An in-depth conversation with Karina Gould, Canada’s new Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Why It Matters
Communities are still devastated by COVID-19, particularly those who were already marginalized and oppressed pre-pandemic. The ministry Gould takes over will be primarily responsible for these communities’ recovery — not to mention building relationships with the social purpose sector to achieve that recovery.
Minister Karina Gould has her work cut out for her.
This month’s cabinet shuffle saw Gould move from the international development file to the role of Minister of Families, Children and Social Development — and many Canadian families and communities are in a tough spot, still reeling from the pandemic’s social and economic ripple effects.
Gould is also the minister who, arguably, works most closely with the social purpose sector. Given this, Future of Good’s CEO and publisher, Vinod Rajasekaran sat down with Gould to ask about her vision for the ministry, for the future of Canadian communities, and the relationship between the social purpose sector and the government.
Vinod Rajasekaran: Let’s talk about COVID response. Social development is one of the ministries that has actively responded, supporting people at the margins. What still needs to be done to support communities most impacted, in your mind?
Karina Gould: I think a lot of Canadians have now opened their eyes to where these inequalities and inequities exist within our society and, quite frankly, are demanding that we do more to close those gaps. The other thing that has actually been really inspiring for me to see over the course of the pandemic is that there’s a general expectation that we take an intersectional lens to the work that we’re doing. And so, it’s not just, ‘end poverty;’ it’s, ‘end poverty, but make sure you do it in a way that’s inclusive and is taking into consideration the unique needs of different communities.’ That’s actually something that I think is really exciting. There’s a lot of work to do that can set us up in a really positive way for the future.
Rajasekaran: Given that, what would you say is your big vision for the ministry?
Gould: The number one thing for me is childcare, and to get those final agreements with Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut signed and completed — because if we’re able to finalize these agreements and reduce childcare fees, we’re actually going to be doing a lot of social good. We’re going to, on one hand, get kids into quality, affordable care that they may not have been in otherwise — and we know that those early years of development are going to set them on a path for the rest of their lives — but then we’re also going to help address families that maybe wouldn’t have been able to get their kids into childcare in the first place. This is also going to bring a whole bunch of people into the workforce and give them an opportunity to get a leg up.
I also think we still have a lot of work to do to support the social purpose sector recover from COVID. I think we saw a lot of innovation. I think we saw a lot of organizations take flight and do incredible work. But I think we also need to have that continued, sustained engagement. And I think we’re also seeing people who are deciding, ‘Maybe the job I had pre-pandemic was not exactly what I wanted to do, and now I’ve got all this creative energy — how can I use that energy for good?’
Rajasekaran: There are so many things that were in your previous mandate that you might bring into this one — I’m thinking about the SDGs [United Nations Sustainable Development Goals].
Gould: Ah, the SDGs! I’m so excited about these. There’s so much to do.
Rajasekaran: Right, I’m thinking about innovative finance, I’m thinking about feminist international assistance.
Gould: Well, you know what the Prime Minister said to me when he asked me to do this? He said, ‘You’re doing what you did internationally, but applying it domestically now.’ Which is so exciting. It’s poverty reduction, it’s social inclusion, it’s equity and equality, it’s antiracism. And on the SDG agenda, there are so many individuals and organizations that are doing really meaningful work on Agenda 2030 that we need to highlight. We can do more meaningful engagement with Canadians on what Agenda 2030 is.
For access to the full video interview — including Minister Gould’s plans to collaborate with the social purpose sector, her commitments to climate action in this new portfolio, plus what it means to her to be the first sitting Minister to give birth while in office and take parental leave — become a Future of Good member today.
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