Gord Johns
Courtenay—Alberni, British Columbia · NDP · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, we recall that the United Nations special rapporteur warned that Canada's temporary foreign worker program can create conditions resembling modern-day slavery. Last month, the San Group, a company operating in Port Alberni, was fined $429,000 and banned for two years for serious violations involving migrant workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I highlighted earlier, a Port Alberni company was fined $429,000 for its violation in its treatment of migrant workers, and it was given a two-year ban. Clearly, two years is not enough. The company operates other companies, and the rumour is that it actually has temporary foreign workers working for them as well.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to bring us back to a part of the conversation in which my colleague talked about the government's removing regulations on dangerous pesticides. Just last week, the Prime Minister announced his food security strategy, and the Liberals are removing important regulations that protect Canadians regarding pesticides.”
“Temporary foreign workers are often hired without the labour market opinion having been done in the right way. Workers who are looking for work are not getting hired. We hear in my riding about abuses of workers by employers, but there is no follow-up. There is nothing. When workers are in trouble, they are not supported.”
“I would like to hear from my colleague about whether, when food security and food sovereignty matter more than ever, my colleague sees the importance of the government's pausing its changes on these regulations, pausing these cuts and actually working with farmers to protect Canada's public agricultural research system?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all my colleagues for allowing that to happen. Today is Brain Injury Awareness Day. It is an honour to table this petition on behalf of the families impacted by 165,000 new cases annually of brain injury in our country.”
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“They highlight that an open society and an informed public and Parliament are essential for the understanding of complex issues of violent conflict and for the achievement of lasting peace and disarmament. With the closing of the Pearson Centre, Canada lost an important civilian-led, independent institutional structure that supported effective research policy and training in peace operations and conflict. The petitioners call on the House of Commons to assemble, re-establish and fund a centre of excellence for peace and justice focused on research, education and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy and peace operations for Canadian civilians, police, military personnel and the international community.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present this petition as the new critic for defence for the federal NDP on behalf of residents from Bamfield, Port Alberni, Parksville and Courtenay in my riding. The petitioners highlight that Canada signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, pledging to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; that Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Canada's adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reflect our commitment to the principles of justice, equality and freedom; and that upholding the basics of justice, equality, freedom, security and well-being for all is essential for preventing war and conflict.”
“I want to thank the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association and all those advocating for mental health parity and spreading the message that mental health matters. I also want to thank my colleague and friend, the member for Vancouver Kingsway , for his important work in this area and for seconding the bill. I hope all members will get behind this very important piece of legislation. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
“As it stands, provincial and territorial health plans are only required to cover mental health, addictions and substance use health services when provided by physicians or in hospitals and deemed medically necessary. As a result, many services, such as counselling or psychotherapy, are not covered under public health insurance plans. The lack of public coverage forces Canadians who are struggling to shoulder significant out-of-pocket costs or go without supports they need. The legislation would begin to address the financial barriers to mental health and substance use care by creating a federal requirement for provinces and territories to include coverage of community-based supports in their health insurance plans.”
“Bill C-201. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-201, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (mental, addictions and substance use health services) . He said: Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to introduce the mental health parity act, which aims to address the disparity between physical and mental health in our public health care system. This is the first private member's bill tabled in the 45th Parliament. It is of great importance. The bill proposes to amend the Canada Health Act, to expand the definition of insured services to include community-based mental health, addictions and substance use services.”
“The lack of domestic oversight of ship-breaking and the disposal of end-of-life marine vessels frustrates Canada's ability to ensure compliance with its international obligations under the Basel Convention. The petitioners highlight that this could be a job creator. The petitioners want to see the Government of Canada develop enforceable federal standards to reduce the negative impact of environmental and social impacts of ship-breaking that meet or exceed those set out in the EU ship recycling regulation; provide assistance through loans or grants to long-term, reputable ship-breaking companies to facilitate the implementation of new federal standards in their operations; and develop a strategy for recycling end-of-life, federally owned marine vessels. This is the fourth year I have tabled this petition with no action.”
“Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election as Speaker. I rise to table a petition that is very important and timely. It is from the residents of Union Bay on Vancouver Island, who are deeply frustrated. They cite that there is significant risk to workers and the environment associated with ship-breaking due to the presence of a wide variety of hazardous materials and end-of-life marine vessels. The petitioners also highlight that unlike other jurisdictions, Canada lacks standards on ship-breaking and unregulated ship-breaking activities, which are putting our oceans, coastal communities and workers at risk on Vancouver Island and around Canada.”