In The News

IN THE NEWS: Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns presses feds for better ship recyling regulations

MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) is pressing the Canadian Government to take action on the country’s growing ship recycling gap, as well as invest in the infrastructure needed to retire aging vessels responsibly.

Johns spoke to the House of Commons on June 11 during Question Period, telling the House that Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy focus on building and maintaining vessels, but has neglected to form a plan for retiring those vessels. Johns said that more than 900 derelict and end-of-life vessels are sitting off the province’s coast. The derelict vessels endanger the marine environment. Additionally, ships in the Royal Canadian Navy and the Coast Guard are nearing retirement.

“Canada has a national shipbuilding strategy, but no national ship recycling strategy,” said Johns. “We’re building and maintaining vessels, but we don’t have the capacity we need to safely retire them here at home. That’s a missed economic opportunity and a serious environmental risk for coastal communities.”

IN THE NEWS: Carney government passes law allowing authorization of banned pesticides

The federal government has brought in major changes to how pesticides are regulated in Canada, granting cabinet the power to authorize their use — even pesticides Health Canada has deemed are unsafe.

"The Liberal government chose to shut down debate and fast-track the passing of their omnibus bill," the NDP said in a statement.

IN THE NEWS: Senate Report On Canada’s Wildfire Crisis

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says a new Senate report on Canada's wildfire crisis backs many of the measures the NDP has been pushing for to improve the country's wildfire response.

Johns says the report highlights the need for stronger federal leadership and long-term planning as climate change leads to longer and more destructive wildfire seasons.

IN THE NEWS: MP Gord Johns celebrates government funding 10 firefighting aircraft

Johns has been calling on the government to establish a national aerial firefighting plan for years. The government announced it is funding four aerial firefighting air tankers, one birddog plane, five heavy life helicopters and two support assets as part of the aerial firefighting force. Provincial and territorial firefighting agencies can request access to the aerial firefighting fleet when they need it.

The 2025 budget announced $316.7 million over five years to establish the fleet, something Johns said could help his riding when the budget was announced.

“For years, New Democrats have been calling on the federal government to establish a national aerial firefighting fleet because Canadians are living through longer, hotter, and more destructive wildfire seasons driven by climate change,” Johns said in a news release. “With another dangerous wildfire season already underway, leasing aircraft is an important step, but Canada also needs a long-term strategy that builds permanent domestic capacity.”

IN THE NEWS: Courtenay-Alberni MP introduces bill to make mental health services accessible

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns is introducing a new bill that aims to make mental health services accessible for all.

The bill, The Mental Health Parity Act, proposes that mental health, addictions, and substance use services into Canada’s universal, public health care system. It would introduce framework for the federal government to partner with provinces and territories to provide public coverage, and is modelled after the Canada Health Act. It will also include provisions to promote public accountability to reduce regional disparities in coverage.

“Canada is facing an affordability crisis at the same time as a mental health crisis. Too many Canadians can’t access mental health supports when they need them most because of out-of-pocket costs,” said Johns. “Neglecting Canadians’ mental health is costing families, communities, and our economy. It’s time to stop treating physical and mental health differently under our public health care system.”

IN THE NEWS: NDP MP Gord Johns Tables Bill To Make Mental Health Services Accessible For All

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns has introduced a bill in the House of Commons, aiming to bring mental health, addictions, and substance use services into Canada’s universal, public health care system.

Johns says Canada is facing an affordability crisis at the same time as a mental health crisis.

“Too many Canadians can’t access mental health supports when they need them most because of out-of-pocket costs,” said Johns.

IN THE NEWS: Vancouver Island MP calls for more equitable ferry fares across Canada

“According to the Library of Parliament, when you look at per passenger subsidy, on the east coast they’re getting about $291 per passenger. In B.C. it’s about $1.63 in terms of federal subsidies,” said Johns.

Johns argued for ferry parity in Parliament Wednesday. His full address can be found here.

“The issue is that Vancouver Islanders are asking why essential marine highways on the west coast aren’t treated with the same level of federal importance. The federal government keeps pointing to constitutional agreements signed more than 80 years ago and funding formulas created nearly 50 years ago when Vancouver island had 450,000 residents,” said Johns.

IN THE NEWS: MP takes Island issues to Ottawa

Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns says there’s a huge disparity between east coast and west coast ferries.

He said BC Ferries received approximately $1.63 in federal funding per passenger, while east coast ferry systems received approximately $291 per passenger, roughly 178 times more than BC Ferries.

“We often hear about western alienation, well it’s real, and few large populations in Canada understand that feeling better than Vancouver Islanders,” he said. “This isn’t about taking away support from Atlantic Canadians – their ferry systems are essential national infrastructure – the question Vancouver Islanders are asking is why essential marine highways on the west coast aren’t treated with the same level of federal importance?”

Johns said the BC Ferries funding formula with the feds is more than 50 years old, when the population of Vancouver Island was around 450,000 people.

IN THE NEWS: MP Gord Johns Calls For Federal Recognition Of Wildland Firefighters

Wildland and forest firefighters currently remain excluded from the firefighter occupational category under the federal classification system, despite carrying out dangerous emergency response work including wildfire suppression, evacuations, and protecting communities and infrastructure.

Johns says those workers are doing the same frontline work as other firefighters but are being denied equal recognition and protections because of what he calls an outdated federal classification.

IN THE NEWS: Ship recycling receives support

The federal government is about to enact legislation demanding ship breaking operations be environmentally and socially responsible, at the request of Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns.

With the Comox Valley Regional District filing a lawsuit against Deep Water Recovery at Union Bay, Johns said Canada needs better ship recycling guidelines and support for future ship recycling ventures.

“I’m asking the Prime Minister right now to include ship recycling in the national ship building strategy, which will release hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure so that we can do this in a responsible way and in the right way, but also do it quickly because these vessels pose an immediate threat to our coast and our environment and our economy,” he said.

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