Gord Johns · TranslatePolitics.ca

Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-06-02

“I respect some Conservatives. But they didn't deliver pharmacare in Alberta. Is that Danielle Smith's fault or Trudeau's fault?”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague the member for Calgary Centre, despite our differences. I also have respect for my colleague the member for Calgary Confederation, who on May 27, 2025, in the House said, “We will ensure the future sustainability of programs that have already saved families thousands of dollars a year. This includes child care and pharmacare.” I am going to talk about pharmacare, because right now in Alberta there is not a pharmacare plan, something we fought really hard for as New Democrats. Does my colleague think that people in Alberta's not having diabetes medicine or birth control is the responsibility, or blame, of his premier, Danielle Smith, or is it the Prime Minister's fault?

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“I'm focusing on a complex system issue. I want EI reform for gig and part-time workers. More workers should get benefits they paid into. That's what Food Banks Canada is calling for.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am glad my colleague talked about food banks, because Food Banks Canada is here on the Hill today. Food Banks Canada made it clear, and actually warned us, that our employment insurance system no longer reflects the reality of work in Canada. This is impacting people. More Canadians are working multiple part-time jobs, contract positions and gig work. Yet, they are paying into a system that often denies them support when they need it most. It highlighted that while food bank use continues to reach record levels and families struggle with the rising cost of living, millions of workers are being left behind by an outdated EI system designed for a workplace that no longer exists. Do the Conservatives and my colleague agree with Food Banks Canada in their call for comprehensive EI reform so that gig workers, part-time workers and precarious workers can actually access the benefits that they pay for?

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Oral Questions

Marine Transportation

2026-06-02

“I want more taxpayer money for my local ferries. The other guys' ferry funding is too high. That's not fair! More money for my ferry program!”

Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-06-02

“I want to say Canadians are facing rising costs and there is more financial fraud. Seniors in my riding are being defrauded. I want the government to block scam calls and hold businesses accountable. I want victims to have support. I want the government to treat this as a big problem and fight fraud to protect Canadians.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about AI, which I want to talk about. We know that Canadians right now are facing rising costs and economic uncertainty. Financial fraud is even becoming a greater threat, and it is not being talked enough about today. Organized crime is using AI-generated scams for deepfakes, spoof calls and fake investment schemes to target people already under financial pressure. A record amount of fraud is impacting seniors in my riding who are losing their life savings. Families are being defrauded, and victims are often left to recover on their own. Protecting Canadians requires urgent government intervention: blocking scam calls, holding financial institutions and digital platforms accountable, ensuring that victims have access to support and recovery services, and growing the scale and urgency of this problem at a time when every dollar counts. When will the Liberals finally combat fraud using the measures they have, as a key tool in protecting Canadians' financial security and economic well-being?

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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-05-27

“I'm frustrated that the government keeps studying and talking instead of taking clear action to let more fish harvesters fish. I want the government to make concrete rule changes before the 2026 sockeye season to give Canadian harvesters more access. They need more fish and less talk.”

Official Hansard

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 example is what happened last year on the Fraser River. Nearly 10 million sockeye returned, one of the strongest runs in decades, yet independent fish harvesters, including indigenous commercial harvesters, were effectively shut out while families struggled to keep their boats and businesses afloat. Nobody is arguing against conservation. Weak stocks need to be protected, and treaty obligations with the United States through the Pacific Salmon Commission must be respected, but when Canada's own commercial fleet is denied fair access during years of proven abundance, it undermines confidence in the system. I want to know today from the parliamentary secretary what concrete changes the government will make before the 2026 Fraser sockeye season to ensure that this never happens again.

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“I want more government support and funding for my region's industries and infrastructure. The current system is unfair and treats us like an afterthought compared to other parts of the country. The government should fix this inequity and give us the same level of support and representation as others receive.”

Official Hansard

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. Corporate concentration and growing foreign ownership of licences and quota are driving up costs and draining wealth out of coastal communities. We actually do not even know who owns much of the quota because there is still no public registry. Meanwhile, on the east coast, an owner-operator model protects independent fish harvesters and keeps the value in local communities. Eight years ago, the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans made unanimous recommendations to bring those same protections to the west coast, yet eight years later, there still has not been any meaningful action. That delay has real consequences. Every year, more access, control and wealth leave the hands of independent fish harvesters and coastal communities. It is a huge economic leakage. This is not a new problem. The solutions have already been identified, but what has been missing is the Liberal government's willingness to act. For many Vancouver Islanders, this is part of a larger problem. We often hear about western alienation. It is real and few large populations in Canada understand that feeling better than Vancouver Islanders, not because we want to leave Canada. Vancouver Islanders believe that Canada is stronger together, but people begin to feel alienated when they are ignored, under-represented and treated unfairly for decades. A perfect example is our ferry system, which is a huge cost barrier to getting our seafood products to market. As coastal peoples, we understand that ferries are not a luxury. They are essential highways that connect communities to the rest of Canada, which is why we deserve strong federal ferry support. According to the Library of Parliament, last year, BC Ferries received approximately $1.63 in federal support per passenger, while federally supported east coast ferry systems received approximately $291 per passenger, roughly 178 times more support than BC Ferries received. Marine Atlantic received 300 times more support. This is not about taking away support from Atlantic Canadians. Their ferry systems are essential national infrastructure. The issue is that Vancouver Islanders are asking why essential marine highways on the west coast are not treated with the same level of federal importance. The federal government keeps pointing to constitutional agreements signed more than 80 years ago and funding formulas created nearly 50 years ago, when Vancouver Island had about 450,000 residents. The government now points to temporary pandemic relief and repayable Infrastructure Bank loans as proof that the system is fair, but emergency COVID funding was temporary. Atlantic ferry systems also receive pandemic support. Loans still have to be repaid by British Columbians through fares and borrowing costs. That is not the same as ongoing federal operational support. Today, Vancouver Island is approaching one million people and BC Ferries carries more than 22 million passengers annually. These are essential marine highways connecting workers, seniors, families, students, truckers and businesses, including those in the blue economy and our supply chains. Premier Eby made the point clearly. The federal government should not reward provinces that threaten separation while ignoring regions that continue working constructively within the federation. Unlike some provinces, Vancouver Islanders are not threatening to separate from Canada because they are frustrated by this unfairness, but people are asking why consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have continued treating us like an afterthought. It does not stop there. Nearly one million people live on Vancouver Island, yet not a single senator clearly rooted on Vancouver Island has been appointed in more than 55 years. Meanwhile, New Brunswick, with a comparable population, has 10 Senate seats. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador together have fewer people than Vancouver Island, yet they also hold 10 seats. That means no Vancouver Island senator on the Senate fisheries committee. This is what being ignored looks like. Vancouver Islanders are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness: fair ferry funding, fair representation and fair fisheries policies that protect coastal communities. As Vancouver Islanders, we love this country. We believe in Canada, but we know this country is—

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Government Orders

Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2

2026-05-27

“I hope this resignation makes people pay attention. It takes courage to stand up for the environment. We've worked with him on issues like climate and protecting nature. We didn't always agree, but he understood the climate needs action. He fought for the environment. Now the government is backing off and putting fossil fuels first while people face disasters. Thank you for your courage and service. Keep fighting for climate justice. We want to keep working with you on this.”

Official Hansard

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. As New Democrats, we have had the opportunity to work across the aisle with our colleague when he was a former minister on a number of important issues, including climate accountability, biodiversity protection and building a fair transition for workers and communities. We may not have always agreed, but he understood that the climate crisis demands action, not delay. The people of Laurier—Sainte-Marie were represented by someone who consistently fought to put the climate crisis and environmental protection on the national agenda. Now the government is weakening emissions caps, backing away from environmental protection and putting fossil fuel expansion ahead of climate leadership while Canadians face devastating fires, floods and extreme weather. We as New Democrats want to thank the member for his courage and his public service. We want to wish him well and encourage him to keep fighting for climate justice and for the future of our planet. We look forward to continuing to work with him to tackle the climate crisis.

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Oral Questions

Climate Change

2026-05-08

“The Liberals are missing climate targets and ran away from an international meeting to talk about cutting fossil fuels. Instead they're planning even more fossil fuel projects. That's bad. I don't like that. I think it's very bad.”

Government Orders

Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act

2026-05-06

“You're a Liberal from Ontario now. Will you make the government give Ontario pharmacare? Will you be a champion for pharmacare in Ontario?”

“I want you to say that the government won't privatize airports. That would be bad. Even Conservatives wouldn't do it. It didn't go well in Australia.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I have known my colleague for a long time. I have a lot of respect for him. The spring economic update states that the government is “assessing opportunities to unlock the...value of airports in support of investments in Canada's long-term growth, including through alternative models of ownership.” The Liberal government is looking at privatizing airports. This is not something that even Conservatives would do. Rod Sims, the former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, highlighted that “the travelling public loses big time, over time” when they tried this experiment. Will my colleague stand in the House and tell the Canadian public that they will not privatize Canada's airports?

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“You cut permits for foreign students. Now colleges are shutting down programs. How will you train more workers when you're cutting back training programs? That hurts my riding. Ask your own colleague there how it hurts hers.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my Liberal colleague in terms of the $6-billion plan to recruit and train 100,000 new Red Seal workers. However, the Liberal government cut international student study permits by more than 40% and restricted postgraduate work permits without consulting higher-learning institutions that rely on those students. The consequences have been hard-hitting on Vancouver Island. Nearly 30 programs have been cut between North Island College and Vancouver Island University, including a dental assistant program that has trained workers for 50 years. The Prime Minister says that Canada must deliver major nation-building projects. How will the government build the workforce Canada needs while its policies shut down the very important programs that are needed to train those workers, especially in rural Canada, in places like Port Alberni? Maybe my colleague can speak about how that impact is hurting her riding and people who want to study and participate in the workforce in her community.

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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-05-05

“I want the health minister to say her plan. I want her to say what rules she wants. She should say what she wants publicly. Then we will know what she is thinking.”

“I'm sad the minister didn't show up. I want to drag the government here every week to complain they're not doing enough for health care. I want more government spending and control over health care to protect it.”

“I think the government should spend more money on healthcare. I want the government to be in charge of healthcare. I don't like that another government isn't doing what I want. The government needs to make sure everyone has the same healthcare.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be here tonight. I would first like to begin by extending my congratulations to Louise Arbour on her appointment today to serve as Canada's next governor general. She is a human rights champion, and she has had a remarkable career. She will, no doubt, continue to serve our country well in this new role. With that, I would like to turn the topic of debate this evening to Alberta's Bill 11 and the Canada Health Act. In the last election, the Prime Minister promised Canadians that a Liberal government would protect our values and way of life. The Liberal platform highlighted our public health care system as an example of Canadians' belief in the common good and a key difference between Canada and the U.S. The Liberal platform pledged to defend the Canada Health Act and told Canadians, “It’s time to return to the foundational values upon which our national health care was developed: free of charge, fair, universal, and accessible.” Today, those values are under threat, but instead of fighting for what matters to Canadians, the federal government is looking the other way. This morning, an independent legal opinion was published that confirmed what many have been saying for months. Alberta's Bill 11 violates both the letter and the spirit of the Canada Health Act. The legal opinion, commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition, explains that allowing people to pay privately for faster access to medically necessary care creates unequal access based on one's ability to pay. In plain terms, Bill 11 would create an American-style, two-tier health care system. It is time for the minister to make clear that the government will keep its promise to Canadians and defend the Canada Health Act. The minister has called herself “the guardian of the Canada Health Act”, but since December, she has failed to act on this threat to our public health care system. Today, the Canada Health Coalition held a press conference with health and legal experts, calling for the minister to act, to take a clear position against Bill 11 and to speak about the threats the bill poses for all Canadians. Jason MacLean, chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, spoke about how the crisis in our health care system, fuelled by Conservative premiers, is seen as a business opportunity by major insurance companies. That should concern every Canadian who believes that health care is a right. Dr. Melanie Bechard, the chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and a pediatric emergency physician at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, also spoke today in Ottawa. She spoke about how allowing dual practice will impact wait times, stating, “If we are...prioritizing...patients who can pay privately, that means that the majority of patients who rely on the public system will have to wait longer.” Let us be clear. Canadians deserve quicker access to the health care they need, but a two-tier health care system is not a solution to long wait times. Chris Gallaway, the executive director of Friends of Medicare in Alberta, also spoke in Ottawa today and called on the minister to take action to stop Bill 11. He said bluntly, “no more delays. No more stalling. No more talking about looking at regulations and implementation. We need you to do your job and show leadership”. If the federal government fails to enforce the Canada Health Act now, it sends a clear message far beyond Alberta. It tells provinces that the rules can be bent. It tells private interests that our public system is open for profits. Canadians did not build Medicare so that it could be quietly replaced with a system where wealth determines who gets treated first. If the federal government does not act now, it risks opening the door to further privatization across the country. I will ask this again: Will the minister stop stalling, enforce the Canada Health Act and stand up for a health care system that serves everyone equally?

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Statements by Members

Community Service

2026-05-05

“Eva Hilborn is 100 years old and defined by service. She has spent decades giving books to children. Thank you Eva.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour Eva Hilborn, who is in her 100th year and whose life has been defined by service and an unwavering commitment to nurturing a love of learning in children. Born on a Manitoba farm in 1926, Eva began teaching at just 17 years old and went on to shape generations of students across British Columbia. In Port Alberni, she helped build early childhood education programs from the ground up, understanding that a strong start in life begins with books, curiosity and confidence. Known to first nations families as “the book lady”, Eva has spent decades putting books into the hands of children and supporting education for young women. Her legacy will live in every child inspired to read and dream. I thank Eva for the lasting impact she has made on generations of children and for a century of inspiring leadership and generosity of spirit.

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Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-05-05

“I'm filling time by repeating that my colleague should keep talking. I want the government to spend money helping my favorite industries. It's not fair that other industries got more help.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my Bloc colleague for putting this very important motion forward today. Maybe my colleague could speak about how this government has completely forgotten forestry workers and the forestry sector, and how unfair it has been, in terms of government support for sectors that are struggling due to the harm and damage that Donald Trump's tariffs are causing Canadian workers in industry sectors, and forestry workers in particular. We heard from the premier of British Columbia just yesterday. He spoke about how the forestry workers in B.C. have not been fairly treated compared to other sectors. We believe that those other sectors should be supported. I also know many forestry workers in Quebec are suffering. I hope my colleague can share her perspective.

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Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-04-30

“I don't want the sovereign wealth fund to pay for projects I don't like. The fund should only do things I agree with. The Liberals should not use it to fund pipelines. It should only fund things that everyone agrees are good.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we hear the Prime Minister and my colleague compare the sovereign wealth fund to the Norwegian fund. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund is independent, and it is only for public good. It is not used for political interests or what the Liberals call nation-building projects, which could end up funnelling money to Danielle Smith's dream pipeline through the north coast, billions of dollars for a pipeline that the private sector does not even have support for, never mind support from coastal first nations that are opposed to it. Does my colleague agree that the sovereign wealth fund should be independent and only for public good, not for supporting private projects that are not economically viable?

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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-04-29

“I don't like what you said. I want the government to hurry up and give all Canadians pharmacare now. It saves money and people need it. Don't make excuses. Just do it.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for coming. I know it is inconvenient, but I will continue to drag her and her government here to debate this issue, because what we heard does not match the reality that Canadians are facing. It is great to hear that British Columbians are getting access to pharmacare. The government says pharmacare is moving ahead, but only four out of five Canadians are accessing it. That is not progress; that is exclusion. The Liberals say it takes time, but provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia are ready now, and the federal government is refusing to negotiate. We just heard the parliamentary secretary say it is too expensive, but pharmacare actually saves money for families and for provinces. The real cost is forcing Canadians to go without the medicine they need. Let us be clear. Mentioning pharmacare once in a major economic update is not a plan. It is a signal that the government is walking away from its promise, and it is not nation building. Canadians were told that this would be a national program, not a patchwork or something determined by postal code. No one in this country should have to choose between paying rent and filling a prescription. The question remains. When will the government stop delaying, start negotiating and deliver pharmacare for all Canadians?

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“I'm frustrated that the government isn't moving faster on pharmacare. I will keep bringing this up until they take action. Only some provinces have access right now. That's not fair to the others. The government should negotiate with all the provinces so everyone can have pharmacare. People are struggling to afford their medicine. The government promised pharmacare in the last election. They need to follow through on that promise.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just like last week, and just like the week before, I am here tonight to drag the government in here to hold it to account and to ensure that it protects and enhances our public health care system and follows through with its promises. I will just serve notice that I will be dragging the government back in here again next week if it does not take some action. No one in Canada, not our kids, parents or grandparents, should have to worry about the cost of medication they need to stay healthy, but that is exactly what is happening today. Canadians were promised the beginning of a national pharmacare program. We actually voted on it. They were promised a single-payer system that serves people, not a patchwork system that leaves millions behind. The promise was that we were going to start with universal free access to diabetes medicine and birth control. It was highly celebrated by the Liberals. Right now, only three provinces and one territory are covered. That is about 17% of Canadians. More than four out of five Canadians cannot access the federal pharmacare plan today. This means access to life-saving diabetes medicine or birth control coverage depends on where someone lives. It depends on their postal code. While I hate to do this, I must mention that this inaction comes while many Liberal MPs are bragging about a national pharmacare program that their own constituents cannot even access. In Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, the provincial health minister said that the federal Liberal government has closed the door on negotiations. Meanwhile, the Liberal MP for Labrador defends pharmacare as putting money back in Canadians' pockets. On Prince Edward Island, the federal government has moved slowly, and its provincial health minister says that the federal government has told them that pharmacare funds will expire in 2029 and will not be renewed. Meanwhile, the member for Cardigan claimed that pharmacare is a key program for all Canadians. Nova Scotia is ready to negotiate, but it is still waiting for an invitation. Meanwhile, the member for Cumberland—Colchester described pharmacare as an essential service that Liberals will continue to protect. Their premier says he cannot even get a meeting to negotiate a deal. These provinces want in. They are ready to work, but they are being shut out while these Liberals pat themselves on the back. That is not nation building. The Prime Minister was just on CBC two days ago touting his commitment to pharmacare. Even today in question period, he rightly criticised the Conservatives for voting against pharmacare, but only three provinces and one territory actually have an agreement. Yesterday we saw that, in the spring economic update, the word pharmacare is mentioned only once. It signals that the Liberals are walking away from their commitment to the national pharmacare plan they ran on during the last election. This has real consequences. People are skipping prescriptions. They are cutting pills in half. They are choosing between paying rent and filling a prescription. In a country as wealthy as Canada, this should never happen. This is not what Canadians were promised, like I said in the last election. New Democrats in the House and across Canada are fighting to ensure Canadians can access the medicine they need while the Liberals continue to delay and side with powerful industry interests. In B.C., pharmacare coverage began on March 1 because the B.C. NDP government pushed for it and the provincial health minister Josie Osborne acted quickly. She signed a deal. Families in B.C. are getting that relief, but families in the rest of the country are still waiting. They are waiting because the federal government is refusing to negotiate. A truly national pharmacare program would guarantee the security Canadians need at a time of economic uncertainty. If the Liberals fail to meet their commitment, they are going to have to explain to Canadians why they are breaking yet another promise. The question is simple: Will the government reopen negotiations with provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia? Will it commit to expanding pharmacare to every province and territory that wants in, or will it continue down this path where access depends on one's postal code or where one lives? Canadians deserve better than this patchwork.

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Oral Questions

Veterans Affairs

2026-04-29

“I want the government to keep giving contracts to veterans. The government should not change this.”