M-8, urging Canada to close the loophole allowing Canadian plastic waste to be dumped in developing countries;
- Motion M-12, calling for a National Fire Administration to integrate fire safety into federal policy and prevent the spread of wildfire; and
- Motion M-33, calling for proper NOC classification and benefits for wildland and forest firefighters, to ensure these front-line heroes can continue to protect communities and ecosystems.
- Partnering with regional and First Nations governments and local seafood producers to push for the removal of abandoned vessels that threatened local jobs.
- Advocating for the creation of a new federal policy on derelict vessels.
- Championing ship recycling capacity in Port Alberni as an environmental necessity, as well as an economic nation-building initiative.
- Working with the shellfish industry and local environmental organizations to create a marking program for fishing gear.
- Pressuring the Government to support a moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters.
- Helping secure record federal investment in Pacific wild salmon protection and habitat restoration and speaking more on this issue in Parliament than any MP in Canadian history.
- Securing, after putting pressure on government, over $400 million in new funding for the Pacific Strategic Salmon Initiative and the Ghost Gear Fund to protect wild salmon and clean up and prevent deadly marine pollution
- Leading efforts to secure reductions of the commercial herring fishery by 50%.
- Helping facilitate the passage of the “Free Willy Bill” (Bill S-203), which banned the captivity of cetaceans, like whales and dolphins, for which he won the 2024 Humane Canada Animal Welfare Leadership Award.
- Pressuring Canada to stop shipping plastic waste to developing countries.
- Rising in the House to stop cruise ship operators from dumping sewage and grey water in the Strait of Georgia.
Conserving wild spaces. Gord has worked to preserve valuable ecosystems in Courtenay-Alberni, including:
- Successfully pressuring the government to establish the first-ever federal aerial firefighting fleet, providing crucial surge capacity to protect forests and wildland areas from wildfire
- Helping secure federal funding to support Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Clayoquot Sound and the upper Comox Valley watershed, as well as the restoration of Kuuskuusum.
- Helping secure funding for a new UNESCO Biosphere Centre in Tofino.
- Hosting Biosphere Day on the Hill and helping secure long-term annual funding for designated Canadian UNESCO Biosphere Regions.
- Advocating for conservation financing to create new protected and conserved areas.
Acting on climate. Gord and the NDP have pushed for action on the climate crisis and a just transition to a net-zero future, including:
- Tabling a Private Member’s Bill calling for a national cycling strategy which led to the creation of a $400 million federal Active Transportation Fund.
- Assisting Hesquiaht First Nation secure federal funding to transition from diesel to clean energy.
- Securing passage of the Sustainable Jobs Act to support workers in the transition to a net zero economy.
- Advocated for the inclusion of climate targets into the text of the next Canada-United States-Mexico Free Trade Agreement
- Urged government investment in Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas
- Serving as Co-Chair of the All-Party Climate Caucus since 2019.
Gord’s job is not done. He continues to work hard every day to build a cleaner, greener future for Courtenay-Alberni.
For more information on Gord’s record, visit openparliament.ca, an independent website that helps you “Keep tabs on Parliament”.