Building Better Healthcare
Since 2015, Gord has worked relentlessly to build healthy, thriving communities in Courtenay-Alberni. Here are some highlights of what Gord has achieved as part of the NDP team:
Fighting for head-to-toe health care. The NDP fought for, and won, the greatest enhancements to our public healthcare system in more than sixty years, including:
- The creation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan which is helping make the cost of dental care more affordable for seniors, children under 18, and Canadians living with disabilities.
- The passage of the Pharmacare Act, bringing Canada one step closer to a universal public drug plan with immediate coverage for insulin and other diabetes medications and contraceptives.
- Increased transfers to provinces and territories for mental health, primary care, long term care, and hiring more healthcare professionals.
- Cohosting Disability Tax Credit workshops across Courtenay-Alberni to assist community members with alleviating some of their personal or family financial burdens caused by disabilities.
Breaking down barriers to mental health care. As the NDP Critic for Health (including Mental Health and Addictions), Gord has pushed to make mental health and addictions a federal priority. His advocacy has led to increased investment and attention to the mental health needs of Canadians, including:
- The launch of the Youth Mental Health Fund which will provide $500 billion to help younger Canadians access mental health support in their communities.
- Private Member’s Bill C-414, which drew attention to the disparity between mental and physical health in Canada’s universal public healthcare system. It is the first bill to propose extending coverage to community-based mental health, addictions, and substance use care.
- Leading a panel at the 2024 Canadian Mental Health Summit.
- The tabling of Motion M-67 in 2022 calling on the government to expand the Federal mental health budget by 4.5 billion, to include public funding for immediate access to mental health services and mental illness prevention.
- Securing another $500 million in 2024 to fund youth mental health services including Alberni Drug and Alcohol Prevention Services.
- Tabling of Motion M-20 in 2025, calling for a national strategy to address mental health harms in the way of emergencies such as wildfires and shootings.
- Tabling Bill C-201 in 2025, calling for mental healthcare to be fully funded in parity with physical health by the federal government.
- Tabling Bill C-206 in 2025, calling for a national strategy on brain injuries.
Treating the toxic drug crisis as a national emergency. Gord has pushed for an all-hands-on-deck national response to the toxic drug crisis. His tireless work has improved investment into harm reduction and treatment and increased pressure to recognize the severity of this crisis:
- The creation of the Emergency Treatment Fund which will provide $150 million in funding for municipalities and Indigenous communities to respond to the toxic drug crisis.
- The campaign for Bill C-216, the Health-Based Approach to Substance Use Act, generated a national conversation about the need for a compassionate approach to the toxic drug crisis.
- Calling on the government to declare a National Public Health Emergency to address the toxic drug crisis.
Gord’s job is not done. He continues to work hard every day to get his constituents the healthcare they deserve.
For more information on Gord’s record, visit openparliament.ca, an independent website that helps you “Keep tabs on Parliament”.