Courtenay-Alberni rookie MP Gord Johns’ first words in the House of Commons honoured six lives lost at sea in a tragic Tofino accident just days after the election.
Tuesday morning in Ottawa Johns recounted the tragic series of events in late October when the 65-foot Leviathon II, a whale watching vessel, sank near Tofino with 27 passengers on board.
“Fishermen from Ahousaht First Nation were the first to arrive on the scene and began pulling survivors from the frigid waters,” Johns told fellow MPs in the House. “They were soon joined by marine tour operators, first responders, members of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and local Tofino residents. The tight-knit West Coast community banded together in this time of need. People’s homes were opened to strangers, temporary beds were set up for the injured, and in the village of Ahousaht, a community where unemployment is as high as 70 per cent, people pulled out five and 10 dollar bills to buy gas for the boats so the search for survivors could continue,” recalled Johns.
“Today I ask all members in this House to join me in paying tribute and respect to the families of those lost at sea, the survivors, the rescuers, and all of those whose courage and compassion embodies the very best of Vancouver Island.”
Johns is the first MP to represent the newly formed Courtenay-Alberni riding. While legislative assistant James Smith said Johns will “definitely have a strong presence in Parksville, Port Alberni and Courtenay” he was unable to confirm there will be offices in each of the three cities.
