Gord Johns

Madam Speaker, tonight's debate is about fisheries policy on the west coast, but it is also about something bigger. It is about whether coastal communities on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia are treated with the same fairness and respect as other parts of the country. On the west coast, commercial fish harvesters, the people actually doing the fishing, are being pushed out. [more]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to table this petition on behalf of people living in Port Alberni, in my riding. They highlight and want to draw the House of Commons' attention to these facts: that wealth inequality in Canada is rising, with more Canadians struggling to afford the basics of life while corporate profits continue to break records; that austerity measures often exacerbate [more]

Mr. Speaker, this resignation should be of serious concern to all Canadians. It is a huge wake-up call, hopefully for everybody. What our colleague is doing today takes incredible courage. It takes courage to stand up for climate science and environmental protection for future generations when powerful interests inside government are pushing in the opposite direction. Laurier—Sainte-Marie As New [more]

Madam Speaker, the speech I just gave was about a growing feeling on Vancouver Island and across the west coast that our communities are too often treated like an afterthought. Talking about a survey that was done four years ago, or a new survey that the Liberals are going to do eight years after the fisheries and oceans report, just says it all. The frustration could not be more clear. Another [more]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats also agree to apply the vote, and we enthusiastically support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, the NDP agrees to apply the vote, voting no.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding who are concerned about the lack of ability to get aid into Gaza. Petitioners highlight that under common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, Canada is actually required to respect international humanitarian law. Under article 59 of the fourth Geneva Convention, Israel, as an occupying power, must allow and [more]

Mr. Speaker, 2025 was the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history, and Canadians are bracing for another devastating summer. Despite the growing climate crisis, Canada is missing its climate targets and running out of time. While more than 50 countries gathered in Colombia to discuss the transition away from fossil fuels, the Liberals did not even send a minister. Instead they came home [more]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table a petition drafted by Graham Riches from Parksville in my riding. He calls on the government to fulfill international commitments to treat food as a human right. He draws the attention of the House of Commons to the fact that the right to adequate food is a fundamental human right recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the [more]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table this petition today signed by many independent fish harvesters on Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia who are concerned about the concentration of foreign ownership of fishing quota. Only in British Columbia is this allowed. The petitioners highlight that DFO's mandate includes promoting the stability and economic viability of fishing operations; [more]