[4][7] Johns did not seek re-election as a municipal councillor, but instead accepted the position of executive director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce where he worked until his nomination in 2014 as the NDP candidate in federal election.

In November 2017, Johns introduced M-151 requesting the federal government work with provinces, municipalities, and Indigenous communities to develop a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

A year after the sinking of the Leviathan II, Johns' motion M-46 requested the federal government allocate resources for training and equipment to volunteer first responders in remote coastal communities.

[23][24] Johns sought reelection in the 2019 federal election but was challenged by Parksville businessmen Byron Horner and Sean Wood for the Conservative and Green parties, respectively.

[43] With his Private Member’s Bill C-216, Johns aimed to legislate a health-based approach to substance abuse and to expand access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.

[44] Although it was defeated, Johns continues to advocate for the decriminalization of drug possession, safe supply, supervised consumption sites, no-free treatment on demand, and rehabilitation instead of punishment.

In September 2024, Gregory Swords appeared before a House of Commons Health Committee to discuss the opioid crisis and the death of his teenage daughter, Kamilah, who overdosed two years earlier.

Swords' opportunity to speak was, however, cut short by Johns, who took time to call on the government to protect the public health care system against privatization by companies like Loblaws.

He participated in a 2020 men's mental health awareness campaign alongside Peter Mansbridge, Member of Parliament Majid Jowhari, HGTV star Bryan Baeumler, professional snowboarder Craig McMorris and former NHL players Georges Laraque.

In February 2021, Johns presented a motion (M-73) urging the government to work with provinces and territories to establish a national strategy for the reintegration of workers who became mentally or physically impaired while employed and were at risk of losing their job.

[60] Johns has been a strong opponent of expanding Canada's petroleum exports and opposed the development of bitumen pipelines to the Pacific Coast, focusing on the risks to the environment and coastal communities.

[61] As a Member of Parliament he has been critical of the Trudeau Liberal government's approval of Kinder Morgan TMX expansion, calling its lack of social license a “betrayal” to B.C.

[69] In early 2023, Johns petitioned the Federal government for legislation requiring every MP to consult with their riding’s environmental youth leadership prior to bringing any greenhouse gas emissions bills forward to a second reading in Parliament.

[71] Johns has been a vocal advocate in parliament for Nuu-chah-nulth nations in his riding in their years- long legal battle with the government of Canada over their right to catch and sell fish in their territory.

[75] Since the Leviathan II tragedy in 2016, Johns has called for greater investment in the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary so remote Indigenous communities could be better equipped to respond to emergency situations.

[78] In October 2020, after weeks of escalating violence against Mi’kmaq fishers in Nova Scotia, Johns wrote to the Speaker of the House of Commons calling for an emergency debate in parliament.

[80] Johns has called for a formal apology from the Roman Catholic church and greater action from the federal government to address the trauma of the Indian Residential Schools.

Johns helped coordinate a meeting between the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during a trip to Vancouver Island, and local Indigenous Leaders to discuss their priorities.

[97] University for Johns was recognized by his constituent, a Veteran, for helping him and his son attend the 75th anniversary of the Juno beach landing alongside World War II survivors and the Prime Minister.

[100] In 2023, MP Johns called on the government to fix the “gold-digger clause” that was implemented after World War 1 to prevent women from marrying veterans for their pensions and benefits.

[129] As a member of the parliamentary Committee on Fisheries and Oceans studies (FOPO), Johns helped to successfully facilitate the passage of S-203, dubbed the “Free Willy Bill”, which banned the captivity of cetaceans, like dolphins.

[129] As a result of greater uncertainty for workers in Pacific fishing industries, John called for more expansive Employment Insurance benefits to help individuals who rely on seasonal incomes.

[135] Johns has pursued support for a coordinated effort by all levels of government to address abandoned vessels in coastal waters which pose an environmental and safety risk.

[137] MP Johns moved motion M-69, which called upon the Canadian Government to recognize the potential harm caused by deep seabed mining and the uncertainty surrounding the extent of environmental damage.

[143] He tabled bill, C-312, in 2016 to have Canada adopt a national cycling strategy “to provide environmental, social and economic benefits, including a healthier lifestyle, reduced road traffic and lower greenhouse gas emissions”.

Through the tour MP Johns’ connected with communities across the region, encouraging constituents to be physically active and join him on bike rides while hearing their local concerns.

[75] When the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) was introduced, Johns called for the program to be retroactive to April 1, 2020, as many landlords had not applied through the CECRA[155] on behalf of their small business tenants.

In 2017, Johns introduced a motion (M-151) for the government to work collaboratively with provinces, municipalities and Indigenous communities to develop a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in and around aquatic environments.

[161] Johns stated that the local experience of the Hanjin Cargo spill off the coast of Vancouver Island in 2016, alongside the government's inability to coordinate funding to help in the cleanup inspired him to understand the broad issue of ocean plastics more.

Johns is a supporter of greater federal action to address “ghost” fishing gear, nets and equipment which is not retrieved by fishers, potentially entangling sea life.