SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 235 - Oct/19/23

Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Oct/19/23 10:26:51 a.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table this petition on behalf of constituents of my from Ucluelet and Tofino. Emergencies at Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park are attended by Parks Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard, West Coast Inland Search and Rescue, B.C.'s emergency response group and the RCMP. However, rescues initially fall into the hands of surfers and beachgoers. The petition cites many people who have died over the last few years, including someone who died this year. According to Parks Canada, over a million people visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, making it the third most visited national park in Canada. Lifeguards watched over the beach as part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve surf guard program for 40 years until the federal Conservative government cut the program in 2012. We will not find a beach in this country with more people in the water and no lifeguards. Petitioners are calling on the government and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to reinstate the surf guard tower and surf guard services, and extend the duration of the surf guard program to accommodate the growing number of emergencies, as well as visitors at Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This would save lives.

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Context: House Hansard - 235 - Oct/19/23

Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Oct/19/23 10:48:50 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-50

Mr. Speaker, where I come from, in my riding of Courtenay—Alberni, we see it as a duty and responsibility to build a diverse economy and build resilience in our communities. I think about the Port Alberni Port Authority wanting a floating dry dock. There are the Coulson Group, which is a global leader in firefighting aviation, wanting to expand and do more work here, and there is Nova Harvest in Barkley Sound wanting to expand. I also think of Tla-o-qui-aht, which is building run-of-the-river and clean energy projects. We see it as a duty. We would see it as irresponsible to not be fighting for the creation of more jobs when it comes to clean energy. Does the minister not see that it is a duty of all members of the House to build resiliency, a cleaner future and a more sustainable future, especially for workers, who have been advocating for this very bill to be seen through?

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Context: House Hansard - 235 - Oct/19/23

Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Oct/19/23 1:19:28 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-50

Madam Speaker, we have been hearing from clean-tech businesses that the investment tax credits that were announced in the spring still are not accessible. Here we are in October, and there have been huge delays. This uncertainty for businesses is a big problem, especially those that are looking to make investments in the clean-tech economy. When is the government going to roll out these programs? Also, we have seen the delays in applications even for people who personally want to work with the Canada greener homes grant. There have been delays and failures to get back to people and get a response to them. It is just unbelievable the amount of time it is taking. This is a disincentive for the people we want to get in place to make decisions to help kick-start the Canadian clean-tech economy.

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Context: House Hansard - 235 - Oct/19/23

Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)

Oct/19/23 1:37:21 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-50

Madam Speaker, my colleague is speaking like there is this big bad solar-powered windmill-shaped bogeyman that is going to land in Alberta and wipe out all these really important jobs. That is actually not the case. In fact, a study by Calgary Economic Development estimates that Alberta could see $61 billion pumped into its economy through clean tech investments. Studies also show that Alberta gains almost 100,000 clean tech jobs. Why do the Conservatives continue to be unrelenting in their defence of oil and gas, and their clear disdain for anything that would mitigate the effects of climate change and that it would steal these economic opportunities away from Alberta workers and their families?

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