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Decentralized Democracy

Member of Parliament

Gord Johns

  • Member of Parliament
  • Member of Parliament
  • NDP
  • Courtenay—Alberni
  • British Columbia
  • Voting Attendance: 67%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $148,159.67

  • Government Page
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.
215 words
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  • Rabble!
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Context: House Hansard - 206 - Jun/5/23
Mr. Gord Johns (Courtenay—Alberni, NDP)
  • Jun/5/23 6:02:07 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table a petition on behalf of residents of British Columbia and visitors to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The petitioners call on the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to reinstate the surf guard tower and surf guard services, and to 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. Emergencies at Long Beach are attended by Parks Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard, Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue, B.C.'s Emergency Response Group and the RCMP. However, rescues initially fall into the hands of surfers, beachgoers and the surf schools that operate in the park. In February 2018, a man died at Lovekin Rock. In May 2018, in the same area, a woman died. In March 2016, four people were saved by the Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Armed Forces. In August 2021, another man drowned at the same spot. Basically, lifeguards watched over that beach as part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve surf guard program for 40 years, until the Conservative government cut the program in 2012. The petitioners are calling on the government to reinstate this program so that no more lives are lost.
220 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
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