Parksville – NDP Critic for Fisheries and Oceans, Gord Johns, issued the following statement concerning Minister Bernadette Jordan’s decision to phase-out the Discovery Islands fish farms:

OTTAWA— After small local distilleries produced tens of thousands of litres of hand sanitizer for free for months during the pandemic, the Liberal government thanked them by turning around and giving paid contracts to large companies like Fluid Energy Group and Irving Oil. New Democrats are calling on the government to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by these small, local businesses with more financial support.

The implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People has been decades in the making. After years of supporting my former NDP colleague Romeo Saganash in his fight for this bill in Parliament, I am pleased that the Liberal government has reintroduced it following its defeat in 2019 by unelected Conservative senators.  

PORT ALBERNI— On Friday, NDP MP Gord Johns questioned the minister for Families, Children and Social Development about creating a universal, affordable and accessible child care program. Johns pointed out that access to childcare would help workers—especially women—return to work and boost local economies.

OTTAWA – On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that small businesses will be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Rent Support (CERS) program on Monday. This announcement comes after weeks of NDP calls to fix their flawed rent program and to extend the wage-subsidy into Spring 2021.

Ottawa – At a time when Canadians are worried about who will pay for the pandemic and the recovery, the liberals and conservatives joined forces to vote against making the wealthy pay their fair share. yesterday, they voted against the NDP motion calling on the government to impose a one percent wealth tax on those who profited off the pandemic while families struggled to make ends meet.

Dear Minister Joly and Minister Qualtrough,

Port Alberni — Member of Parliament Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) is sponsoring a parliamentary petition initiated by his Green Party opponent in the last federal election. Sean Wood, a Parksville businessman and former volunteer fire fighter, is asking Canadians to sign a petition urging the government to increase the tax credit for essential workers who volunteer as first responders. 

OTTAWA – As November 1 approaches and rent is due, small business owners are still waiting for the support that the Liberals promised weeks ago. Today, NDP Critic for Small Business Gord Johns is again calling on the government to actually deliver this much-needed help and to back-date rent relief so our businesses can survive the pandemic.