London West Member of Parliament Arielle Kayabaga was given a position in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet this week.
She was named leader of the government in the House of Commons and minister of democratic institutions.
CTV News caught up with the former city councillor and first time MP when she returned to home to London, Ont. this weekend.
Q: How exciting have the last couple days been?
A: “It’s the biggest honor of my life to serve Canadians in this capacity and to continue to serve London in this capacity as well.”
Q: How do you define your new role?
A: “I’ve been named Minister of Democratic Institutions and Government House leader. Government House leader is more of a role in the House of Commons, where you kind of manage the day-to-day business for the government which is the Liberal Party. We’re not sitting right now, so that’s not the biggest part of my job.
Minister of democratic institutions basically also overlooks elections, the resilience of elections, the sovereignty of elections. That’s really going to be coming up as we go through elections and making sure that Canadians can trust the system that we use when we’re electing leaders.”
Q: Do you have a good idea of what your role will be until an election is called?
A: “It’s day two, so I’m still getting briefings. I kind of have an idea of some of the most important, key issues around security for and interference, and working with public safety to make sure that we can secure our country and secure elections. And I’m not sure if you had a chance to listen to the Prime Minister’s speech, but there’s a lot of conversations around securing our country, and making sure that, you know, Canadians have the right jobs.
It’s not just securing the country economically. It’s also securing, the country even further than just economic part. So elections are also part of securing our country.”
Q: Speaking of elections, the next couple of months are going to be interesting. We’ve got an election coming at some point. How are you preparing for that with not only your new role, but campaigning in London West?
A: “I’m running again. Last year I put my name up again to run and I think that it’s going to be fun. We’re excited to have more volunteers. Hopefully. You know, people have decided to come out and support us. The weather is getting better as well. So more people come out when the weather is getting better.
Canadians are also meeting a moment where they feel that they need, you know, unity, and this patriotism that’s going on in Canada that is bringing us together, that is bringing Canadians to pay attention to what’s happening, in our country in terms of the political landscape of things.”
Q: You are the first cabinet minister locally since Ed Holder in 2015. Do you feel it’s important for London to have a seat at the table?
A: “I do think that it’s really important not just for London, but for the entire southwestern region, to have a seat at the cabinet table and make sure that we champion Canadian workers from our region. We champion the really good investments that we have made in the last ten years, and that we can actually get to keep them.”
Q: What is your relationship with Prime Minister Carney?
A: “I’ve had some very fond conversations with our new Prime Minister. He is really remarkable. He’s a man who was prepared to meet this moment with huge experience in his backpack and then with the right decisions and, picking the right people to meet this moment.”
Q: Were you surprised Mark Carney gave you the nod?
A: “Of course I was surprised. No one ever walks around thinking that they’re going to get the nod, but I think that he made the right choice. Especially thinking about the region, our city and all of the challenges that our communities are facing. Our business community is facing, in automotive sector manufacturing. and this is like the area for that. So I think it’s a really great day for southwestern Ontario.”
Q: After the next election, should the Liberals win again, do you hope to have the same position in cabinet?
A: We serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister and I will serve at his pleasure with whatever he asks me to do. Right now, I think that we’re focused on helping Canadians and meeting this moment where Canadians need us to step up for them.”
Q: You’ve now been in politics for seven years now. From city council to a first-time MP and now rising into a cabinet position. Have you been enjoying your time in politics?
A: “I love this country. It’s a country that has given me an opportunity. I love Canadians. I love serving them and serving them in different capacities has not only made me love this country even more, but has also grown me as a person. I mean when I was first elected, I was in my twenties, am now in my thirties.
I feel like I’m a I’m a family member of this community.”
