IN THE NEWS - MP Gord Johns appointed mental health and addictions critic

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs in Expression Appreciation

I joined Ken McMullen, President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs in expressing appreciation for the announcement today that the federal budget will double the volunteer firefighter and search and rescue tax credit. This is truly historic although my bill asked for triple so we will keep pushing as these volunteers deserve our support. This only happened with the efforts across the country by volunteers, their families and friends. Support from almost two hundred municipal and regional governments. I am also personally grateful to my friend Parksville Councillor Sean Wood for his vision and his initiative in bringing this idea to me. Countless meetings with ministers and repeated interventions in parliament along with thousands of signatures on petitions, tabled in the House of Commons by MPs from all political parties did the trick. Making Parliament work from the community up! Here's Denman Island volunteers last month with me, Jagmeet and CVRD Director Daniel Arbour:

Every Party has tabled petitions for volunteer firefighter, search, & rescue tax credit

A huge honour to rise in the House of Commons to table over 70 petitions in support of my Bill C-310, calling for the firefighter tax credit for search and rescue volunteers and volunteer firefighters to be increased from $3,000 to $10,000. I was pleased to give kudos to every member in the House and every party, because we have had petitions tabled from the Green Party, the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Bloc and of course New Democrats on behalf of firefighters and search and rescue volunteers from coast to coast to coast calling for the government to make this change in the upcoming budget. A tribute to all of the selfless hours these volunteers put in, putting their lives on the line for us. It is critical we support them and that the government supports them in this call to action. More than 165 communities have written to the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs to support this bill.

Watch Video Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y4VRbIExHM

Building of a New community for Ahousaht First Nation

Hundreds of Ahousaht members have been living in the Alberni Valley (for four generations!), still very much tied to family and relations in their ancestral home on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, but without a central place to live or celebrate culture in Port Alberni.

That is changing, thanks to an incredible vision and partnership to build 35 affordable homes, an outdoor gathering space and playground, and a cultural centre in the former site of Glenwood Elementary School in Port Alberni.

Ahousaht First Nation leaders first seized the vision of building homes for their members living in the Alberni Valley a few years ago. They formed the Čitaapi Mahtii Housing Society, to follow traditional protocols and seek the partnerships needed to build these homes.

They conducted Nuu-chah-nulth protocols and sought the blessing of the Hupacasath and Tseshaht nations (in whose territories these new homes will be built). They worked with the City of Port Alberni to secure land (donated by the City) and establish the proper zoning.

They developed a dedicated team of professionals - from architects to development specialists - and they secured seed funding from CMHC before successfully applying for $6.4 million

Congratulations to Ahousaht First Nation, the Čitaapi Mahtii Housing Society, Josie Osborne and the BC NDP government, Sharie Minions - Port Alberni Mayor, her Council and City staff and the Port Alberni Friendship Centre for making this happen. It will make a difference to many lives and many families for generations to come!