In The News

NDP delivers free contraception and diabetes drugs as first step in Pharmacare Plan for Canadians

OTTAWA — On Thursday, Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and New Democrats are delivering a framework for the next steps of universal pharmacare for Canadians. As a first step, the NDP has forced the government to cover contraception and diabetes medications and devices free-of-charge for everyone who needs it.

These measures can save women and gender-diverse people around $200 a year for contraception and around $1,500 per year for those impacted by diabetes.

“Everyone should have access to the medication they need with their health card, not their credit card. But nearly one in four Canadians have reported splitting pills, skipping doses, or deciding not to renew or fill their prescriptions due to high costs. That’s why the NDP was committed to delivering universal pharmacare for Canadians,” said Singh. “No one should ever have to skip their medication, jeopardizing their health, because they don’t have enough money to afford it.

The Liberals had promised pharmacare for over three decades, but they always caved into the demands and the interests of big pharma and insurance companies who care more about their own profits than Canadians’ health. Clearly, the Liberals were never going to act unless we forced them to do it. And Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives would cut this crucial health care coverage for Canadians to help their big business buddies—that’s what they do, Conservatives cut.”

New Democrats introduce framework for Universal Pharmacare for Canadians

In case you missed it in the news today, New Democrats delivered a framework for the next steps of universal pharmacare for Canadians. As a first step, the NDP forced the government to cover contraception and diabetes medications and devices free of charge for everyone who needs them. This and other pharmacare benefits can save those impacted by diabetes around $1,500 each year. As I said in our media release: “No one in our community should have to pick between putting food on the table or paying for their medication, but unfortunately, that’s the reality for many. “For people with diabetes, insulin and the medical devices they need can cost hundreds of dollars each month – it’s unaffordable. That’s why New Democrats fought to get this essential health coverage by forcing the government to act after thirty years of Liberal broken promises. All while the Conservatives avoided pharmacare altogether because they were too busy listening to their friends in Big Pharma.” The Liberals have been promising to act on pharmacare since 1997, but until now, no progress has been made to deliver the medication people need free of charge. Canada is the only G7 country with a universal health care system that doesn’t include a pharmacare program.

IN THE NEWS- MP Gord Johns stands with Nuu-chah-nulth people

Victoria-BC: Changes to federal funding distribution for language revitalization programs has raised concern for the survival of programming at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC).

The VNFC offers language classes to meet the needs of its diverse Indigenous community, including Nuučaan̓uɫ, Nihiyaw (Cree - Y dialect and TH dialect), Nedut’en Carrier, Dene, Dakota, and Anishinaabe.

Johns praised Nuu-chah-nulth elders, educators and learners, who he said are making tremendous progress towards revitalizing their Indigenous language, in spite of the uncertainty of federal funding from one year to the next.

“Now their language program funding may be cut by up to 57 per cent because of a newly proposed federal heritage funding formula. The formula fails to recognize that British Columbia has the highest concentration of Indigenous language and cultural diversity of any province or territory in the country, with 35 distinct languages and more than 90 dialects,” said Johns in his statement.

IN THE NEWS- Deaths increase despite drug decriminalization in B.C

January 31 marked the one-year anniversary for B.C.’s three-year decriminalization pilot project, where people using up to 2.5 grams of certain illicit drugs would not face seizures, charges, or arrests. But as 2023 saw a five percent increase in death rates, experts are pushing for expanding the prescribed safer supply to help users on their recovery journey.

While B.C.’s overdose death rate increased by five per cent since 2022, provinces that have not implemented decriminalization and harm reduction efforts as much as B.C. have seen an even steeper increase in fatalities, said Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns.

“We have the lowest increase of the four major provinces with the highest death rate in the country,” said Johns. “We need to be going the other direction and if we treat this like a health emergency and we filled those gaps, we would see those numbers drop significantly.”

“[It’s] unequivocally clear and unanimous in that criminalizing people who use substances causes more harm, especially when people are using toxic, unregulated street drugs that are poisoned,” continued Johns, adding that upper levels of government need to move faster. “There's a lack of coordination, a lack of integration to fill those gaps, and a lack of will to see this as the crisis that it is.”

IN THE NEWS- MP Gord Johns Firefighter Bill lands in Ottawa

Bill C-310 is currently working its way through the House of Commons. If passed, volunteer firefighters and search and rescue personnel will receive an increased tax credit, from $3,000 to $10,000. Many of our neighboring municipalities rely heavily on volunteer firefighters, and this bill would help to attract and retain volunteers.

Gord Johns, an NDP MP representing Courtenay-Alberni in British Columbia, put forward the bill. The first reading of that bill took place in December 2022. BayToday contacted Johns to see how things are coming along.

“We’re hoping it’s going to be in the budget,” this year, he said. “We’ve had over 165 communities throughout Canada” send letters of support for the bill, municipalities “from almost every territory and province.”

Those letters, coupled with an electronic petition with over 16,000 signatures, were brought to the House of Commons as well. The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs also supports the bill, Johns added.

“I tabled it at the House yesterday,” Johns said, referring to the January 30th session. “In the coming days,” he added, “literally dozens of petitions” supporting the bill will arrive at the House of Commons. These are the hard-copy petitions that circulated throughout various municipalities.

MP Gord Johns questions federal government on direct mental health funding

Last week, I continued to push the government to provide community-based non-profit mental health organizations with direct funding. The Liberals promised $25 billion over ten years for a Canada Mental Health Transfer. It declined to follow through on this and instead, claim to have rolled funding into the healthcare transfers to provinces. I pointed out to the Minister that, having done the math, it is falling short on its commitment by a $1.375 billion over five years. I have talked to the Minister several times about filling this gap with direct funding to organizations and agencies on the front lines. She responded with talking points but I am not dropping this issue, which is supported by the Canada Mental Health Association and greatly needed given the large number of Canadians suffering mental health disorders today.

MP Gord Johns speaks on International Court of Justice Ruling

Last week, the International Court of Justice ruled there is risk of genocide in Gaza and ordered provisional measures. International law must be upheld. The horror in Gaza must end. For months now, the NDP has urged the federal government to demand a ceasefire, demand the release of hostages, end weapons sales, and prevent genocide. Now, the Prime Minister must also urge the government of Israel to comply with the court’s directive. Gaza is a long way from Vancouver Island but we all live together in this world. Let us act together to protect innocent lives and uphold international law.

MP Gord Johns Statement for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the atrocities committed against Jewish people during the Second World War. More than six million Jews were systematically killed by Nazis and their allies between 1933 and 1945. Today, as our world experiences a rise in antisemitism, let’s strengthen our resolve never to be silent in the face of hate against others because of who they are or what they believe. In 2012, I travelled to Auschwitz to share in the truth of what happened. I would like to share some of the photos from my visit there.

MP Johns' Inaugural Youth Advisory Council meeting

The first meeting of the Courtenay-Alberni MP Youth Advisory Council (YAC) occurred via Zoom on Monday, January 15th, 2023. The purpose of the YAC is give an opportunity to youth who live in Courtenay-Alberni, to raise concerns and issues to MP Johns with a view on making an impact in the community.

Thank you to the YAC members; Janel, Teegan, Tasha, Lorna, Lara, Charlotte, and Ildiko for giving their time to identify and discuss issues important to youths in Courtenay-Alberni. As well as my staff, Cameron Leckenby and Minolli Thabo for helping to organize the council.

During the first meeting, the council identified environment and climate concerns, improving infrastructure, and easier youth access to healthcare and mental health services as the first few issues to discuss. I look forward to bringing this Advisory Council's collective voice to Parliament.

In The News- Global Call Parliamentarians for Ceasefire

IN THE NEWS- I am proud to be included with parliamentarians from around the world in calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine:

"We join together to call for an immediate, multilateral ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, the release of all the remaining Israeli and international hostages, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid entry into Gaza. We further urge our own respective governments and the international community to uphold international law and seek accountability for grave violations of human rights"

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