In The News

MP Gord Johns Demands Action to Fix CRA Service Meltdown

Parksville, B.C. – NDP MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) is calling on the Finance Minister to put an end to the Canada Revenue Agency’s chronic service failures that are leaving Canadians stranded for weeks or even months without help.

“My constituents are spending hours on hold, getting their calls dropped, and waiting months for answers,” said Johns. “This isn’t just frustrating—it’s causing real financial and personal hardship.”

Johns noted that seniors, people without internet access, and community organizations are being hit hardest. In one case, an 81-year-old constituent was unable to reach a live agent after repeated attempts. Another taxpayer was locked out of their MyCRA account for three months without resolution. Even community institutions are suffering—one local Legion branch has been unable to resolve a business account issue despite multiple attempts.

The delays are not limited to the public. Even MPs cannot get timely help. Inquiries from Johns’ office to the CRA’s Problems Resolution Program are now taking five to six weeks just to be assigned to an agent, compared with the usual three to five days.

In a letter to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, Johns urged immediate action. He called for more staff for CRA call centres and for responding to MPs’ inquiries. He urged the government to immediately fix recurring problems such as account lockouts and dropped calls. Johns also pressed for the restoration of in-person CRA service in underserved communities so that vulnerable Canadians are not left behind.

“Canadians shouldn’t have to fight this hard just to get help with their taxes,” said Johns. “The Minister needs to fix this—now.”

IN THE NEWS - Winning the legislation lottery: MPs eye causes that hit close to home for fall bills

NDP MP Gord Johns (Courtenay–Alberni, B.C.), who sits further back at No. 71 on the list for consideration, has to date tabled five proposed bills and five motions outside the order of precedence, and was first out of the gate this Parliament, having tabled his first bill—C-201, which proposes amending the Canada Health Act to include mental, addictions, and substance use health services under the definition of “insured health services”—on May 29. Johns followed that up with Bill C-204 on June 4, which seeks to boost the annual tax credit for volunteer firefighting and search and rescue volunteer services from $6,000 to $10,000—a resurrection of a bill he put forward last Parliament.

Also among the five bills he’s tabled so far is C-206, An Act to establish a national strategy on brain injuries, which resurrects a proposal put forward by Johns’ now-former caucus colleague Alistair MacGregor—who lost his seat in this year’s election—which had made it to report stage in the House prior to prorogation. Johns noted the bill, on which he’d worked closely with MacGregor during last Parliament as the NDP’s mental health and addictions critic, got unanimous support at second reading in the House before stalling amid the legislative gridlock that gripped the Lower Chamber last fall.

“I’m hoping that we can somehow find a pathway to getting it back on track, and quickly,” said Johns, noting he hopes to get “all parties to come together and move it forward expediently” as recently happened with the Bloc Québécois’ supply management protection bill, C-202.

IN THE NEWS - MP backs ship recycling in Alberni

Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns says he’s working with multiple companies who want to bring safe, environmentally-friendly ship recycling operations to Port Alberni.

“But it needs to be done right, so I’m pushing for national guidelines and regulations so that the community and First Nations would be supportive of such economic activity and working hard for solutions to build capacity in British Columbia and not lose out on this Nation-building opportunity for our riding of Courtenay – Alberni.”

IN THE NEWS - FIFA World Cup officials visit Port Alberni to tour, assess facilities

The organizing committee has been busy meeting with various government officials to gain support for their bid. They met with Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns in late May, and received a letter of encouragement from former provincial tourism, arts, culture and sport minister Spencer Chandra Herbert.

IN THE NEWS - Courtenay-Alberni MP wants a national shipbreaking strategy

MP Gord Johns calls this a "critical moment" to keep ship recycling in Canada as part of the federal government's nation-building endeavour, adding that his idea "plugs economic leakages, creates sustainable jobs and protects our coastal and marine environments."

Johns proposes Transport Canada to lead the process and convene a national working group to develop the strategy. That working group would include stakeholders from all levels of government, including First Nations, as well as ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations), the marine industry, unions, and educational institutions.

"Together, we can identify the investments, regulatory changes and capacity-building measures required to scale up ship recycling in Canada and how to achieve the social license necessary for such facilities to operate responsibly and sustainably," Johns said in his letter.

IN THE NEWS - Health minister won’t commit to tabling safe long-term care bill

Health critic Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, B.C.) said in a July 16 statement that, “The Liberals promised long-term care workers, residents, and their families that they would improve funding for long-term and seniors care."

"Instead, they have failed—by underfunding health care and protecting the profits of large corporations and wealthy shareholders. New Democrats are calling on Mark Carney to change course: to put seniors’ lives ahead of corporate profits and to introduce a Safe Long-Term Care Act so we can finally deliver the care seniors deserve.”

IN THE NEWS- 'No plans' to renew safer supply funding after federal support quietly runs out

NDP health critic Gord Johns argues prescribed alternatives can save lives. He said it is "heartbreaking" that the government hasn't reintroduced funding.

"This is not leadership, it is neglect. People are dying and this government is choosing politics over evidence, and ideology over action," Johns said in a statement.

Moose Hide Campaign Day

Yesterday, I was pleased to attend the annual Moose Hide Campaign Day ceremonies in Victoria. The Moose Hide campaign engages men and boys in ending violence towards women and children. One of my first actions when elected in 2015 was to carry moose hide pins to Ottawa for distribution to Parliamentarians on behalf of co-founders, Raven and Paul Lacerte.

Every year there are over 60,000 physical or sexual assaults against women in BC — more than 1,000 per week. One in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime (Stats Canada, 2006). Since its inception in 2011, the Moose Hide Campaign has distributed over two million moose hide pins and helped raise millions of dollars to support community awareness programs. I was honoured to join Port Alberni Friendship Centre Executive Director, Cyndi Stevens on this wonderful occasion.

Raven and Paul are loading me down with a new shipment of pins for my trip to Ottawa, where I look forward to distributing them to my colleagues in the House of Commons. For more info about the Moose Hide Campaign and how to support them go here: https://bit.ly/43dw6hj

Regional Tariff Response Meeting

This week I joined MLAs Josie Osborne and Stephanie Higginson, locally elected Chiefs, Mayors, Chambers of Commerce, and economic development leaders for our second regional tariff response meeting since the federal election. A concern highlighted at the meeting was escalating costs for approved infrastructure projects because of the trade war. Open lines of communication between all levels of government will be critical to ensure projects can move forward, create jobs, and grow our economy. We also spoke about some of the trade missions taking place to find new markets for BC products. The response to US trade actions will continue to be a key priority when I return to Ottawa next week and I will be bringing a Vancouver Island perspective with me.

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NDP recognizes Mental Health Week

“During Mental Health Week, the NDP stands with all Canadians dealing with mental illness and struggling to access the support they need.

This year’s theme is “Unmasking Mental Health” in recognition of the stigma that still exists around mental illness. The impact of stigma is wide ranging – from preventing people from reaching out for help to the chronic underfunding of mental healthcare.

We are all touched by mental health issues, either directly or through someone we care about. Yet, our universal healthcare system continues to exclude essential mental health services leaving too many Canadians without the care they need.

In the last Parliament, I introduced the first-ever bill to address the disparity between physical and mental health under the Canada Health Act. When the House of Commons returns this month, the NDP will continue this fight.

Canadians know that mental health is health. It’s time to ensure that’s finally reflected in our public healthcare system.” -- Gord Johns, Courtenay-Alberni

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