NDP Leader and MP's visit to LUSH valley in Courtenay-Alberni

It was truly an honour to accompany our leader Jagmeeet Singh and North Island-Powell River MP Rachel A Blaney at Courtenay’s Lush Valley Food Action Society yesterday to announce one of the NDP specific demands for the upcoming budget: a national school lunch program. Canada is the only G-7 country without a national school lunch program.

BC currently covers 20% of the most vulnerable kids and we need the federal government to fill the gap. Lush Valley has been a strong advocate for a national program and has been picking up the slack in the Comox Valley but it should not fall to community organizations to do this work without support from all levels of government, as I told the media. In addition to ensuring that every child will have a healthy lunch, the program will alleviate a significant source of stress and financial burden for parents.

Pacific Rim Region Coastal Safety Coordination Meeting

I very much appreciated the invitation by Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Manager of Community Initiatives Brooke Wood to attend the "Pacific Rim Region Coastal Safety Coordination Meeting" in Tofino on March 4th. This meeting was initiated by myself and federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault to bring together various organizations to enhance regional recreational coastal safety through education, prevention and response strategies. Community representatives in attendance were loud and clear about the reinstatement of the 36 year old Surf Guard Program at Incinerator Rock which has the highest rate of incidents and drowning fatalities since the Conservative government shut it down in 2012 as part of the Harper/Poilievre austerity program that included cuts to veterans services, fisheries offices and scientific research. Ironically, they pointed out, several beaches within national parks on the East Coast of Canada are far less dangerous with fewer visitors but include life saving programs. I pledged to continue the fight for Surf Guard in Parliament. I’m not backing down on this.

Palestinian Youth Movement in Port Alberni

Today, I was pleased to join an "intergenerational community in care, connection and collective action” which came together in Port Alberni to respond to the call from the Palestinian Youth Movement for a global day of action. In Parliament, I stand with my NDP colleagues in their continued call for Canada to work for peace for Palestinians and Israelis. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 30,000 with 70% of the victims women and children. The Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 killed almost 1,200 people and over 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.

Millions of residents of Gaza are displaced and at risk of starvation, death and disease and the U.N. reports over 70% of civilian infrastructure including homes, hospitals, schools, water and sanitation facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged by military attacks. Israelis are still at risk of attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups including Hamas and Hezbollah. The NDP continues to call for: an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages; suspension of all trade in military goods and technology with Israel and increased efforts to stop the illegal trade in arms, including to Hamas. Among other key measures, we also call for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories must end and work must progress towards a two-state solution. Go here to see the full NDP motion calling on Canada to act to end the horror in Gaza: https://bit.ly/4bYtrvs 

Cari McIntyre- Emergency Planning Coordinator of Comox Valley Emergency Program trip to Parliament Hill

Thanks to Cari McIntyre, the Emergency Planning Coordinator of the Comox Valley Emergency Program for visiting me on Parliament Hill. I was pleased to give her a tour and as always, I was super impressed with her work, passion and commitment to emergency planning and response in the Comox Valley. We talked a lot about the opportunities for coordination between all levels of government in to mitigate the effects of climate change and to establish infrastructure and respond to climate disasters. Great to hear her commons sense solutions to being better prepared for the future.

Parsville Rotary Club and Speedy Glass Fundraising

Hats off to the Parksville Rotary Club and Speedy Glass for their amazing fundraising for worthwhile causes through their recycling program. Every Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, a crew of dedicated volunteers receives and sorts community donations of refundable bottles and cans in Speedy’s parking lot. Over three years, they have raised an astounding $240,000. In January alone, the ring-leaders of this operation, the "Three Amigos" John, Joe and Bill along with their hard-working crew raised $22,000! Thanks to Glen for showing me around when I dropped by to learn more about the program on Saturday.

Alberni Clayoquot Health Network Community Building Youth Futures Team trip to parliament hill

I loved showing the Alberni Clayoquot Health Network’s Community Building Youth Futures team around Parliament Hill on Monday. The project aims to develop system wide solutions for youth as they build and act upon plans for their future. Great to see Toni Buston, Jaclyn Haberl, Jordan Higgins and Marcie Dewitt, all doing good work from Bamfield/Anacia to Tofino/Ucluelet to the Alberni Valley. They briefed me on their work creating safe spaces for youth and spoke in support of our work on mental health harm reduction and advocacy for more treatment, recovery, and stabilization beds, as well funding for education and prevention. I was inspired by their energy and commitment and compassion. I’m looking forward to keeping in touch with this wonderful initiative.

Lunch with Kackaamin Family Development Centre

Nice to enjoy a working lunch at the Broken Bow with Kackaamin Family Development Centre staff, Executive Director Lisa Robinson, Program Manager Jackelyn Williams and Peer Support Worker Noah Thomas. The Broken Bow is a fabulous new 100% gluten free restaurant at Port Alberni’s Harbour Key. We discussed challenges to accessing program funding in the face of chronic underfunding of services and issues for Indigenous people in the Canadian Justice system. The federal government needs to apply the "Gladue principles" which require judges to take into consideration the individual circumstances of the person before them in determining a fair sentence. This is critically important to keeping families together and connected. For more information about Kackaamin, one of only three family treatment centres in all of Canada, Click Here:

Port Alberni New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim

Brrrrrrr! That's me after a quick dip at Canal Beach in Port Alberni for the New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim, organized by The Peak (93.3FM) with help from Port Alberni Councillor John Douglas and a hardy crew of volunteers, First Responders and the Salvation Army which provided warm drinks and food. It was the first big Polar swim since COVID and proved that community spirit is alive and well in the Alberni Valley. You gotta love Alberni Valley Vibe’s Megan Warrender’s "I ❤️ PA" tee shirt, it was hugely popular. Such a great way to start off the new year! Best wishes to all!

Kettle Shift in Port Alberni

 

Happy to do a shift with the kettle in Port Alberni on Thursday with my kettle-partner, Nancy Wilmot from “The Scoop on Port Alberni”. Thanks to Mayor Minions and Major Ramsay for stopping by along with so many other Albernians who recognize the importance of the Community Food Bank and Bread of Life at this time of year. Many people are reliant on these essential services in our community so please give generously when you see the kettle or drop by 4835 Argyle Street in Port Alberni; In Tofino, Fish and Loaves Food Bank is available weekly at the Legion Hall parking lot at 331 Main Street every Wednesday from 10.30am – 11.30am; In Parksville, drop off donations at 886 Wembley Rd (250-248-8793); in Cumberland, go to the Food Shed at 2688 Penrith Ave; in Courtenay, go to the Comox Valley Food Bank at 1255 McPhee Ave; and, in Ucluelet, 160 Seaplane Base Rd. If you have details of other ways to donate, please leave a comment on this post. Thanks, everybody

Are you ready to take action?

Resources for you
Private Member's Bill
Meet Gord

Sign up for updates

Connect with Gord