MP approves of budget

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Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns said yesterday’s federal budget was good, but not good enough.

He said while the Liberals failed to implement an excess profit tax on large corporations, they did adopt NDP priorities of dental care, pharmacare, child care, and youth mental health fund.

Johns said he was glad he was able to bring government ministers to the Alberni Valley, to see the issues here, and then support his funding requests

“We’ve been kicking and screaming whether it be in a committee or in the House of Commons through question period,” he said.  “Meetings with ministers to ensure that you we get funding for mental health direct to community organizations like ADAPTS in Port Alberni. I brought the minister to come listen to organizations directly about their needs and we we were able to get the federal government to commit to $500 million for youth mental health and money will flow into our communities and save lives.”

Johns said he’s particularly proud that his motion to increase funding for volunteer firefighters made it into the budget.

“All the firefighters in Courtenay-Alberni really kicked off to get the firefighter tax and the search and rescue volunteer tax relief that was required and needed, and we had 165 communities get behind my bill,” he said. “It was a huge victory for our riding but also for communities across the country. It certainly was a historic moment, but is it enough? No. We are going to continue to push for more.”

Johns said he was disappointed the Liberals backtracked on increased taxation on big corporations, and said the long-promised disability benefit fell far short of what was needed.