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MP Gord Johns says Budget 2026 puts corporate tax breaks ahead of Canadians struggling to get by

OTTAWA – NDP MP Gord Johns (Courtenay–Alberni) says Budget 2026 puts corporate tax incentives ahead of the urgent needs of Canadians struggling with rising costs, housing insecurity and gaps in public health care.

"The Liberals are providing $36 billion in business investment tax incentives over five years while millions of Canadians struggle to pay their bills, find affordable housing or get the health care they need," said Johns. "Instead of hoping corporate tax breaks will eventually benefit ordinary families, we should be investing directly in people and communities."

Johns said the budget fails to adequately address Canada's cost-of-living crisis and prioritizes incentives for large corporations over meaningful support for small businesses struggling with rising costs and unfair competition.

IN THE NEWS: NDP MP Gord Johns fêted as mental health champion

One of Canada’s leading mental health awareness groups is recognizing NDP MP Gord Johns for his work on advancing the cause.

"It's a huge honour," Johns told Heard on the Hill by email on Sept. 21 of being named the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health's Parliamentarian of the Year, one of seven categories in its annual Champions of Mental Health Awards.

"Mental health touches every family, including my own, and I've been fortunate to learn from people with lived experience, families, frontline workers and advocates who work every day to improve care and break down stigma," he said.

IN THE NEWS: Vancouver Island MP, residents call for fair federal ferry funding

Vancouver Island residents are calling on the federal government to increase subsidies for west coast ferry customers, in an effort to make fares equal to what people are paying in Atlantic Canada.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns says coastal communities continue to feel the impact of rising ferry costs.

Laura Aitken has lived in Parksville for 15 years and attended a rally in her community on Monday. She says ferries are unaffordable; she and her husband spend about $10,000 each year commuting to Vancouver for seasonal film work.

IN THE NEWS: Gord Johns attends Comox Valley’s International Overdose Awareness Day event

On Aug. 27, a large crowd gathered at the Comox Valley Art Gallery Plaza to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD).

The event was held to honour the lives of people who have died from overdose and those in our community who are still fighting addiction and stigma. The event also served to raise awareness about the toll the overdose crisis is taking on the Comox Valley, B.C. and Canada, largely due to the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders.

IN THE NEWS: Used Hercules military transports to be sold to Coulson Aviation, turned into waterbombers

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns called the announcement a major win for Vancouver Island as Canada faces growing demands on its wildfire response resources.

“This is a really big day for the Alberni Valley, for Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Canada, because we are going to add 10 new huge pieces of equipment that are going to be able to fight forest fires in our country and around the world,” said Johns.

“And no better company than Coulson Aviation that has the experience, the knowledge, the expertise, and the reputation to be able to convert these CC-130Hs, which they’ve done in the past, and use them.”

IN THE NEWS: North Cowichan supporting campaign to secure fair federal funding for BC Ferries

North Cowichan’s mayor is the latest municipal leader to support a campaign led by a Vancouver Island MP calling for fair and stable federal operational funding for BC Ferries.

Rob Douglas said he wrote to Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson to express council’s support for Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns’ Fair Federal Ferry Funding campaign.

IN THE NEWS: Parksville joins call for federal support of BC Ferries

Parksville council has endorsed a motion by MP Gord Johns which calls for fair federal support for BC Ferries.

Johns’ M-35 Federal Operational Support for BC Ferries calls for equal funding with East Coast interprovincial ferry systems, which received $291 in federal operational support per passenger in 2024/2025, compared to $1.63 in federal support for BC Ferries passengers.

“He’s getting bipartisan support from federal Conservative MPs on this. He’s getting a lot of traction,” said Coun. Sean Wood, who brought the motion to council on July 20.

IN THE NEWS: North Cowichan mayor calls on federal government to better fund BC Ferries

North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas is calling on the federal government to provide long-term and fair funding for BC Ferries, lending his support to a motion introduced in Parliament by Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns.

Douglas sent an open letter to Canada’s Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, urging Ottawa to treat BC Ferries as essential transportation infrastructure and provide funding comparable to what is offered to federally supported ferry services in Atlantic Canada.

“Our ferry system here with our coastal communities, we view it as an extension of the highway system,” Douglas said. “Gord Johns, the Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni, has led this campaign. He’s brought forward a motion in the House of Commons.“

IN THE NEWS: Qualicum Beach mayor credits Johns for securing federal funding for Ravensong upgrades

Westbroek said Johns spent years advocating for the project, working through changes in federal infrastructure ministers and a lengthy approval process.

“His persistence, collaboration and attention to this project were instrumental in getting it across the finish line,” Westbroek said.

He added Johns views Ravensong as more than a recreation facility, noting the pool provides seniors with a safe and accessible place to exercise, recover from injuries, maintain mobility and stay socially connected.

IN THE NEWS: Island MP Johns calls for less red tape on disability programs

Nearly 400 people attended a series of Disability Tax Credit workshops hosted by Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns across the riding earlier this month, highlighting a growing need for help navigating federal disability programs.

“People are struggling with the cost of living, and too many Canadians living with disabilities are missing out on supports they may be entitled to simply because the system is too complicated,” Johns said. “These workshops are about making sure people have the information they need.”

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