As a lifelong Burlington resident, mother, and the youngest female cabinet minister in Canadian history, Karina Gould is a fierce advocate for her community and a strong voice for Burlington in Ottawa.
For the past seven years, Karina has been working hard to address your concerns on issues related to climate change, healthcare, the rising costs of living, the need for good jobs, and greater equality in a growing society.
The daughter of a small business owner, Karina understands hard work. That’s why she ran for office in the first place – to work tirelessly for her community to help make it a more equal, fair, and welcoming place for all Canadians.
In October 2021, she was sworn in as the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. She has previously served as Minister of International Development and Minister of Democratic Institutions.
As the Member of Parliament for Burlington, Karina was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Development and La Francophonie, where she worked to restore Canada’s reputation on the world stage and helped to develop Canada’s feminist international assistance policy.
And with the birth of her son, Oliver, Karina became the first federal cabinet minister to have a baby while holding office. She is passionate about breaking down barriers for women, youth and underrepresented groups.
She holds degrees in Political Science from McGill University and International Relations from the University of Oxford. Prior to entering politics she worked for the Mexican Trade Commission in Toronto and the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C.
Karina lives in Burlington with her husband Alberto, their son Oliver, and their cat Peaches.
