Gord Johns

Gord Johns
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Courtenay—Alberni
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Riding Established
Tofino Town Councillor
In office
December 1, 2008 – December 5, 2011
Personal details
Born (1969-11-29) November 29, 1969[1]
Victoria, British Columbia
Nationality Canadian
Political party New Democratic Party
Residence British Columbia

Gord Johns MP (born November 29, 1969) is a Canadian businessman and politician. Since 2015, he has served as the New Democratic Member of Parliament for the federal electoral riding of Courtenay—Alberni in the House of Commons of Canada. He previously served as a town councilor for Tofino, British Columbia and founded a number of small businesses.[2][3]

Early life

Johns was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He is the son of his paternal mother Judy Johns and his adopted father, Frank Johns. Judy’s heritage traces back over a century on Vancouver Island. Frank is of Metis Cree descent.

Johns attended Mount Douglas Secondary School and was selected as valedictorian of the 1988 graduating class. He later attended Camosun College focusing on Pacific Rim studies, business and political science. Johns has also earned a professional certificate in community economic development from Simon Fraser University.

Career

Johns began his career through a number of successful entrepreneur initiatives. Each of his business ventures balanced business growth with environmental and a strong social consciousness. His business ventures have included, Cedar Corner Art Gallery, an art gallery featuring art from Vancouver Island,[4] Eco-everything a store that specialized in sustainable products and Fiber Options a Bike Rental shop in Tofino. He also served as the Project Manager for the West Coast Multiplex.[5]

Political life

Tofino Council

Johns first entered politics in 2008, when he was elected as a council member for the District of Tofino.[6] As a member of city council, Johns focused on improving and expanding community infrastructure for families and youth. This included developing hiking and cycling trail networks in the area and improving tsunami readiness along Tofino’s shorelines.[7]

Tofino Chamber of Commerce

Johns decided not to seek a second term as a Tofino council member choosing instead to focus on his businesses and his work as Executive Director of the Tofino–Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, the Chamber grew its membership to 330 businesses, doubled its budget, and launched the highly successful Tofino Ambassador Program.[8] The Tofino Ambassador Program is a free program which seeks to expand community relations and teach residents and newcomers about West Vancouver Island’s history, ecology and business community.[9] For this program, and its other achievements, the Tofino Chamber of Commerce was awarded the BC Chamber of Commerce Chamber of the Year Honourable Mention in 2013.[10]

Member of Parliament Courtenay--Alberni

Johns returned to politics when he sought the NDP nomination for the newly formed riding of Courtenay-Alberni during the general election of 2015. Johns defeated longtime conservative MP John Duncan.[3]

Since being elected MP Johns has served as NDP critic for small business and tourism. He has also taken an active role in the parliamentary community as a co-chair of the All-Party Entrepreneur Caucus, vice-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the Kurds and vice-chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association.[11][12][13]

Johns’ first piece of legislation was Bill C-312, a bill to adopt a national cycling strategy. The national cycling strategy seeks to create a federal framework to promote research, help create infrastructure projects to support and increase all types of cycling in Canada, including commuter, tourism and recreational cycling. The bill was introduced in the house on October 4, 2016, and has since passed its first reading.[14] In May 2017 Johns received Canada Bikes "Advocate of the Year" Award for his work.[15]

Personal life

Outside of his professional career, Johns has been an active volunteer, donating his time to a number of environmental and indigenous initiatives. He helped found Tofino`s Earth Week events, served as a Committee Tofino/Tla-o-qui-aht Higher Learning Initiative and served as a co-chair of the Pacific Rim Whale Festival Society.

Johns is the father of three children.

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Courtenay—Alberni
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticGord Johns26,58238.06-2.66$124,072.44
ConservativeJohn Duncan19,71428.22-16.66$92,251.34
LiberalCarrie Powell-Davidson15,21221.78+15.06$32,002.88
GreenGlenn Sollitt8,20111.74+4.89$124,891.17
Marxist–LeninistBarbara Biley1400.20––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 69,849100.00 $231,958.67
Total rejected ballots 1850.26–
Turnout 70,03475.90–
Eligible voters 92,266
New Democratic notional gain from Conservative Swing -7.00
This riding was created from Nanaimo—Alberni and Vancouver Island North, both of which elected a Conservative candidate in the last election. John Duncan was the incumbent from Vancouver Island North.
Source: Elections Canada[16][17][18]

References

  1. ↑ "JOHNS, Gord". Parlinfo. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "NDP chooses Gord Johns as candidate in Courtenay-Alberni". COMOX VALLEY ECHO. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 Azpiri, Jon. "NDP's Gord Johns win in Courtenay-Alberni". Global News. Shaw Media. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Lederman, Marsha (August 22, 2008). "B.C. gallery offers reward for return of stolen carving". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
  5. ↑ http://westcoastmultiplex.org/
  6. ↑ http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/ndp-chooses-gord-johns-as-candidate-in-courtenay-alberni-1.1433682
  7. ↑ https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/22157?preview=9775
  8. ↑ https://issuu.com/tofino-ucluelet-westerly/docs/uclwed20140910
  9. ↑ http://www.tofinochamber.org/discover-tofino-1/
  10. ↑ http://www.bcchamber.org/advocacy-news/bc-chamber-year-awards-announced
  11. ↑ http://www.theasianconnectionsnewspaper.com/all-party-entrepreneur-caucus-hosts-successful-inaugrual-meeting/
  12. ↑ http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Gord-Johns(89263)/CurrentRoles
  13. ↑ http://www.tomkmiec.ca/parliamentary_friends_of_the_kurds_inaugurated
  14. ↑ http://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=e&Mode=1&billId=8406543
  15. ↑ https://twitter.com/Canada_Bikes/status/870376937176387589
  16. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Courtenay—Alberni, 30 September 2015
  17. ↑ Official Voting Results - Courtenay—Alberni
  18. ↑ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
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