Advancing Reconciliation
Gord Johns, MP (Courtenay-Alberni)
With the traditional territories of the Qualicum, Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose), Huu-ay-aht, Hupacasath, Tse-shaht, Uchucklesaht, Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), and K’ómoks First Nations in his riding, Gord has made reconciliation a key priority since his election in 2015. Here are some highlights of what Gord has achieved as part of the NDP team:
Investing in reconciliation. Addressing the chronic underinvestment in Indigenous communities is critical to advancing reconciliation, and Gord has fought alongside the NDP to secure funding for urgent needs, including:
- Securing $8.3 billion in funding to address the housing needs of Indigenous people living in urban, rural, and northern areas.
- Helping secure a record amount of federal infrastructure funding for roads, sewers, water treatment facilities, and other community needs.
- 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.
- Assisting Hesquiaht First Nation obtain federal funding to transition from diesel to clean energy.
- Assisting the Nuu-chah-nulth Youth Warrior Society obtain federal funding through the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program.
- Advocating for funding for the Huu-ay-aht First Nation’s plan to keep children out of foster care.
- Helping the Nuuchanulth Nations access emergency funding and advocating for support for Indigenous businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Tabling a motion advocating for training and equipment for volunteer first responders in remote coastal communities and supporting the creation of the Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Advocating for truth and justice. Gord has worked with First Nations to ensure their voices are heard in Ottawa and consistently called on the federal government to address past and ongoing wrongs, including:
- Securing an emergency debate in the House of Commons after escalating violence against Mi’kmaq fishers to address inequities in federal fisheries policies for Indigenous people.
- Securing meetings for Indigenous leaders and Elders on Vancouver Island with senior government officials including the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
- Amplifying the calls of Indigenous leaders to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People to study systemic racism in Canada.
- Calling for a formal apology from the Roman Catholic Church to address the trauma of Indian residential schools.
- Championing the Moose Hide Campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and children.
- Calling on the government to provide resources to the Tseshaht First Nation to investigate deaths at the Alberni Indian Residential School.
Respecting Indigenous rights. Gord has pushed for the federal government to act honourably and take action to build true nation-to-nation relationships with First Nations, including:
- Calling on the government stop litigating against the Huu-ay-aht Nation and provide compensation for logging on their lands.
- Calling on the government to respect the fishing rights of the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations.
- Applying pressure on the government to forgive land claims negotiation loans.
- Speaking more on Indigenous issues in the House of Commons than any other central Vancouver Island MP and the 8th most in Canadian history
Gord’s job is not done. He continues to work hard every day to ensure Canada moves forward on the path to truth, justice, and reconciliation, including advocating for:
- Economic reconciliation and self-determination over the use of lands and resources
- Improved access to federal procurement opportunities
- Settlement of specific claims
- Increased funding for Indigenous language preservation
- Police reforms to end systemic racism against Indigenous peoples
- Funding to address the state of emergency declared by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council because of the opioid crisis
For more information on Gord’s record, visit openparliament.ca, an independent website that helps you “Keep tabs on Parliament”.
