PARKSVILLE—On Sunday, New Democrats in Courtenay-Alberni nominated Gord Johns as their candidate in the next federal election. Johns was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni in 2015 and is currently the NDP critic for mental health and harm reduction.
“Gord has been a real champion for people in his community and across Canada. He’s done important work in fighting for better mental health support for people, making life more affordable and getting critical funding back into Courtenay-Alberni,” said Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
As the NDP MP for Courtenay-Alberni, Johns has fought for and delivered free diabetes medication and birth control for people, dental care for kids and seniors, affordable $10-a-day daycare, paid sick days for workers and passed laws protecting workers fighting for better wages. Meanwhile, the Conservatives voted against most of these measures, just like they have for decades.
He also pushed to get the volunteer firefighters' tax credit increased from $3,000 to $6,000, fighting for coastal protection and to end shipbreaking in Union Bay, has secured historic funding for the community. Over Johns's nine years as MP for Courtenay-Alberni, municipal, regional and First Nations governments have secured historic levels of federal infrastructure investment for their communities-- almost ten times more than during the previous decade of Conservative representation in our ridings.
“I’m truly honoured to be nominated again to represent New Democrats in Courtenay-Alberni,” said Johns. “There is nowhere else in the country like our community, and I’m going to continue the fight to make life easier and more affordable for people here at home. For years, we’ve seen what happens when it’s left up to the Liberals and Conservatives: CEOs are put first, while regular people pay the cost. Whether changing the rules in Ottawa to make life more affordable for you or taking on rich CEOs who are driving up the costs of groceries and housing, New Democrats are fighting to tip the scales in your favour.”
