In The News

Two Nuu-chah-Mnulth Women Awarded King Charles Medals

Port Alberni, BC

Two Nuu-chah-nulth women were awarded the King Charles medal in recognition of their decades of service to the community. Cyndi Stevens and Jeanette Watts received medals from MP Gord Johns at an elder’s dinner at the Port Alberni Friendship Center on November 12.

The King Charles III’s Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada. Eligible candidates must have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community in the country, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

There are 30,000 medals being awarded across Canada. Johns said that he was tasked with nominating 20 people in his riding for service in their communities.

Johns said they were there to share a meal with the elders and “to honour two amazing women who have contributed immensely to the individual, family and community health and well-being of Indigenous people.”

Called on Federal Government to Re-Instate Critical Federal Funding

On November 5th, in question period I called on the federal government to re-instate critical federal funding which provides vital support to help people trying to find employment. This funding supports organizations like INEO Employment Services in Port Alberni who provide necessary training and capacity building for employment readiness.

This is not the time to cut funding like this, but to increased it as it has proven to be incredibly successful in building people up and helping fill gaps labour market shortages which supported our local economy and build resiliency in our local labour market.

Canada's Pharmacare Bill Update

I’m hearing lots of questions from constituents about Canada’s Pharmacare bill which the NDP has leveraged in this minority parliament. It became a reality last Thursday when it received royal assent.

Canada has been the only country in the world to offer universal healthcare without a pharmacare component. We started with diabetes and contraception which are essential and can cost many thousands of dollars out of pocket each year for Canadians. Agreements are required with provinces and our BCNDP government has already signed an MOU to provide this coverage.

It certainly wasn’t easy getting here, the Conservatives fought it all the way. But now, the 3.7 million people in Canada living with diabetes will have universal access to a suite of medications that reduce the risk of serious health complications and improve quality of life. The new program implements a universal first-dollar coverage Pharmacare plan for medications, meaning that the government pays the costs upfront.

The diabetes medications covered include first-line treatments that lower blood glucose levels, providing Canadians with access to essential therapies such as: Insulin which is used by patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes; Metformin, which is used by patients with Type 2 diabetes; and, medications often used in combination with insulin and metformin, including sulfonylureas and SGLT-2 inhibitors. For the full list, go here: https://bit.ly/4f6tC8K.

The new program will also support reproductive freedom by providing up to nine million women and gender diverse people in Canada free access to contraception.

We currently rely on a patchwork of private and public plans which defuse purchasing powers that can bring costs down. Still lots more work to establish a full-fledged program but now we have a framework with the goal to expand the number of covered medications in the future.

Without question, Pharmacare is the most significant enhancement to our healthcare system since the introduction of public healthcare in Canada.

Mental Health Services shouldn't come with a price tag

Ottawa- Today, on World Mental Health Day, NDP Mental Health and Harm Reduction Critic MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) introduced a bill that aims to include community-based mental health, addictions, and substance use services in Canada's universal, public health care system.

Every year, one in five Canadians experience a mental health problem or illness. A 2023 poll by the Canadian Mental Health Association found 87 percent of people living in Canada want universal mental health care.

"Mental health is health. Anyone in need of mental health support should be able to find it, and not go broke when they get it," said Johns. "Canada is experiencing a mental health crisis, and the rising cost of living has poured fuel on the fire. Canadians are stressed and struggling to cope while supports like counselling or substance use disorder treatments are out of reach financially."

The liberal government promised to make mental health a full and equal part of Canada's public health care system but have failed to deliver any progress at a time Canadians need support more than ever. Johns' bill would ensure everyone can get access to the mental health services they need without worrying about the cost- the same way as visiting a doctor or going to the hospital: you pay with your health care, not your credit card.

"As Canada faces compounding mental health, toxic drug, and homelessness crises, we can non longer accept a system where mental health care is treated as a luxury good. Untreated mental illness has enormous costs for Canadians, their families, and our communities," said Johns. "We urgently need a transformative change to our public health care system to ensure mental health is treated equally to physical health. That's what this bill aims to do"

NDP Statement on World Mental Health Day and Mental Illness Awareness Week

NDP Mental Health and Harm Reduction Critic Gord Johns made the following statement:

"Today, as we recognize World Mental Health Day and Mental Illness Awareness Week, we stand with those struggling with their mental health, and with those fighting for a public healthcare system that truly recognizes that mental health is health.

We are all impacted by mental illness, either through personal experience or because we have watched people we know and love struggle. Every year, one in five Canadians experiences mental health issues, but too many cannot get help when they need it because of long waitlists or out-of-pocket costs.

The rising cost of living has caused enormous stress for Canadians and worsened financial barriers that prevent people from accessing supports. The Liberal government promised to make mental health a full and equal partner of Canada's public healthcare system, but they have failed to deliver.

As Canada faces compounding mental health, toxic drug, and homelessness crises, we can no longer accept a system where mental health care is treated as a luxury good. That is why today I am introducing a bill that proposes to bring community-delivered mental health services into our universal health care system.

The NDP has always advocated for accessible mental health care, and we will keep up that fight until all Canadians can get support when they need it most."

IN THE NEWS- Courtenay-Alberni MP Raises shipbreaking in Parliament

The MP for Courtenay-Alberni has raised the shipbreaking operation in Baynes Sound in parliament once again while the government defended its regulations and oversight.

Gord Johns said Wednesday there should be a closed-containment system for shipbreaking in Canada like there are in other developed countries.

“This wouldn’t be allowed, Mr. Speaker, anywhere in the world,” said Johns. “Even in countries that have extremely low environmental regulations like Bangladesh wouldn’t allow this kind of activity. It is actually unbelievable.”

IN THE NEWS- NDP MP Gord Johns asking for Mental Health Services apart of Public Health Care

An NDP MP from Vancouver Island is tabling a private member’s bill hoping to make mental health services more accessible for Canadians.

Courtenay-Alberni NDP MP and Mental Health and Harm Reduction Critic Gord Johns introduced a bill aiming to include community-based mental health, addictions, and substance use services to the public health care system.

In a press release, Johns said the bill aims to ensure mental health is treated equally to physical health.

“Mental health is health. Anyone in need of mental health support should be able to find it, and not go broke when they get it.”

IN THE NEWS- The Hill Times: Op-ed on youth mental health

Thanks to The Hill Times for publishing my op-ed on youth mental health on Monday. Young people are still suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as they grow up in challenging, uncertain times. Research shows a troubling picture of their mental wellbeing. In 2020, nearly a quarter of hospitalizations of Canadians aged 5 to 24 years old were due to mental health problems, with alarming increases in hospitalizations for self-harm, eating disorders, and substance use.

Evidence suggests the pandemic accelerated a trend of declining child and youth mental health in Canada that began two decades prior and remains ongoing. Federal leadership that goes beyond funding is urgently required including a comprehensive plan to improve the mental health of children and youth across the country. You won’t see much about this in media reports about the health care crisis and nothing at all in Conservative slogans and fear mongering but it is real and will only get worse for young people as they grow into adulthood.

Linking the affordability crisis and mental health requires transformative change in health care

A wave of mental strain facing Canadians in response to affordability challenges- including housing and putting food on the table- requires an overhaul of the public health-care system to include mental health supports, according to the NDP mental health critic.

"Certainly, coming after COVID, it's obvious people are struggling just to make ends meet. Basic needs like food and shelter, which are creating stress for people and families, and the chronic stress that impacts people's mental health, especially young people," said NDP MP Gord Johns.

"The NDP are going to be continuing to put pressure on the government, as we have been, but especially this fall we're going to ramp it up even more. We can't afford not to make transformative change to mental health-care in Canada, and the failure for the government to treat mental health equally to physical health under our current public health-care system has had enormous costs for Canadians,"

IN THE NEWS- Lightkeepers should be retained, MP Gord Johns tells House of Commons

“This decision puts lives at risk and was made without consulting First Nations, labour, mariners or local communities,” Johns told MPs during question period.

MP Gord Johns raised the issue of destaffing west coast lightkeepers during question period in the House of Common last week.

“Will the Liberals pause this plan, do the proper consultation and invest in keeping coast people safe?” asked the NDP member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni.

The Canadian Coast Guard announced in July that it was removing lightkeepers from the Pachena Point and Carmanah Point lightstations before heavy weather arrives this winter.

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