My Interview with Gord Johns, NDP MP for Courtenay-Alberni by Keith Porteous
(Gord Johns will be at the Denman Community Dock on Monday, Sept.14 at 12:30PM to rally for Fair Federal Ferry Funding) https://www.gordjohns.ca/fair_federal_ferry_funding_now
I attended Gord Johns’ Corn Roast fundraiser for the NDP in Qualicum Beach recently, where NDP Leader Avi Lewis was keynote speaker, with Gord rallying supporters in speaking about local and national issues. Both Gord and Avi committed to not just “throw rocks at the government, but to offer alternatives” and solutions to the contradictions of PM Mark Carney’s agenda. I’d spoken with Gord before, and he cheerily agreed to speak to me again for The Islands Grapevine 35th Anniversary edition.
We spoke for a little less than an hour, and here’s his answers to the questions I had for him:
KP: You’ve long been the leading voice of any Parliamentarian to bring the issue of unregulated shipbreaking activities in Canadian waters onto the floor of the House of Commons. Can you share your thoughts and current efforts in dealing with the ongoing disputed Deep Water Recovery operations near Union Bay, and in the ecologically significant area of Baynes Sound?
Gord: I was the first MP ever to speak to the issue of unregulated shipbreaking in the House of Commons, which came as a result of the situation in Union Bay. Sadly, Union Bay has exposed the lack of progress on shipbreaking and recycling capacity in B.C. and Canada, which is critical for our responsibility as a country that has the longest coastline in the world. We should have the most robust and environmentally sensitive ship recycling in the world.
We’ve had Deep Water Recovery, which does not have a social licence, and where the local government has a court injunction related to their zoning, which is still waiting to be heard in B.C.. The opposition to DWR is clear from the communities and First Nations, but it’s been a quagmire of which jurisdictions and ministries, Provincial, Federal, and at the local level, are responsible for enforcement. We haven’t seen previous operations at this scale, with large ships sitting on the tideline and on land. You will not see this kind of ship recycling in Bangladesh. No other country in the world would accept this.
KP: Are there any signs that the Carney government is prepared to engage on the issue of shipbreaking regulations and investment in safe ship recycling facilities?
Gord: For Canada to not have strong enforcement measures in place is alarming, and I’m grateful to (CVRD Area A Director) Daniel Arbour for helping me connect with the International ship recycling community who helped me understand the world leading regulations within the European Union, which are better than the Hong Kong Conventions. We can’t just say no to shipbreaking without, “where can we say yes and how do we get to yes?”
I’ve spearheaded a working group in Port Alberni which is composed of all levels of government, First Nations, industry associations, SeaSpan, B.C. Ferries, NGOs, labour, and led by MLA Josie Osborne and myself, exploring what environmentally sensitive ship breaking and recycling could look like, examining the regulatory side, and what we need to do to proceed to protect the environment and create jobs. We simply have to do it.
There’s over 1400 abandoned or derelict vessels on Canada’s coastlines, over 700 in B.C. alone, 90+ over 100 tons, including 14 B.C.Ferries. We don’t have the proper facilities here. B.C. Ferries has told me it will cost more than $10 million to recycle the Queen of Burnaby alone, taking it to a facility in Halifax, half of that just to tow it there. It makes no sense, and it’s irresponsible to offload it to the East Coast. We are meeting with the Carney government, Transport Canada and the Coast Guard, and we hope they will roll out a new national shipbuilding strategy that includes ship recycling in it.
We need dedicated money for ship recycling, and we know we have traction, because for the first time we are seeing the inclusion of ship recycling in important agreements between Ottawa and the Province of B.C.. The Port Alberni Working Group is leading Canada in how to regulate shipbreaking and in recycling ships. My job is to hold Ottawa to account.
KP: Are there any proposed projects or B.C. locations where a safe shipbreaking and recycling operation might be built? What does the Province of B.C. and Premier Eby have to say on the matter?
Gord: The Premier is supportive of my efforts, and has recently secured a Memorandum of Understanding with Ottawa that includes ship recycling language relating to our Provincially funded Port Alberni Working Group’s efforts, with support from MLA Josie Osborne, and it’s a reflection of our work. The Province requires partnership with Ottawa in order to proceed in a multi-jurisdictional effort.
To get a social licence we need to ensure that we can guarantee local communities and First Nations that we will not have another Union Bay, and where we can meet the highest regulations and environmentally sound ship recycling standards, and create jobs. We need the infrastructure piece to do it in the right way.
Port Alberni is top of mind for the whole country in looking at possible locations, but if we can’t achieve social licence there, then we will look elsewhere. It’s not the only location we’re looking at, and 5 others in B.C.that come to mind, with Port Hope, Port Mellon, Crofton, Campbell River, and at Sarita Bay, the traditional territory of Huu-ay-aht First Nation.
The work we’re doing in Port Alberni will help guide and support those locations, because of the size and scope of what’s needed. Most of these locations could serve the dual purpose of ship repair and ship recycling. There are huge gaps in capacity of available dry dock space from Alaska to Oregon. It’s absolutely critical that we get infrastructure for dual purposes.
KP: CVRD Area A Director Daniel Arbour says, “The situation with the MV Rhododendron (listing in Fanny Bay) brings to light big gaps in Canada’s approach to derelict vessels. The Rhodo is the prototypical case of lack of policies and regulations, and the lack of a ship recycling strategy and investment on the West Coast. It is important for the community to be vocal and ask Transport Canada to take charge of the vessel and move it temporarily to a place where it won’t sink.” Is there a part for our Federal MP to play?
Gord: Absolutely. I’ve just come from a meeting with Transport Canada, and it’s important to them, but they need to communicate more with the local communities. There are multiple departments involved, not just with the Federal government, and because of its location, the jurisdiction involves the Province and local government.
They’re working on it, but again, there are gaps. It’s a ferry, and this should never have happened. An argument I use every day with these issues is the relationship to Baynes Sound shellfish operations. There are 500 jobs at stake, and Baynes Sound and the surrounding area is the only open herring spawn on coastal British Columbia.
KP: PM Carney has just announced a major investment in Canadian Rail passenger service. Is there an opening for the Island Rail Corridor Foundation to seize this opportunity to advocate for a Victoria to Courtenay service?
Gord: Obviously, I support the restoring passenger service on Vancouver Island. The route is owned by the Island Rail Corridor Foundation, representing local governments and First Nations. The Province is leading the planning and feasibility studies in partnership with the Foundation and First Nations. The Federal government has been clear that they are prepared to consider significant investment, but only once there is a shared plan.
Until that work is complete, the Federal government isn’t providing any funding. They should be funding some of the planning, feasibility, and support work that’s being done. They’re not, and that’s a problem. You can be assured that I’ll be advocating for Federal investment, once there’s a plan supported by the Province and First Nations. This project has the potential to improve transportation, provide a clean energy option, reduce emissions, and strengthen island communities.
KP: Avi Lewis describes the Federal NDP Caucus as small but mighty. What files are you the NDP critic for in Parliament?
Gord: Right now I’m the critic for Mental Health and Addiction, Health, Tourism, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Business, and Emergency Management, and more. On all of these files, we’re punching well above our weight nationally. I’ve tabled more Bills and Motions than any MP in the country. The Prime Minister talks about “nation building”, then highlights pipelines.
Nation building is protecting our coast, and building affordable housing so people don’t have to live on derelict ships. Ship building, ship repair, and ship recycling is nation building. Dealing with Mental Health and Addiction is nation building. That’s what I see as nation building. And that’s where we differ from the Liberals.
KP: Let’s talk about fair Federal funding for ferries.
Gord: I have a website, https://www.gordjohns.ca/fair_federal_ferry_funding_now which breaks down the disparities between Federal ferry funding for the West Coast and the East Coast. It shares the history and the correspondence between the Minister and myself. It provides the details for the upcoming rallies, during the week before Parliament, starting Sept. 14 until the 17th. I’ll be at the Denman Island Community Dock at 12:30PM on the first day of the tour.
We’re sending a message to Ottawa. We get $6 per capita of Federal funding for B.C. ferry passengers, while the East Coast gets $125 per capita. We’re not against the East Coast’s level of Federal funding, but we do need to create fairness. We’re asking coastal residents to come out and make some noise, make your own signs, and send Ottawa a message. The Federal government’s lack of response is not only inadequate, it’s insulting. This issue is unifying across partisanships in B.C.
