August 31st, 2023- Gord wrote to the new Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness to bring to his attention the terrific potential of Coulson Aviation in Port Alberni in the fight to control wildfires in BC and the rest of Canada.
August 31st 2023: Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember all those who have been harmed or lost their lives to overdoses from toxic drugs. We also recommit to fighting the toxic drug crisis with the urgency needed to save further loss of life and to help those who choose a path of recovery from problematic substance use.
The toxic drug crisis has been devastating for Canada-since 2016, more than 36,000 Canadians have died from overdoses and it's only getting worse. Last year alone, an average of 20 Canadians a day died from this public health emergency.
The current patchwork approach to addressing substance use in Canada must be replaced with an integrated national health-based plan. it must remove the stigma of illicit substance use through decriminalization, provide harm reduction services to keep people alive, expand the availability of no-wait treatment services as part of our universal health care system and initiate overdose awareness programs nation-wide.
Every day, more families are ripped apart and left in shambles because of the toxic drug emergency- and this won't change until meaningful and integrated actions are taken. Canadians deserve a government focused on finding solutions and protecting lives.
My condolences are with all those who have lost loved ones due to toxic drug overdoses. Today, my NDP colleagues and I are recommitting to turning the tide on this emergency so that no more lives are lost.
On August 16, 2023, MP Gord Johns called on the Federal Government to estimate a Climate Emergency Relief Fund to compensate small businesses for lost revenue that was caused by climate emergencies.
IN THE NEWS- Returning from their trip to Portugal to get a first-hand look at what Canada can learn from that country’s successes and recent challenges in addressing its drug overdose crisis, New Democrat MP Gord Johns and Liberal MP Brendan Hanley say that while the toxic drug crisis here at home will need a “made-in-Canada” model, there are plenty of lessons to learn from the Portuguese approach.
Speaking withThe Hill Timeson July 19, just two days after returning to Canada, Johns (Courtenay–Alberni, B.C.), his party’s mental health and harm reduction critic, said the most significant difference in Portugal’s model is the country’s “integrated, multifaceted, and patient-centred” approach compared to the “piecemeal half-measures” Canada is currently taking.
“They didn’t just take one approach; they scaled up everywhere,” Johns explained, noting that alongside its move to decriminalize the possession of all drugs in 2001, Portugal also invested heavily and rapidly scaled-up nationwide programs to provide addictions treatment, harm reduction, rehabilitation, recovery, and public education campaigns.
As B.C. marks six months since the start of decriminalization, the NDP MP for Courtenay-Alberni, Gord Johns, travelled to Portugal to see what lessons can be learned from two decades of decriminalization in that country. He spoke with Jason D'Souza from Lisbon.
IN THE NEWS- While many MPs spend their summer break visiting constituents or attending meetings with local stakeholders, New Democrat Gord Johns and Liberal Brendan Hanley travelled to Portugal this week to see what lessons Canada can learn from the former heroin overdose capital of Europe following its decision to decriminalize all drug use more than two decades ago.
Johns (Courtenay–Alberni, B.C.), his party’s mental health and harm reduction critic, said in a July 6 interview he hopes to learn from the country’s policymakers, as well as frontline health-care and harm-reduction service providers “on what they did right and the challenges they faced in implementation.”
“I also want to get their thoughts on evaluating our approach in Canada, because getting an outside perspective is also critical,” Johns said. “My goal is to bring back some some good suggestions for a good approach that Canada can take, and then apply pressure on the government to do just that.”
Ottawa- On Tuesday night, NDP Mental Health and Harm Reduction critic Gord Johns will head to Portugal, where he will meet with government officials, and harm reduction groups including Canada’s Ambassador to Portugal, Elise Racicot, and João Goulão who spearheaded Portugal’s safe supply and decriminalization policy.
“The toxic drug crisis is devastating. Each year we’re seeing more deaths from toxic drug poisonings than from the year before. Clearly, the approach Canada’s been using isn’t enough,” said Johns. “The government should be learning from others who’ve seemed to handle substance use, and prevention better than Canada has. Like, Portugal, which was once one of Europe’s worst countries for substance use. Yet they’ve seen a sharp decline in overdoses, and substance use, because they had the political will to make necessary investments and policy changes.”
A Syrian family got to celebrate a Canada Day that included a special surprise they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns paused his march during Parksville’s Canada Day parade on July 1 to celebrate a dream come true for four new Canadians.
“The announcement of this important joint investment is a tribute to the responsible stewardship and sound planning of the leaders and staff of District of Tofino and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation; and the willingness of federal and provincial governments to share their vision for a pristine environment. The beneficiaries of this historic announcement are all those species that rely on healthy marine ecosystems in Clayoquot Sound. Kleco Kleco to all those who have made this possible.” - MP Gord Johns.
Canada’s minister of mental health and addictions paid a visit to Port Alberni this week to tour a tiny home village that is expected to open at the end of the month.
Carolyn Bennett, MP for Toronto-St. Paul’s, was invited by Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns to tour Walyaqil Tiny Home Village in Port Alberni. Johns says it’s unusual for his riding to get a visit from a federal minister, but he felt that it was appropriate since Port Alberni is “ground zero” of British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis.
Johns said he invited the minister specifically to come to Port Alberni because its toxic drug deaths are more than double the provincial average. Between the ages of 19 and 45, the number of toxic drug deaths is almost five times the provincial average, said Johns.
“It’s critical that the minister come here and meet with people on the front line, so that she can fully get an idea of what we need,” said Johns. “She can see models and examples that we can replicate across the country to address this crisis, but also to accelerate the needs here in Port Alberni and in our communities.