Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promoted first-time Burlington MP Karina Gould to cabinet, tasking her with delivering on the Liberals’ troubled promise to reform Canada’s elections. Gould was one of three rookie MPs elevated to cabinet Tuesday, replacing Peterborough MP Maryam Monsef as Minister of Democratic Institutions. In that role, Gould will have the unenviable task of figuring out how to make good on Trudeau’s pledge to replace Canada’s 150-year old first-past-the-post electoral system. It’s a mission that Gould believes in, at least. “Electoral reform is the next step in (an) evolution toward a more inclusive system. We can build a better system that provides a stronger link between the democratic will of Canadians and the election results,” Gould said in the House of Commons last June.
“Parliamentarians will need to set aside partisan interests and engage in a thoughtful and substantive dialogue with each other and with citizens.”
Speaking to reporters outside the Commons Tuesday afternoon, Gould said she was only a few short hours into her new position and would need time before commenting on “next steps.”
“We’ve had a year of consultations. We’ve had a year of engaging with Canadians,” Gould said. “I really do believe we can get the best system for Canadians and understand where we need to go moving forward, and I’m really looking forward to doing that work.”
Full Article: Rookie MP Gould takes over troubled electoral reform file | Toronto Star.