Courtenay–Alberni MP Gord Johns will be honoured in Ottawa today, October 20, for his advocacy to improve access to mental-health and substance-use care in Canada.

The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health has selected Johns as its 2026 Champion of Mental Health in the Parliamentarian category. The award recognizes elected representatives who have helped advance mental-health and substance-use issues in Canada.

First elected in 2015, Johns has advocated for mental-health and substance-use services to receive the same priority as physical-health care within Canada’s universal public health-care system. His work has included calls for increased federal investment, a health-based response to the toxic-drug crisis and greater involvement of people with lived experience in developing policy.

In a public statement about the award, Johns credited those who have shared their experiences with him.

“I’m especially grateful to the people with lived and living experience who have shared their stories and helped shape my work in Parliament,” he said.

Johns said he was accepting the recognition on behalf of people experiencing mental-health challenges, families awaiting care, frontline workers and advocates working to reduce stigma.

His parliamentary efforts include introducing Bill C-280, the Mental Health Parity Act, in June. The proposed legislation would establish a framework for the federal government to work with provinces and territories on public coverage for community-based mental-health, addictions and substance-use services.

“The goal of this bill is to make mental health services accessible to all Canadians through our public health care system,” Johns told the House of Commons when introducing the legislation.

Johns has also helped bring attention to men’s mental health through Father’s Day on the Hill. Founded in 2018 by MP Matt Jeneroux with help from Johns and MP Majid Jowhari, the non-partisan initiative brings parliamentarians, mental-health organizations and policymakers together to discuss challenges facing men and young fathers. Johns was among the event’s co-hosts again this year.

Tonight’s Champions of Mental Health Awards ceremony takes place at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa. The national awards recognize seven Canadians whose work has helped reduce stigma and improve access to mental-health and substance-use services.